Guiding a user to identified content in a document

A method for identifying content in a document. The method includes determining that a user of a computing device has accessed one or more documents and determining a subject matter of the one or more documents. The method includes determining that the user has accessed at least one additional document. The method further includes searching the at least one additional document for the determined subject matter and responsive to finding the determined subject matter, identifying the found subject matter in the at least one additional document.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of document and web browser viewing, and more particularly to guiding a user to identified content in a document, where the content is identified based on categories of content found in other open documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When working in a computing environment, such as an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) or web browser environment, a plurality of windows are often opened and displayed to a user. Depending on the environment, the windows may comprise, for example, elements such as programs, files, documents, web pages, etc. Additionally, users may have a large number of windows open at any given time, and, especially in a web browser environment, each window may include multiple tabs, making it difficult to navigate through the windows in an efficient and organized manner.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying content in a document. The method includes, determining, by a computing device, that a user of the computing device has accessed one or more documents and determining, by the computing device, a subject matter of the one or more documents. The method includes determining, by the computing device, that the user has accessed at least one additional document. The method further includes searching the at least one additional document for the determined subject matter and responsive to finding the determined subject matter, identifying the found subject matter in the at least one additional document.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures.FIG. 1is a functional block diagram illustrating a distributed data processing environment, generally designated100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Distributed data processing environment100includes client computing device120and server computer130, all interconnected over network110.

Network110can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of the two, and can include wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. In general, network110can be any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between client computing device120and server computer130.

In various embodiments of the present invention, client computing device120can be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with server computer130via network110. In this exemplary embodiment, client computing device120includes user interface (UI)122and guidance program124. UI122may be, for example, a graphical user interface (GUI) or a web user interface (WUI) and can display text, documents, web browser windows, user options, instructions for operation and other instruments containing text or graphical elements.

Guidance program124determines content or subject matter of documents a user currently has open, and categorizes the content of open documents based on similarity of subject matter among the open documents. In various embodiments, a document can be, for example, an open web browser page, a word processing document, a file folder, a spreadsheet or any other file containing information in a digital format, for example, text or graphical elements, that may be displayed on UI122on client computing device120and viewed by a user. The content or subject matter categories of the open documents are indicated visually to the user by, for example, colored tabs or text. As the user opens a new document, or navigates between open documents, guidance program124highlights, or otherwise identifies, content or items of interest on the newly opened or currently displayed document based on the pre-determined content categories. While inFIG. 1, guidance program124is included in client computing device120, one of skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, guidance program124may be located elsewhere within distributed data processing environment100and can communicate with client computing device120via network110.

Server computer130may include data storage or function as part of the World Wide Web (WWW) and can include spreadsheets, web browser pages or other documents that can be searched for and downloaded to client computing device120for viewing by a user. Server computer130can be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with client computing device120via network110and with various components and devices within distributed data processing environment100. Server computer130may include internal and external hardware components, as depicted and described in further detail with respect toFIG. 4.

FIG. 2is a flowchart depicting operational steps of guidance program124for guiding a user to content or items of interest to the user in a document, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Guidance program124determines the content of open documents (step202). Content may be embodied, for example, as key words, graphics, content tags, or user-defined topics. Open documents may include, for example, web browser pages, spreadsheets, word processing documents, or any other variety of application software capable of displaying content. In various embodiments of the present invention, guidance program124can determine the content of an open document as the content is updated and the document refreshed or can determine the content of newly opened documents.

Guidance program124categorizes the determined content according to subject matter (step204). In an exemplary embodiment, a user may have several research related documents, including a word processing document containing notes or a report of a historical event, open on a client device, for example, client computing device120, and the user may also have several web browser pages open, including a social networking site, a sports news website and an online encyclopedia. Guidance program124may determine two categories for the content of each open page, for example, content related either to personal interests, e.g., the social networking site and the sports news website, or to historical events, e.g., the word processing document containing notes or the report of a historical event, and the online encyclopedia.

Guidance program124indicates content categories (step206). In the embodiment discussed above, guidance program124determined various categories, such as personal interests and historical events. Guidance program124indicates the content categories to the user, for example, visually, with colored tabs, highlighted text, or annotating the document with additional wording on the open browser tab or document. In an exemplary embodiment, open documents categorized as personal interests may include the term “personal” on the web browser tab, in addition to any text already included on the web browser tab, as an indication of the determined categories or content in the open documents.

Guidance program124determines whether a user has opened a new document (decision block208). If a user does not open a new document (decision block208, no branch), guidance program124continues to determine the content of open documents.

If a user does open a new document (decision block208, yes branch), guidance program124highlights, or otherwise identifies, content on the new document that corresponds to determined content categories (step210). In various embodiments, if the new document contains content that does not correspond to a determined content category, guidance program124determines a new content category. The identified content or items of interest may be indicated to the user by, for example, colored text, including coloring the corresponding text in the same color as the determined content category, changing the font type or style, arrows pointing to the corresponding content, surrounding the corresponding content with a box or circle, or any other manner to notify the user of the corresponding content. In various embodiments of the present invention, the manner in which content categories are indicated to the user may change as additional documents are opened. For example, the determined content of a majority of open documents may relate to a same, or similar, subject matter, thus allowing the subject matter to be heavily weighted. As new documents are opened, the heavily weighted subject matter is prioritized and may be identified in such a manner to allow the heavily weighted subject matter to stand out more than other subject matter.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the user may manage determined content categories by, for example, adjusting the level of granularity of a content category, allowing guidance program124to highlight a sub-topic of a determined content category. Alternately, the user may add or remove a determined content category from an indexed list. Guidance program124can then cease highlighting the determined content category on a new document.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary user interface depicting operation of guidance program124, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, a user views browser instance300, which contains three open web browser tabs, website302, website304and website306. Guidance program124determines the content of each open browser tab and visually indicates content categories to the user, based on similar subject matter. For example, website302and website306contain similar content related to toys, while website304contains content regarding books.

In browser instance310, the user has opened a fourth web browser tab, store website308. Guidance program124identifies content on store website308that corresponds to previously determined content categories, for example, toys. The user can then quickly navigate to the content and items of interest on the newly opened web browser tab, store website308, that is related to previously viewed content.

Communications unit410, in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices, including between client computing device120and server computer130. In these examples, communications unit410includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit410may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Guidance program124may be downloaded to persistent storage408through communications unit410.

I/O interface(s)412allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to client computing device120and server computer130. For example, I/O interface412may provide a connection to external devices418such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices418can also include portable computer-readable storage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., guidance program124, can be stored on such portable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage408via I/O interface(s)412. I/O interface(s)412also connect to a display420. Display420provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor or an incorporated display screen, such as is used in tablet computers and smart phones.