Patent Application
20150019985
The subject technology generally relates to web browsers and, in particular, relates to systems and methods for customizing web browsers.
A web browser can be customized to meet the needs of a specific user. For example, bookmarks and extensions that are desired by the user can be added to the web browser. However, when the web browser is customized in this manner, it is generally not known who the web browser is customized for. This may be a problem, for example, if different users use the web browser. Furthermore, the customization of the web browser may not necessarily be up to date, and therefore may be insufficient for meeting the needs of the user.
According to various aspects of the subject technology, a system for customizing a web browser is provided. The system comprises a selection module configured to determine a first profile of the web browser. The first profile is associated with a first user of the web browser and a first configuration of the web browser. The system also comprises a retrieval module configured to obtain social networking information associated with the first user. The system also comprises a synchronization module configured to update the first configuration of the web browser based on the social networking information.
According to various aspects of the subject technology, a computer-implemented method for customizing a web browser is provided. The method comprises determining a first profile of the web browser. The first profile is associated with a first user of the web browser and a first configuration of the web browser. The method also comprises obtaining social networking information associated with the first user. The method also comprises updating the first configuration of the web browser based on the social networking information.
According to various aspects of the subject technology, a machine-readable medium encoded with executable instructions for customizing a web browser is provided. The instructions comprise code for determining a first profile of the web browser. The first profile is associated with a first user of the web browser and one or more settings of the web browser specific to the first user. The instructions also comprise code for obtaining social networking information associated with the first user. The instructions also comprise code for updating the one or more settings of the web browser based on the social networking information. The one or more settings comprises at least one of a toolbar display, a title bar display, and a new page display. The code for updating the one or more settings comprises code for automatically populating at least one of the toolbar display, the title bar display, and the new page display with the social networking information.
Additional features and advantages of the subject technology will be set forth in the description below, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology. The advantages of the subject technology will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the subject technology and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the subject technology and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the subject technology.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the subject technology. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the subject technology.
A user may customize a web browser in various ways, such as by customizing bookmarks, extensions (e.g., add-ons to the web browser), and other web browser settings. However, if the user desires to maintain the same customization in different devices (e.g., different laptop computers, desktop computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc.), the user may need to repeat the customization for each of the different devices. To remedy this, a user profile of the web browser may be generated. The user profile may be associated with the user and a particular configuration of the web browser. This configuration may be synchronized among all the different devices. For example, when the user is using a web browser of a particular device, the user may sign into the web browser with the user profile. The configuration associated with the user profile may then be uploaded to a server. If the user signs into a web browser of a new device with the user profile, the configuration may be retrieved from the server (e.g., over a network) and the configuration can be applied to the web browser of the new device, thereby obviating the need for the user to personally customize the web browser running on the new device. However, when the web browser is customized in this manner, it is generally not known who the web browser is customized for, which can be a problem especially when multiple users use the new device.
According to certain aspects, the subject technology solves the foregoing problem by allowing a user to opt into using the user's social networking information to customize a web browser. The social networking information, for example, may comprise the user's social networking profile image as well as the user's social networking profile name. The social networking information may be used to automatically populate one or more areas of the web browser, thereby allowing the user (for which the current customization belongs to) to be identified. For example, the social networking information may be displayed prominently on the web browser, such as on the web browser's new tab page. The social networking information may also be used to automatically populate certain fields of web pages accessed using the web browser. Furthermore, the user may update the social networking information frequently, and thus, the social networking information may be more up to date in reflecting the user's intent than a current configuration of the web browser. In this regard, the social networking information may be used to update the configuration of the web browser.
In some aspects, each configuration may comprise one or more settings of the web browser specific to a corresponding user. The one or more settings may comprise at least one of a toolbar display, a title bar display, a new page display, auto-fill information for one or more fields of a web page, a bookmark, a web application, an extension, a theme, a home page preference, a startup preference, a password display preference, a phishing and malware detection preference, a domain name system (DNS) pre-fetching preference, an address bar suggestion preference, a navigation error suggestion preference, a download location preference, a web content preference, a clear-browser data preference, a translation preference, a language preference, a spell-checker preference, a page zoom preference, and other settings of the web browser that can be personalized for a user's needs.
