Method and apparatus for controlling tab indexes in a web page

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing tab indexes. A Web page is displayed, wherein the Web page includes a plurality of tab indexes for a plurality of components in the Web page. User input is received for setting a position for a tab index within the plurality of tab indexes for a component within the plurality of components in the Web page relative to positions of tab indexes for other components within the plurality of tab indexes in the Web page to form a desired position for the tab index. The desired position is stored for the tab index for the component to form stored tab index information. Subsequent visits to the Web page result in the tab index for the component being in the desired position using the stored tab index information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system, and in particular to a method and apparatus for processing Web pages. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing tab indexes in a Web page.

2. Description of the Related Art

The Internet is a global network of computers and networks joined together by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from a protocol of the sending network to a protocol used by the receiving network. On the Internet, any computer may communicate with any other computer with information traveling over the Internet through a variety of languages, also referred to as protocols. The set of protocols used on the Internet is called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

The Internet has revolutionized both communications and commerce, as well as being a source of both information and entertainment. For many users, email is a widely used format to communicate over the Internet. Additionally, the Internet is also used for real-time voice conversations.

With respect to transferring data over the Internet, the World Wide Web environment is used. This environment is also referred to simply as “the Web”. The Web is a mechanism used to access information on the Internet. In the Web environment, servers and clients effect data transactions using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling the transfer of various data files, such as text files, graphic images, animation files, audio files, and video files.

On the Web, the information in various data files is formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page description language, the hypertext markup language (HTML). Documents using HTML are also referred to as Web pages. Web pages are connected to each other through links or hyperlinks. These links allow for a connection or link to other Web resources identified by a universal resource identifier (URI), such as a uniform resource locator (URL).

A browser is a program used to look at and interact with all of the information on the Web. A browser is able to display Web pages and to traverse links to other Web pages. Resources, such as Web pages, are retrieved by a browser, which is capable of submitting a request for the resource. This request typically includes an identifier, such as, for example, a URL. As used herein, a browser is an application used to navigate or view information or data in any distributed database, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web. A user may enter a domain name through a graphical user interface (GUI) for the browser to access a source of content. The domain name is automatically converted to an IP address by a domain name system (DNS), which is a service that translates the symbolic name entered by the user into an IP address by looking up the domain name in a database.

When navigating through a Web page, a user may scroll through and select components within the Web page, such as links, by using a pointing device, such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a trackball. Additionally, a user may move through different components in a Web page using a tab function. Web pages are often designed to allow for the setting of tab indexes for different components on a Web page. If the tab indexes are set, the user is able to use the tab function to sequentially move through different components from the beginning to the end of the Web page based on the order set by the designer of the Web page.

This type of feature is convenient for users to quickly move from link to link or field to field in a Web page. However, this type of feature may be annoying to a user who is attempting to focus on a particular field such as a login input field, by causing the user to tab through numerous other components, such as links, to reach the login input field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing tab indexes. A Web page is displayed, wherein the Web page includes a plurality of tab indexes for a plurality of components in the Web page. User input is received for setting a position for a tab index within the plurality of tab indexes for a component within the plurality of components in the Web page relative to positions of tab indexes for other components within the plurality of tab indexes in the Web page to form a desired position for the tab index. The desired position is stored for the tab index for the component to form stored tab index information. Subsequent visits to the Web page result in the tab index for the component being in the desired position using the stored tab index information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference toFIG. 1, a pictorial representation of a data processing system is shown in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Computer100includes system unit102, video display terminal104, keyboard106, storage devices108, which may include floppy drives and other types of permanent and removable storage media, and mouse110. Additional input devices may be included with personal computer100. Examples of additional input devices include a joystick, a touchpad, a touch screen, a trackball, a microphone, and the like.

Computer100may be any suitable computer, such as an IBM® eServer™ computer or IntelliStation® computer, which are products of International Business Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. Although the depicted representation shows a personal computer, other embodiments may be implemented in other types of data processing systems. For example, other embodiments may be implemented in a network computer. Computer100also preferably includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that may be implemented by means of systems software residing in computer readable media in operation within computer100.

Next,FIG. 2depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing system200is an example of a computer, such as computer100inFIG. 1, in which code or instructions implementing the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be located.

In the depicted example, data processing system200employs a hub architecture including a north bridge and memory controller hub (MCH)202and a south bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (ICH)204. Processing unit206, main memory208, and graphics processor210are coupled to north bridge and memory controller hub202. Processing unit206may contain one or more processors and even may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems. Graphics processor210may be coupled to the MCH through an accelerated graphics port (AGP), for example.

In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter212is coupled to south bridge and I/O controller hub204, audio adapter216, keyboard and mouse adapter220, modem222, read only memory (ROM)224, and universal serial bus (USB) and other communications ports232. PCI/PCIe devices234are coupled to south bridge and I/O controller hub204through bus238. Hard disk drive (HDD)226and CD-ROM drive230are coupled to south bridge and I/O controller hub204through bus240.

PCI/PCIe devices may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-in cards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card bus controller, while PCIe does not. ROM224may be, for example, a flash binary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive226and CD-ROM drive230may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE) or serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface. A super I/O (SIO) device236may be coupled to south bridge and I/O controller hub204.

An operating system runs on processing unit206. This operating system coordinates and controls various components within data processing system200inFIG. 2. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system, such as Microsoft® Windows XP®. Microsoft® and Windows XP® are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. An object-oriented programming system, such as the Java™ programming system, may run in conjunction with the operating system and provides calls to the operating system from Java™ programs or applications executing on data processing system200. Java™ and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both.

Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programming system, and applications or programs are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive226. These instructions may be loaded into main memory208for execution by processing unit206. The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performed by processing unit206using computer implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory. An example of a memory is main memory208, read only memory224, or one or more peripheral devices.

The hardware shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2may vary depending on the implementation of the illustrated embodiments. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. Additionally, the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system.

The systems and components shown inFIG. 2can be varied from the illustrative examples shown. In some illustrative examples, data processing system200may be a personal digital assistant (PDA). A personal digital assistant generally is configured with flash memory to provide a non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. Additionally, data processing system200can be a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a telephone device.

Other components shown inFIG. 2can be varied from the illustrative examples shown. For example, a bus system may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course the bus system may be implemented using any suitable type of communications fabric or architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the fabric or architecture. Additionally, a communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. Further, a memory may be, for example, main memory208or a cache such as found in north bridge and memory controller hub202. Also, a processing unit may include one or more processors or CPUs.

The depicted examples inFIG. 1andFIG. 2are not meant to imply architectural limitations. In addition, the illustrative embodiments provide for a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for compiling source code and for executing code. The methods described with respect to the depicted embodiments may be performed in a data processing system, such as data processing system100shown inFIG. 1or data processing system200shown inFIG. 2.

The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing tab indexes in a Web page. A Web page is displayed in which the Web page includes tab indexes for components within the Web page. User input is received, setting a position for a tab index for a particular component in the Web page. This position is set relative to the positions for other tab indexes for the other components in the Web page to form a desired position for the tab index. This desired position is stored to form a stored tab index.

Subsequent visits to the Web page result in a tab index being reached in the desired position using the stored position information. For example, a user may wish to set a login field for a Web page as the first tab index. In this manner, the tab index for the login field is changed to become the first component reached when the tab function is used. This tab information is stored. When the Web page is retrieved at a later time, the stored tab information is used to replace the tab information in the Web page to allow the user to reach the login field first when using a tab function.

Turning next toFIG. 3, a block diagram of a browser program is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. A browser is an application used to navigate or view information or data in a distributed database, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web.

In this example, browser300includes a user interface302, which is a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to interface or communicate with browser300. This interface provides for selection of various functions through menus304and allows for navigation through navigation306. For example, menus304may allow a user to perform various functions, such as saving a file, opening a new window, displaying a history, and entering a URL. Navigation306allows a user to navigate various pages and to select Web sites for viewing. For example, navigation306may allow a user to see a previous page or a subsequent page relative to the present page. Preferences such as those illustrated inFIG. 3may be set through preferences308.

