System and method of routine navigation

Abstract

A system and method for navigating through routinely visited web pages with a browser that allows a user to navigate through the web pages using a “Next/Previous” paradigm. The system includes a routine list having at least one routine, each routine including user ordered user specified URLs, means for editing the routine list and its URLs, means for establishing and specifying a routine from the routine list, and means for sequentially moving from one URL in the specified routine to another URL in the specified routine. By specifying a routine from the routine list, the user can visit a desired group of web pages in a desired order. The moving means allows the user to easily navigate from one web page to another web page in the specified routine in accordance with the user specified order of web pages associated with such routine regardless of any spontaneous browsing conducted by the user.

1 . A system for navigating through a plurality of user specified web pages, said system comprising: 
 at least one routine of at least one web page address for repeated web page viewing by a user with a web page viewer,    wherein said at least one web page address of said at least one routine are explicitly provided and sequenced by the user,    and said at least one routine is stored for repeated use;    means for user activation of said at least one routine,    wherein said routine activation establishes an initial web page as the current web page of the web page viewer;    means for advancing the current web page in said web page viewer from that of a first web page address in said at least one routine sequentially to that of a second web page address in said at least one routine,    wherein said advancing means is activated with a single user action;    means for returning the current web page in said web page viewer to said first web page from said second web page.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  further tolerating interim user browsing, said system comprising: 
 means for activating at least one link within said first web page to change the current web page in said web page viewer to a third web page;    means for advancing the current web page in said web page viewer from said third web page to said second web page,    wherein said advancing means is activated with a single user action.    
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2  further comprising an embedded software navigation panel, said system comprising: 
 a navigation panel that remains available throughout a user's routine navigation session;    wherein said navigation panel is positioned on said web page viewer;    wherein said advancing means is positioned on said navigation panel.    
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 2  further comprising a remote software navigation panel, said system comprising: 
 a navigation panel that remains available throughout a user's routine navigation session;    wherein said navigation panel is positioned close in proximity to the currently viewed web page;    wherein said advancing means is positioned on said navigation panel.    
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein at least one web page may be quick-added to said at least one routine from a web page within said system, with one user action, said system comprising: 
 a quick-add hypertext link,    wherein said quick-add link is provided on at least one web page whose content is at least partially managed by said system;    means for said quick-add link to contain at least one web page address;    means to activate said quick-add link;    means for said activation to add said contained at least one web page address to said at least one routine without additional user interaction beyond said activation means.    
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein at least one web page may be quick-added to said at least one routine from a third party web page, with one user action, said system comprising: 
 a quick-add hypertext link,    wherein said quick-add link is provided on at least one third party web page whose content is not managed by said system;    means for said quick-add link to contain at least one web page address;    means to activate said quick-add link;    means for said activation to add said contained at least one web page address to said at least one routine without additional user interaction beyond said activation means.    
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein at least one web page may be quick-added to said at least one routine from a third party web page, with two user actions, said system comprising: 
 a quick-add hypertext link,    wherein said quick-add link is provided on at least one third party web page whose content is not managed by said system;    means for said quick-add link to contain at least one web page address;    means to activate said quick-add link;    means for said activation to add said contained at least one web page address to said at least one routine with an additional user acceptance confirmation action.