Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Kerry Rodden

Natasa Milic-Frayling

Samuel Gavin Smyth

Rachel Jones

Alan Frank Blackwell

Ralph Sommerer

Anthony Francis Frayling

A system for navigating among resources includes a target detection module detecting whether a first resource has been branched from to two other different resources and a backward navigation module operable to detect selection of a backward navigation button and cause navigation to the first resource. A method includes designating a target resource accessible via a backward navigation button in a first browser session, detecting selection of the backward navigation button in a second browser session, and navigating to the target resource in the second browser session. The method can involve detecting hovering of a pointer icon over the backward navigation button and responsively presenting a thumbnail of a resource associated with the backward navigation button.

Intelligent backward resource navigation

A method includes storing one or more resource identifiers identifying one or more associated resources visited using a browser application, and presenting the resource identifiers in an order designated by one of a plurality of history presentation settings and resource navigation context specifications. The history presentation setting and navigation context can be selected by a user. Exemplary history presentation settings include chronological and domain-name grouped. Exemplary navigation context includes resource identifier, such as name, URI, or domain of the currently viewed resource. The method may further include presenting a thumbnail when a pointer icon is positioned over one of the resource identifiers. A system includes a navigation event capture module storing resource identifiers identifying associated visited resources in a navigation history and an overview module ordering the resource identifiers in an order designated by one of a plurality of history presentation settings and resource navigation context specifications.

Browser session overview

Implementations are described and claimed herein to enable a user to quickly and efficiently locate preferred web pages or resources based on previous navigation. Implementations may utilize an 'intelligent forward' resource navigation scheme which analyzes a user's navigation to determine web pages or resources that the user is likely to target. Shortcuts to the 'forward target resources' may be presented in a manner that allows the user to readily and directly access a desired web page or resource without having to navigate among a series of intervening web pages or resources. In addition, the forward target resources may be ranked (e.g., based on frequency of access) and shortcuts may be presented to the user based on rank.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Kerry Rodden