Multi-Mode Web Browsing

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for displaying web pages includes receiving code for a first web page, the code defining formatting for displaying the web page in at least two different display modes, displaying web page in a first display mode in a browser, the first display mode being a full page display in browser pane, receiving a user command to display the web page in a second display mode, and displaying the web page in a second display mode, the second display mode not being a reduced-sized or cropped version of the first display mode.

1 . A computer-implemented method for displaying web pages, the method comprising:
 receiving code for a first web page, the code defining formatting for displaying the web page in at least two different display modes;   displaying the web page in a first display mode in a browser, the first display mode being a full page display in a pane of the browser;   receiving a user command to display the web page in a second display mode; and   automatically displaying the web page in a second display mode, the second display mode not being a reduced-sized or cropped version of the first display mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second display mode is displayed by a gadget that is separate from the browser. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a user command to minimize the web page, and automatically causing the web page to be minimized in an operating system in response to the user command. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the code defines particular types of information to be displayed in the first mode and the second mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second mode displays a summary of information that is displayed in the first mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein code for the first mode is received before receiving the user command to display the web page in the second mode, and code for the second mode is received after receiving the user command to display the web page in the second mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a display area of the second mode is automatically generated to be substantially smaller than a display area of the first mode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second display mode comprises displaying a mobile version of the first web page. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a subsequent user command to display the web page in the first display mode; and in response to receiving the subsequent user command, displaying the web page in the first display mode. 
     
     
         10 . A process for a computing device, the process comprising:
 displaying a first version of a web page in a browser on a computing device;   receiving a first user command on the computing device to decrease a size of the web browser;   in response to receiving the first user command, displaying a second version of the web page in the browser, wherein the second version comprises a subset of the first version.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the second version of the web page comprises a mobile version of the web page. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second versions of the web page are associated with different URLs. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the format of the second version differs from the format of the first version. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the second version of the web page contains less multimedia than the first version. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the display area of the second version of the web page is substantially smaller than the display area of the first version of the web page. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving a second user command on the computing device to increase the size of the web browser; and in response to receiving the second user command, displaying the first version of the web page in the browser. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a graphical display on a computing device;   a browser capable of displaying web pages on the graphical display; and   user input device capable of receiving user commands to manipulate the browser,   wherein the browser is programmed to display content in at least a first display mode and a second display mode, the second display mode being a reduced-sized or cropped version of the first display mode and being displayed automatically in response to a user command to reduce a size of the browser in the first display mode.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , a gadget instantiated by the browser for display content in a second display mode. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the gadget is separate from the browser. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for displaying web pages, the method comprising:
 receiving code for a first web page, the code defining formatting for displaying the web page in at least two different display modes;   displaying web page in a first display mode in a browser, the first display mode being a full page display in browser pane;   receiving a user command to display the web page in a second display mode; and   displaying the web page in a second display mode, the second display mode being a reduced-sized or cropped version of the first display mode.