METHOD FOR DISPLAYING MAPPED PORTION OF WEBPAGE ON A DISPLAY OF

AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of browser applications in digital television and computer device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Web feed is a document (often XML-based) whose discrete content items include web links to the source of the content and provides users with frequently updated content. One such use case of web feed technology is 'Web Slice' technology introduced in Internet Explorer browser. The Web Slice allows certain portions of a webpage to be subscribed to, and the Internet Explorer allows users to preview the subscribed Web Slices in fly-out preview window. However, the portion of the web page to be subscribed has to be defined by the website creator. There is no mechanism for a user to select portion of webpages as Web Slices. Further, the Web Slices can only be accessed using a favourite bar on the browser. Hence, the user has to access the browser every time to read the content associated with a relevant Web Slice. Thus hindering user's interaction with a currently running application, for example, watching a video feed.

[0003] In light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device.

SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device.

[0005] An example of a method for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device includes selecting one or more portions of a webpage. The method also includes mapping the one or more portions of the webpage to shortcut keys. Further, the method includes receiving a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key and displaying mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key.

[0006] An example of an electronic device includes a communication interface for receiving one or more inputs. The electronic device also includes a processor operable to perform selecting one or more portions of a webpage, mapping the one or more portions of the webpage to shortcut keys and receiving a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key. Further, the method includes a display device for displaying mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0007] The accompanying figures, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device, in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0011] FIG. 4A-4C are exemplary illustrations displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device.

[0012] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] It should be observed that method steps and system components have been represented by conventional symbols in the figures, showing only specific details that are relevant for an understanding of the present disclosure. Further, details that may be readily apparent to person ordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In the present disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or order between such entities.

[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment 100, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. The environment 100 includes electronic devices 105 connected to a server 110 through a network 115. Examples of the electronic devices include, but are not limited to personal computers, digital television, mobiles, smartphones, handheld computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Examples of the network 115 include, but are not limited to, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wired network, metropolitan area network (MAN), internet, and wireless networks.

[0016] In an embodiment, the electronic device 105 displays a webpage on a browser. The electronic device 105 is operable to receive inputs from user for selecting one or more areas of the webpage. The selected areas of the webpage are assigned as webslices and stored in the browser of the electronic device 105. Further, the one or more areas of the webpage can be mapped to a link in menu or shortcut keys. The user can provide user input using the shortcut keys to display mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut keys. For example, the user is watching a video can also watch a cricket match score side by side by selecting score portion of the webpage and mapping with a key. The user can then press that key to see the score, where the webpage block pertaining to the score portion will appear as a pop-up.

[0017] The electronic device 105 includes one or more elements for displaying mapped portion of the webpage. The electronic device 105 including the elements is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic device 105, in accordance with one embodiment. The electronic device 105 includes a bus 205 for communicating information, and a processor 210 coupled with the bus 205 for processing information. The electronic device 105 also includes a memory 215, for example a random access memory (RAM) coupled to the bus 205 for storing information required by the processor 210. The memory 215 can be used for storing temporary information required by the processor 210. The electronic device 105 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 220 coupled to the bus 205 for storing static information required by the processor 210. A storage unit 225, for example a magnetic disk, hard disk or optical disk, can be provided and coupled to bus 205 for storing information.

[0019] The electronic device 105 can be coupled via the bus 205 to a display 230, for example a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), for displaying images. An input device 235, including various keys, is coupled to the bus 205 for communicating information to the processor 210. In some embodiments, cursor control 240, for example a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, or cursor direction keys for communicating information to the processor 210 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 230 can also be present.

[0020] In one embodiment, the steps of the present disclosure are performed by the electronic device 105 using the processor 210. The information can be read into the memory 215 from a machine-readable medium, for example the server storage unit 225. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry can be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various embodiments.

[0021] The term machine-readable medium can be defined as a medium providing data to a machine to enable the machine to perform a specific function. The machine-readable medium can be a storage media. Storage media can include non-volatile media and volatile media. The storage unit 225 can be a non-volatile media. The memory 215 can be a volatile media. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into the machine.

[0022] Examples of the machine readable medium includes, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, optical disk, punchcards, papertape, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, and a FLASH-EPROM.

[0023] The machine readable medium can also include online links, download links, and installation links providing the information to the processor 210.

[0024] The electronic device 105 also includes a communication interface 245 coupled to the bus 205 for enabling data communication. Examples of the communication interface 245 include, but are not limited to, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a modem, a local area network (LAN) card, an infrared port, a Bluetooth port, a zigbee port, and a wireless port.

