Page element identifier pre-classification for user interface behavior in a communications system

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for modifying user interface behavior according to page element identifier pre-classification. For example, a number of content page (e.g., webpage) element identifiers (e.g., object classes or identifiers) are pre-classified as linking to associated media objects. When a content page or domain is requested by a user's web interface, the response is intercepted and analyzed to see if it has pre-classified element identifiers. If so, a script is injected in the webpage code or otherwise communicated to the requesting web interface, and the script is executed at the client side. Having executed the script, when a user interacts with a page element having one of the pre-classified element identifiers, the user interface is modified to provide enhanced functionality relating to the media object linked to by the page element.

Description

FIELD[0001]Embodiments relate generally to communications services, and, more particularly, to modifying user interface behavior according to page element identifier pre-classification.BACKGROUND[0002]Users of communications services are increasingly accessing media content over data communications networks, like the Internet, through content service provider (e.g., media aggregator websites), web portals, games, and / or other user interfaces. The user interfaces can include media objects and elements that link to media content objects. Some media content and / or communications services providers seek to enhance services and user experiences (e.g., to help users find and access desired content, to monitor and understand user selection processes, etc.) through user interfaces that present added functionality upon detecting that a user has interfaced with a media object. For example, a browser can include a plug-in that displays additional information or options to the user (e.g., in a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Among other things, systems and methods are described for modifying user interface behavior according to page element identifier pre-classification. In one illustrative embodiment, a number of webpage element identifiers are pre-classified as linking to associated media objects. For example, a number of webpages (and / or domains) is analyzed to determine which object classes or identifiers link to media objects, like video files. When one of those webpages is requested by a user's web browser, the response is intercepted and a script is injected in the webpage code. The user's browser receives the webpage and executes the script, which includes or causes the browser to retrieve the set of pre-classified element identifiers for the webpage. When the user interacts with a page element having one of the pre-classified element identifiers, the script causes the browser to modify the user interface to provide enhanced functionality relating to the media object linked to by the page element (i.e., as opposed to the page element itself).

Problems solved by technology

Traditional approaches to providing additional information or options to the user in these types of contexts tend to be limited in a number of ways.

Other implementations of such functionality involve redirecting the user to a dedicated website that has enhanced page functionality, which typically takes the user away from the preferred content service provider website and / or otherwise impacts the user experience in undesirable ways.

Images