To determine which user web browser 300 should be customized for, selection module 102 may determine which profile is used to sign into web browser 300 with. According to step S202 in
If the user signs in with a profile that is specific to the user, then according to step S208, retrieval module 104 may obtain social networking information associated with the user. For example, retrieval module 104 may retrieve the social networking information from server 108, which may assist in providing a social networking service and store the social networking information. The social networking information may comprise at least one of a profile image of the user, a profile name of the user, and any other interests, preferences, or personal information that can be used to update the configuration of web browser 300. For example, if the user's social networking information indicates an interest in a certain web page, that information can be used to update the bookmarks of web browser 300.
Once the user has signed in with either the user-specific profile or the default profile, the configuration of web browser 300 can be updated. According to step S212, synchronization module 106 may update the configuration of web browser 300 based on the social networking information or the default profile information. If the user is signed in with the user-specific profile, then synchronization module 106 may update the configuration of web browser 300 based on the social networking information.
For example, one of the settings of web browser 300 includes the auto-fill information. Web browser 300 can use this information to automatically complete one or more fields of a web page. The auto-fill information may comprise at least one of credential data, credit card data, address data, contact data, log-in data, password data, and other information that may be requested by a particular web page. According to certain aspects, synchronization module 106 may update the configuration of web browser 300 by populating the auto-fill information with the social networking information. Thus, the user's social networking information may be used to complete the one or more fields of a web page. For example, the user's social profile name may be used to complete a name entry of a web page. Other social networking information may be used to complete other fields of a web page.
The configuration of web browser 300 may also be updated using the social networking information in other ways. For example, synchronization module 106 may automatically populate at least one of a toolbar display, a title bar display, and a new page display of web browser 300 with the social networking information. As shown, in
The subject technology may also provide a convenient way to change between different profiles of web browser 300. For example, as shown in
In some aspects, different users may sign into web browser 300 with different user-specific profiles. Each of these profiles may be associated with a different configuration that can be updated in a similar manner as described above (e.g., with respect to
Returning to
In some aspects, processor module 604 may comprise one or more processors, where each processor may perform different functions or execute different instructions and/or processes. For example, one or more processors may execute instructions for customizing a web browser (e.g., method 200) and one or more processors may execute instructions for input/output functions.
Memory module 606 may be random access memory (“RAM”) or other dynamic storage devices for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor module 604. Memory module 606 may also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor 604. In some aspects, memory module 606 may comprise battery-powered static RAM, which stores information without requiring power to maintain the stored information. Storage module 610 may be a magnetic disk or optical disk and may also store information and instructions. In some aspects, storage module 610 may comprise hard disk storage or electronic memory storage (e.g., flash memory). In some aspects, memory module 606 and storage module 610 are both a machine-readable medium.
Controller 600 is coupled via I/O module 608 to a user interface for providing information to and receiving information from an operator of system 100. For example, the user interface may be a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) or LCD monitor for displaying information to an operator. The user interface may also include, for example, a keyboard or a mouse coupled to controller 600 via I/O module 608 for communicating information and command selections to processor module 604.
According to various aspects of the subject disclosure, methods described herein are executed by controller 600. Specifically, processor module 604 executes one or more sequences of instructions contained in memory module 606 and/or storage module 610. In one example, instructions may be read into memory module 606 from another machine-readable medium, such as storage module 610. In another example, instructions may be read directly into memory module 606 from I/O module 608, for example from an operator of system 100 via the user interface. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in memory module 606 and/or storage module 610 causes processor module 604 to perform methods to customize a web browser. For example, a computational algorithm for customizing web browser 300 may be stored in memory module 606 and/or storage module 610 as one or more sequences of instructions. Information such as the profiles, the social networking information, the default profile information, the configurations, and other suitable information may be communicated from processor module 604 to memory module 606 and/or storage module 610 via bus 602 for storage. In some aspects, the information may be communicated from processor module 604, memory module 606, and/or storage module 610 to I/O module 608 via bus 602. The information may then be communicated from I/O module 608 to an operator of system 100 via the user interface.
One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in memory module 606 and/or storage module 610. In some aspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various aspects of the subject disclosure. Thus, aspects of the subject disclosure are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
The term “machine-readable medium,” or “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor module 604 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage module 610. Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as memory module 606. Common forms of machine-readable media or computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical mediums with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a processor can read.
The foregoing description is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the various configurations described herein. While the subject technology has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and configurations, it should be understood that these are for illustration purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the subject technology.
There may be many other ways to implement the subject technology. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Various modifications to these configurations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other configurations. Thus, many changes and modifications may be made to the subject technology, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the subject technology.
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference.
A phrase such as “an aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such as an “aspect” may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such an “embodiment” may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such as a “configuration” may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.
