User-interface feature and technique for providing users of a network site links that have been determined to be of interest to the user

Abstract

A visitor of a network site is provided information about previously viewed content from that site. One or more internal pages of the network site that the user selects to view during one or more visits to the network site is recorded. At least one of the one or more internal pages is associated with a heading or category that is displayed on the network site. A user-activity is detected corresponding to the visitor directing attention to the heading or category. In response, a dynamic display is generated that provides a link to the at least one internal page that is associated with the category or heading.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method for notifying a user about web resources, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 recording user activity data relating to a web resource associated with a first category; and   in response to the user accessing a home web page:
 rendering a hierarchy of categories on the home web page, including the first category, and further including rendering, based on the recorded user activity data, static content indicating prior user interest in the first category, and 
 displaying dynamic content on the home web page emphasizing the first category. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the static content includes a highlight provided around the first category. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the dynamic content includes a flare-out window having a link to the web resource associated with the first category. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein displaying dynamic content occurs in response to determining that a cursor has been proximate to the first category for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the dynamic content in response to determining that a cursor has been moved a predetermined distance away from the category for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein recording user activity data includes processing metadata about the web resource including metadata about the first category. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying dynamic content occurs in response to determining that the user has selected the first category. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 recording user activity data relating to a web resource associated with a first category; and   in response to the user accessing a home web page:
 rendering a hierarchy of categories on the home web page, including the first category, and further including rendering, based on the recorded user activity data, static content indicating prior user interest in the first category, and 
 displaying dynamic content on the home web page emphasizing the first category. 
   
     
     
         10 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the static content includes a highlight around the first category. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , the dynamic content includes a flare-out window having a link to the web resource associated with the first category. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein displaying dynamic content occurs in response to determining that a cursor has been proximate to the first category for a predetermined length of time 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , further comprising removing the dynamic content in response to determining that a cursor has been moved a predetermined distance away from the category for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein recording user activity data includes processing metadata about the web resource including metadata about the first category. 
     
     
         15 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein displaying dynamic content occurs in response to determining that the user has selected the first category. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method for providing a user with content about prior-visited web pages, the method executed by one or more processors and comprising:
 associating a web resource with a category to be rendered on a home page;   displaying the category as one of a plurality of categories, wherein displaying the category includes including providing an indication that the user previously accessed the web resource; and   rendering further content emphasizing the category, the further content including a link to the web resource on the home page.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the further content includes a static marker associated with the category. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein displaying the category includes determining that a cursor has been proximate to the category for a predetermined length of time, and wherein rendering further content is in response to determining that a cursor has been proximate to the category for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein associating the web resource includes processing metadata about the web resource including metadata about the category. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing the further content in response to determining that the user's attention is directed away from the category. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining that the user has selected the category, and wherein providing the further content is in response to determining that the user has selected the category.