Thumbnail image previews

Abstract

A first web page is displayed on a client computer. In response to determining that a second web page is made accessible through a link embedded in the first web page, an image corresponding to the second web page is fetched and stored. In addition, a thumbnail image preview that corresponds to the fetched image of the second web page is generated, stored, and displayed while the first web page is displayed.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A computer-implemented method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
 receiving, at a client computer, an electronic message in a messaging application, the electronic message including a link to a web page;   displaying, at the client computer, the electronic message with the link;   fetching the web page;   automatically identifying, at the client computer, features in the web page;   generating a preview image of the web page that is a reduced scale representation of the web page;   determining, at the client computer, that a cursor is interacting with the link in the messaging application without a user otherwise selecting the link; and   displaying, to the user at the client computer, the preview image of the web page in response to having determined that the cursor is interacting with the link without otherwise selecting the link in the messaging application.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to display the preview image of the web page before invocation of the link in the messaging application. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to configure the display of the preview image of the web page to enable navigation to the web page upon selection of the preview image by the user. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining that there is a second link embedded in the web page corresponding to a second web page. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , further comprising detecting a triggering event and receiving a request for the second web page in response to the triggering event. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , further comprising generating and displaying a preview image of the second web page. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , further comprising storing data related to the second web page in at the client computer. 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
 a memory that stores instructions; and   one or more processors that are configured to execute instructions for:   receiving, at a client computer, an electronic message in a messaging application, the electronic message including a link to a web page;   displaying, at the client computer, the electronic message with the link;   fetching the web page;   automatically identifying, at the client computer, features in the web page;   generating a preview image of the web page that is a reduced scale representation of the web page;   determining, at the client computer, that a cursor is interacting with the link in the messaging application without a user otherwise selecting the link; and   displaying, to the user at the client computer, the preview image of the web page in response to having determined that the cursor is interacting with the link without otherwise selecting the link in the messaging application.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to display the preview image of the web page before invocation of the link in the messaging application. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to configure the display of the preview image of the web page to enable navigation to the web page upon selection of the preview image by the user. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising determining that there is a second link embedded in the web page corresponding to a second web page. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising detecting a triggering event and receiving a request for the second web page in response to the triggering event. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising generating and displaying a preview image of the second web page. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising storing data related to the second web page in at the client computer. 
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:
 a memory that stores instructions; and   one or more processors that are configured to execute instructions for:   receiving, at a client computer, an electronic message in a messaging application, the electronic message including a link to a web page;   displaying, at the client computer, the electronic message with the link;   fetching the web page;   automatically identifying, at the client computer, features in the web page;   generating a preview image of the web page that is a reduced scale representation of the web page;   determining, at the client computer, that a cursor is interacting with the link in the messaging application without a user otherwise selecting the link; and   displaying, to the user at the client computer, the preview image of the web page in response to having determined that the cursor is interacting with the link without otherwise selecting the link in the messaging application.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 40 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to display the preview image of the web page before invocation of the link in the messaging application. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 40 , further comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to configure the display of the preview image of the web page to enable navigation to the web page upon selection of the preview image by the user. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 40 , further comprising determining that there is a second link embedded in the web page corresponding to a second web page. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , further comprising detecting a triggering event and receiving a request for the second web page in response to the triggering event. 
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 44 , further comprising generating and displaying a preview image of the second web page.