[0025] The electronic device 105 receives website content via the network 115 coupled to the electronic device 105. Webpages associated with website are displayed by a browser running on the electronic device using the display 230. One or more inputs are received by the electronic device 105 using the communication interface and the input device 235. The processor 210 in response to the received inputs is operable to perform selection of one or more portions of a webpage, mapping of the one or more portions of the webpage to shortcut keys. Further, the electronic device 105 receives a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key and in response displays a mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key using the display 230.

[0026] In some embodiments, the processor 210 can include one or more processing units for performing one or more functions of the processor 210. The processing units are hardware circuitry performing specified functions.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0028] A browser in the electronic device 105 can be used to source information associated with the webpage and display the webpage.

[0029] The method starts at step 305.

[0030] At step 310, one or more portions of the webpage displayed on the electronic device are selected by a user. The user can use an input device such as a mouse to select the portions of the webpage.

[0031] In some embodiments, the user can provide haptic input on touch screen devices to select the portions of the webpage.

[0032] In an embodiment, the portions of the webpage are selected by means of a Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML) code.

[0033] At step 315, the one or more portions of the webpage are mapped to shortcut keys.

[0034] Once the user selects the one or more portions of the webpage, a list of shortcut keys are provided. The shortcut keys can then be associated with selected portions of the webpage based on user inputs.

[0035] At step 320, a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key is received. The user indicates the selection by pressing a desired short-cut key.

[0036] For example, if the user is watching a video then he can press one of the shortcut keys to view one of the portions of the webpage alongside the video.

[0037] At step 325, mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key is displayed.

[0038] The electronic device 105 on receiving the selection of the shortcut key maps the shortcut key to the associated portion of the webpage. On mapping the shortcut key, the associated portion of the webpage is displayed in the display of the electronic device 105 alongside any application currently being viewed by the user.

[0039] In some embodiments, multiple portions of the webpage are displayed on the electronic device. The multiple portions can be viewed by selecting the corresponding shortcut keys.

[0040] Further, a transparency level, size and a display position can also be set for the one or more portions of the webpage.

[0041] Furthermore, the browser can provide an option for storing the one or more portions of the webpage in a list. The list can include the webpage name, a block name defined by the user and the corresponding mapped key. An indication can be provided by the browser if the content within the one or more portions of the webpage are updated. The user can also access the list through the browser.

[0042] The method ends at step 330.

[0043] An example illustrating the method is shown through FIG.4A-4C.

[0044] As in FIG. 4A, a webpage of a national stock exchange website is shown on a browser of the electronic device 105. The user selects a portion 410 of the webpage and right clicks on the selected area that indicates the stock index using an input device. An option is provided to the user to map the portion 410 to a shortcut key. Here, the user associates the portion 410 with a shortcut key T. The electronic device maps the shortcut key '1' to the portion 410b and is stored in a memory of the electronic device 105.

[0045] In an embodiment, the user proceeds to view another application, for example a video 415. The user can then desire to check the stock index while watching the video 415 and presses the shortcut key '1'. The electronic device 110 maps the shortcut key '1' to the portion 410 and displays the portion 410 alongside the video 415 as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0046] In some embodiments, the user can proceed to view multiple portions alongside the video 415 as shown in FIG. 4C. For example, the portion 410 and a portion 420.

[0047] Various embodiments disclosed provide a method for displaying mapped portions of one or more webpages alongside applications currently viewed by the user. The portions can be accessed by means of shortcut keys and hence allow user to perform the function of accessing the portions while viewing any other application.

[0048] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

I/We claim:

1. A method of displaying mapped portion of webpage on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:

selecting one or more portions of a webpage displayed on the electronic device; mapping the one or more portions of the webpage to shortcut keys; receiving a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key; and displaying mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the mapped portion of the webpage is displayed on top of a currently viewed application.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the mapped portion is displayed in designated areas of the display of the electronic device.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the mapping comprises:

providing a list of shortcut keys to be associated with selected portions of the webpage;

receiving a signal, indicative of a selection of the shortcut keys; and defining the shortcut keys for the portions of the webpage based on the receiving.

5. The method as in claim 1 and further comprising:

setting a transparency level, size and a display position for the one or more portions of the webpage.

6. The method as in claim 1 and further comprising:

mapping portions of multiple webpages to the shortcut keys; and

displaying mapped portion of the multiple webpage in response to selection of the shortcut keys.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by a web browser.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a communication interface for receiving one or more inputs;

a processor operable to perform:

selecting one or more portions of a webpage;

mapping the one or more portions of the webpage to shortcut keys; and

receiving a signal indicative of selection of a shortcut key.

a display device for displaying mapped portion of the webpage associated with the shortcut key.

9. An electronic device for performing a method, the method as described herein and in accompanying figures.