Abstract:
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.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    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 
       [0003]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a distributed data processing environment, including a client computing device and a server computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting operational steps of a guidance program for guiding a user to content or items of interest to the user in a document, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary user interface depicting operation of the guidance program of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of components of the client computing device or the server computer of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s) having computer readable program code/instructions embodied thereon. 
         [0009]    Any combination of computer-readable media may be utilized. Computer-readable media may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of a computer-readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0010]    A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0011]    Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
         [0012]    Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
         [0013]    Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0014]    These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0015]    The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0016]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures.  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a distributed data processing environment, generally designated  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Distributed data processing environment  100  includes client computing device  120  and server computer  130 , all interconnected over network  110 . 
         [0018]    Network  110  can 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, network  110  can be any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between client computing device  120  and server computer  130 . 
         [0019]    In various embodiments of the present invention, client computing device  120  can 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 computer  130  via network  110 . In this exemplary embodiment, client computing device  120  includes user interface (UI)  122  and guidance program  124 . UI  122  may 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. 
         [0020]    Guidance program  124  determines 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 UI  122  on client computing device  120  and 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 program  124  highlights, or otherwise identifies, content or items of interest on the newly opened or currently displayed document based on the pre-determined content categories. While in  FIG. 1 , guidance program  124  is included in client computing device  120 , one of skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, guidance program  124  may be located elsewhere within distributed data processing environment  100  and can communicate with client computing device  120  via network  110 . 
         [0021]    Server computer  130  may 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 device  120  for viewing by a user. Server computer  130  can 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 device  120  via network  110  and with various components and devices within distributed data processing environment  100 . Server computer  130  may include internal and external hardware components, as depicted and described in further detail with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting operational steps of guidance program  124  for guiding a user to content or items of interest to the user in a document, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Guidance program  124  determines the content of open documents (step  202 ). 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 program  124  can 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. 
         [0024]    Guidance program  124  categorizes the determined content according to subject matter (step  204 ). 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 device  120 , 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 program  124  may 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. 
         [0025]    Guidance program  124  indicates content categories (step  206 ). In the embodiment discussed above, guidance program  124  determined various categories, such as personal interests and historical events. Guidance program  124  indicates 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. 
         [0026]    Guidance program  124  determines whether a user has opened a new document (decision block  208 ). If a user does not open a new document (decision block  208 , no branch), guidance program  124  continues to determine the content of open documents. 
         [0027]    If a user does open a new document (decision block  208 , yes branch), guidance program  124  highlights, or otherwise identifies, content on the new document that corresponds to determined content categories (step  210 ). In various embodiments, if the new document contains content that does not correspond to a determined content category, guidance program  124  determines 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. 
         [0028]    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 program  124  to 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 program  124  can then cease highlighting the determined content category on a new document. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary user interface depicting operation of guidance program  124 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0030]    In the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , a user views browser instance  300 , which contains three open web browser tabs, website  302 , website  304  and website  306 . Guidance program  124  determines the content of each open browser tab and visually indicates content categories to the user, based on similar subject matter. For example, website  302  and website  306  contain similar content related to toys, while website  304  contains content regarding books. 
         [0031]    In browser instance  310 , the user has opened a fourth web browser tab, store website  308 . Guidance program  124  identifies content on store website  308  that 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 website  308 , that is related to previously viewed content. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of components of client computing device  120  or server computer  130 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 4  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
         [0033]    Server computer  130  includes communications fabric  402 , which provides communications between computer processor(s)  404 , memory  406 , persistent storage  408 , communications unit  410 , and input/output (I/O) interface(s)  412 . Communications fabric  402  can be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric  402  can be implemented with one or more buses. 
         [0034]    Memory  406  and persistent storage  408  are computer-readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory  406  includes random access memory (RAM)  414  and cache memory  416 . In general, memory  406  can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage media. 
         [0035]    Guidance program  124  is stored in persistent storage  408  for execution by one or more of the respective computer processors  404  via one or more memories of memory  406 . In this embodiment, persistent storage  408  includes a magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage  408  can include a solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer-readable storage media that is capable of storing program instructions or digital information. 
         [0036]    The media used by persistent storage  408  may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage  408 . Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto another computer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage  408 . 
         [0037]    Communications unit  410 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices, including between client computing device  120  and server computer  130 . In these examples, communications unit  410  includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit  410  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Guidance program  124  may be downloaded to persistent storage  408  through communications unit  410 . 
         [0038]    I/O interface(s)  412  allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to client computing device  120  and server computer  130 . For example, I/O interface  412  may provide a connection to external devices  418  such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices  418  can 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 program  124 , can be stored on such portable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage  408  via I/O interface(s)  412 . I/O interface(s)  412  also connect to a display  420 . Display  420  provides 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. 
         [0039]    The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. 
         [0040]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.