Communications310is the mechanism with which browser300receives documents and other resources from a network such as the Internet. Further, communications310is used to send or upload documents and resources onto a network. In the depicted example, communications310uses HTTP. Other protocols may be used depending on the implementation. Documents that are received by browser300are processed by language interpretation312, which includes an HTML unit314and a JavaScript unit316. Language interpretation312will process a document for presentation on graphical display318. In particular, HTML statements are processed by HTML unit314for presentation while JavaScript statements are processed by JavaScript unit316.

Graphical display318includes layout unit320, rendering unit322, and window management324. These units are involved in presenting Web pages to a user based on results from language interpretation312.

Browser300is presented as an example of a browser program in which illustrative embodiments may be embodied. Browser300is not meant to imply architectural limitations to the present invention. Presently available browsers may include additional functions not shown or may omit functions shown in browser300. A browser may be any application that is used to search for and display content on a distributed data processing system. Browser300may be implemented using known browser applications, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Netscape Navigator is available from Netscape Communications Corporation, while Microsoft Internet Explorer is available from Microsoft Corporation.

In these illustrative examples, the tab setting features in the illustrative embodiments may be implemented in language interpretation312. In particular, the different features may be implemented using HTML unit314. Alternatively, the different features may be implemented in part or in whole within plug-in326. A plug-in is a program that interacts with a main application, such as browser300. Typically, plug-ins add functionality to the main program.

In these examples, graphical user interface302serves to provide a dialog, such as a pop-up dialog, to allow the user to select an index number when the user desires to change the order in which components are reached when using a tab function. HTML unit314or plug-in326receives the information setting a tab position for a selected component through graphical user interface302. This information is then stored in tab index information328in association with an identification of the Web page. As a result, when the Web page is subsequently retrieved, HTML unit314or plug-in326replaces the tab index information for the HTML component with the desired one in tab index information328.

In particular, the user may click on the desired HTML component and select an option to select the tab index. This user input presents the pop-up dialog to set the tab index number for the component. The identification and name of the component of the tab index being set is stored in tab index information328.

Turning now toFIG. 4, a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting index tabs is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The interface illustrated inFIG. 4may be implemented in browser300inFIG. 3. In particular, the user interface may be part of graphical user interface302inFIG. 3.

Window400illustrates a graphical user interface for a browser, such as browser300inFIG. 3. In this particular example, page402is displayed within window400. A user may tab through various components in Web page402. In these examples, links404,406,408, and410are present. Thereafter, name field412is illustrated. A user employing a tab function would sequentially move through links404,406,408, and410before reaching name field412. This organization of components in page402requires the user to tab five times before reaching name field412. With the different illustrative embodiments, the user may, at name field412, right-click on a mouse to cause menu416to be displayed. The user may then select menu item418to set a tab index for name field412to change the order in which components on page402are reached using a tab function.

Turning now toFIG. 5, a diagram illustrating a user interface for setting index tabs is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In this example, panel500is an example of a user interface that is presented when menu item418inFIG. 4is selected. In this example, panel500includes control502, which allows the user to select the tab index number for the component on the Web page. In this example, control502is used to select a tab index “1” for the component. After the user has selected the appropriate tab index setting, the user may select “OK” button504to store the information. If the user does not wish to set the tab index, the user may select “cancel” button506. “Help” button508may be selected to obtain more information about setting the tab index using control502in these examples.

By setting a tab index of “1” using control502for name field412inFIG. 4, name field412will be the first component reached when the tab function is used upon a subsequent retrieval of page402.

Turning now toFIG. 6, a diagram illustrating code for a custom tab index page is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In this example, code600is an example of XTML code in which tabs are set for different components in a Web page. Code600illustrates a code that presents a Web page similar to page402inFIG. 4. In these examples, the different components are reached using a tab function based on the order in which the codes are listed in code600. For example, line602corresponds to link404; line604corresponds to link406; line606corresponds to link408; line608corresponds to link410; and line610corresponds to name field412inFIG. 4.

