Storage Of Content Associated With A Resource Locator
Patent No. US12026454 (titled "Storage Of Content Associated With A Resource Locator") was filed by Google Llc on Dec 30, 2022.
What is this patent about?
’454 is related to the field of web browsers and, more specifically, to enhancing user experience by providing integrated annotation capabilities. Modern web browsing often involves researching across multiple sites, requiring users to synthesize and compare information. Existing methods for note-taking and organization, such as bookmarking or external note-taking applications, are often cumbersome and lack integration with the browsing experience. This patent addresses the need for a more seamless and private way to annotate and organize information gathered from the web.
The underlying idea behind ’454 is to integrate an annotation interface directly into the web browser , allowing users to create and store notes associated with specific webpages or groups of webpages (tab groups). This interface is designed to be separate from the webpage rendering process, ensuring that the website server cannot access or track the user's annotations. The key insight is to provide a user-centric annotation system that enhances research and decision-making without compromising privacy.
The claims of ’454 focus on a browser implementing a method that involves presenting a webpage in a browser content window associated with a resource address, presenting an annotation area outside the browser content window, receiving an annotation in the annotation area associated with a user account for a tab group that includes the resource address of the webpage and at least one other resource address, and storing the annotation in association with the user account and the tab group. The claims also cover a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computing system configured to perform the same method.
In practice, the invention works by providing a dedicated annotation area, such as a sidebar, within the browser window. When a user is browsing a webpage, they can add notes, highlight text, or insert images into the annotation area. These annotations are then stored locally or remotely in association with the user's account and the specific webpage or tab group. The browser can also provide auto-suggestions for annotations based on the content of the webpage, historical search data, or document structure, streamlining the annotation process.
The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by its tight integration with the browser and its focus on user privacy. Unlike external note-taking applications, the annotation interface is always readily available and directly linked to the browsing context. Furthermore, by keeping the annotation data separate from the webpage rendering process, the invention ensures that website servers cannot access or track the user's annotations, providing a secure and private note-taking experience. The ability to associate annotations with tab groups further enhances organization and synthesis of information across multiple related webpages, a feature not commonly found in existing annotation tools.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’454 was filed, at a time when web browsers commonly relied on client-side rendering of web pages, and when storing user-specific data associated with web content typically involved server-side databases, hardware or software constraints made it non-trivial to provide a seamless, browser-integrated annotation experience that kept user data separate from the website's servers.
Novelty and Inventive Step
Claims were amended during prosecution. Claims 1-4, 6-17 and 21 were allowed. Claims 18-20 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103. This action was made final.
Claims
This patent includes 20 claims, with claims 1, 13, and 18 being independent. The independent claims are generally directed to presenting a webpage and an annotation area, receiving an annotation for a tab group, and storing the annotation. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the method, storage medium, or system of the independent claims, adding details or features to the annotation process.
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Date
Description
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US12026454
- Application Number
- US18148789
- Filing Date
- Dec 30, 2022
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 30, 2042
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents