Accessing web pages in the background

Abstract

A method and system allows a user to fetch a subsequent web page while maintaining the current web page as the active web page. The next web page is fetched “in the background” and stored in cache memory without interrupting the user. Once the requested web page has been stored in cache, an indicator is added to the history list allowing the user access to the processed web page. In order to view the next web page, the user simply selects the appropriate icon on the user interface, such as the forward button which is akin to selecting the back or forward button to scroll through the history of web pages. Since the web page is in the cache, it is displayed relatively quickly and since the user selects when to display the page, there is no interruption.

1 . A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for displaying a subsequent page in place of a current page in a current window of a graphical user interface on a computer display, said method comprising: 
 receiving a first user-initiated request for the subsequent page;    processing the requested subsequent page in memory;    displaying a visual cue indicating that the subsequent page has been substantially processed;    receiving a second user-initiated request to display the subsequent page; and    displaying the subsequent page in the current window from memory.    
   
   
       2 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the page is a web page and the computer is a client computer system that is connected to a server computer, and wherein the server computer is adapted to receive a request for the web page from the client computer and return the web page to the client computer.  
   
   
       3 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 2  wherein: 
 the computer display comprises a touch screen of a portable computing device; and    the portable computing device includes a web browser application that generates the graphical user interface containing the current window.    
   
   
       4 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the web browser application is part of an operating system for the portable computing device.  
   
   
       5 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 3  wherein: 
 the visual cue is displayed on the touch screen; and    the second user-initiated request to display the subsequent page comprises a user touching the visual cue on the touch screen.    
   
   
       6 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the user interface displays a forward control and the visual cue comprises a visual change in the forward control.  
   
   
       7 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the user interface displays a new page address bar, and the visual cue includes a uniform resource locator for the subsequent page displayed in the new page address bar.  
   
   
       8 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 5  wherein: 
 the first user-initiated request for the subsequent page comprises selecting a hyperlink for the subsequent page within the current window of the graphical user interface;    the visual cue comprises a change in color of the hyperlink for the subsequent page; and    the second user-initiated request for the subsequent page comprises selecting the hyperlink for the subsequent page following the change in color of the hyperlink.    
   
   
       9 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 5 , wherein a degree of processing required prior to displaying the visual cue may be configured by the user.  
   
   
       10 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the client computer: 
 receives multiple requests for web pages to be fetched in the background;    upon receipt of a request for a web page, adds the requested web page to a history list;    provides access to the history list, allowing a user to select a web page for display; and    if an error is returned to the client computer in place of a requested web page, the client computer removes the web page from the history list and provides a visual indication to the user that the requested web page is inaccessible.    
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for executing a process for displaying a subsequent web page in place of a current web page in a current window on a computer display, the process comprising: 
 receiving a first user-initiated request for the subsequent web page;    processing the subsequent web page into displayable form in memory;    displaying a visual cue to a user indicating that the subsequent web page has been substantially processed;    receiving an indication from the user that the subsequent web page should be displayed; and    displaying the subsequent web page in the current window from memory.    
   
   
       12 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the visual cue provides information related to the amount of processing that has been completed.  
   
   
       13 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the visual cue is displayed once the subsequent web page has been fully processed.  
   
   
       14 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 11 , wherein receiving an indication from the user that the subsequent web page should be displayed further comprises receiving a second user-initiated request to display the subsequent web page.  
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 14  wherein: 
 the visual cue comprises a highlighted icon displayed on the computer display; and    the second user-initiated request to display the subsequent web page comprises selecting the highlighted icon.    
   
   
       16 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 11 , wherein receiving an indication from the user that the subsequent web page should be displayed further comprises: 
 waiting a predetermined time interval for user interaction following display of the visual cue;    if there is no user interaction within the predetermined time interval, displaying the subsequent web page in the current window; and    if there is user interaction within the interval, continuing to display the current web page in the current window until receiving a second user-initiated request to display the subsequent web page.    
   
   
       17 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 16  wherein the user interaction comprises scrolling through the current web page within the current window.  
   
   
       18 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 17  wherein: 
 the visual cue comprises a highlighted icon displayed on the computer display; and    the second user-initiated request to display the subsequent web page comprises selecting the highlighted icon.    
   
   
       19 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the process further comprises: 
 adding a reference associated with the subsequent web page to a history list; and    wherein the indication received from the user relates to the reference in the history list.    
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the user supplies the indication by selecting a forward button.