Turning now toFIG. 7, a diagram illustrating code for a custom tab index page is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Line700is a modified version or replacement for line610inFIG. 6. In this example, line700has the name field set equal to a tab index of “1”. With this setting, this field is reached first when a tab function is used in displaying a Web page. The other lines do not have tab setting numbers and are reached in the order that they are found in code600inFIG. 6. Alternatively, each of these fields may have tab index numbers. In that case, the tab index numbers may have been reordered to accommodate setting name field412inFIG. 4to a tab index of “1”.

With reference now toFIG. 8, a diagram illustrating tab index information is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Entry800is an example of tab index information that may be stored in tab index information328inFIG. 3. Entry800may contain information derived from XTML code, such as code700inFIG. 7. In particular, entry800includes location information802, identifier804, and index number806. Location information802is an identification of the location of the Web page. In these examples, location information802is a universal resource locator. Identifier804is information used to identify the component in the Web page. Index number806identifies the position of the component relative to other components. In these examples, identifier804and index number806may be derived from HTML code, such as that found in line700inFIG. 7.

For example, if index number806is set equal to one, the component for entry800will be the first component reached when the tab function is used. When a Web page is again retrieved, the process changes the index number for this component in the Web page to one even though its index number may be some other number. The other components following this component are changed in position by increments of one. Of course, the tab settings for the other components could be reset in other ways depending on the particular implementation.

Turning now toFIG. 9, a flowchart of a process for setting a tab index number for a component in a Web page is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The process illustrated inFIG. 9may be implemented in a browser, such as browser300inFIG. 3. In particular, the process may be implemented using HTML unit314and/or plug-in326.

The process begins by receiving a user input selecting a component in the Web page for setting a tab index (step900). Thereafter, a tab index dialog is displayed (step902). In these examples, the dialog may be displayed using graphical user interface302inFIG. 3. Next, user input is received setting the tab index for the component (step904). The tab index information is then stored for the component (step906). In these examples the tab index information may be stored in tab index information328inFIG. 3.

Turning now toFIG. 10, a flowchart of a process for processing a Web page is depicted in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The process illustrated inFIG. 10may be implemented in browser300. In particular, the processes may be implemented in HTML unit314and/or plug-in326.

The process begins by receiving a Web page (step1000). A determination is then made as to whether tab index information is present for the Web page (step1002). The determination in step1002may be made by using the universal resource locator for the Web page and determining whether the universal resource locator is present in an entry for the tab index information. If tab index information is present for the Web page, a component in the tab index information is selected (step1004). In some cases, more than one component may be set for a Web page. Thereafter, each tab index number for the selected component is changed (step1006).

Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether additional components are present in the tab index information that have not yet been processed (step1008). If additional components are present the process returns to step1004to select another component. Otherwise, the tab index numbers for other components that were not present in the tab index information are adjusted (step1010).

In these examples, components following a component that has been set to a new tab index based on the tab index information are adjusted by changing those tab index numbers, if present, by increments of one in these examples. If the other components do not have tab index numbers set for them, those components are reached in the order they are found in the HTML code in these examples. Of course, if two components are present in which tab index numbers are set, the subsequent component does not have its tab index number adjusted in this step. Thereafter, the Web page is displayed (step1012) with the process terminating thereafter.

With reference again to step1002, if tab index information is not present for the Web page, no changes are needed. As a result, the process then proceeds to step1012as described above.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the different depicted embodiments illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of some possible implementations of apparatus, methods and computer program products. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified function or functions. In some alternative implementations, the function or functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, in some cases, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.

Thus, the illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method for managing tab indexes for a Web page. The Web page is displayed in which the Web page includes tab indexes for components in the Web page. User input is received setting the position for the tab index within the indexes relative to the positions of tab indexes for other components. This set position forms a desired position for the tab index. The desired position for the tab index is stored to form stored tab index information. Subsequent visits to the Web page result in the tab index for the component being in the desired position using the stored tab index information.

In this manner, users are able to more efficiently use a tab function to reach desired components in a Web page. With this feature, a user may set one or more components in a Web page in an order as desired to reduce the amount of tabbing that a user has to perform to reach these components.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any tangible apparatus that can contain, store, communication, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.