How Browsers Automatically Choose Your Start Page Based on History
An IBM patent from 1998 that describes how a web browser can automatically pick which website to load first based on your past browsing habits.
Original patent title: “Menu management mechanism that displays menu items based on multiple heuristic factors”
An IBM patent from 1998 that describes how a web browser can automatically pick which website to load first based on your past browsing habits. Granted to International Business Machines Corp in 2001 with 8 claims and 95 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for a web browser to automatically select and display an 'initial' web page as soon as the browser finishes starting up. It uses a list of historical web page selections to determine which page should be shown first. The system uses 'ranking control' to decide this order, which can be either automatic (based on factors like frequency or recency of visits) or manual (user-defined). Essentially, it turns your browser's homepage into a dynamic list that updates itself based on where you spend your time.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general search engine result ranking algorithms.
- Does not cover browser extensions that manually set a static homepage URL.
- Does not cover the underlying network protocols used to fetch the web page.
- Does not cover tabbed browsing or session restoration features.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The patent treats the browser's startup page not as a fixed setting, but as the top-ranked item in a dynamic, history-based list that the browser manages automatically.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Modern browser 'New Tab' pages that show frequently visited sites
Browser features that restore previous session tabs upon startup
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents an early attempt to make web browsers 'smarter' by personalizing the startup experience. It moved the browser away from a static, user-defined homepage toward a system that actively learns from user behavior, a concept now standard in modern browser 'new tab' pages.
Filed
July 23, 1998
Granted
July 24, 2001
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major browser developers like Google (Chrome), Mozilla (Firefox), and Microsoft (Edge) have built upon the concept of predictive startup and new-tab page content. These companies have evolved these basic ranking heuristics into complex machine learning models that predict user intent.
Market impact
This patent helped shift the industry standard for browser design from static, user-configured homepages to dynamic, behavior-driven interfaces. It paved the way for browsers to act as proactive assistants rather than passive tools, influencing how software manages user navigation history.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for a web browser to automatically select and display an 'initial' web page as soon as the browser finishes starting up. It uses a list of historical web page selections to determine which page should be shown first. The system uses 'ranking control' to decide this order, which can be either automatic (based on factors like frequency or recency of visits) or manual (user-defined). Essentially, it turns your browser's homepage into a dynamic list that updates itself based on where you spend your time.
The clever bit
The patent treats the browser's startup page not as a fixed setting, but as the top-ranked item in a dynamic, history-based list that the browser manages automatically.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general search engine result ranking algorithms.
- Does not cover browser extensions that manually set a static homepage URL.
- Does not cover the underlying network protocols used to fetch the web page.
- Does not cover tabbed browsing or session restoration features.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
5/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$43K – $138K
Midpoint $86K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
8 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Roth, S. W. (2001). How Browsers Automatically Choose Your Start Page Based on History (U.S. Patent No. 6,266,060). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6266060/windows-desktop
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US6266060"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Software & Internet
US 4405829 · 1983 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
US 6285999 · 2001 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How Websites Get Ranked by Importance
US 5960411 · 1999 · Amazon com Inc
How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases
US 7669123 · 2010 · Facebook Inc
Displaying Friends' Activities in a Social Network Feed
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Browsers Automatically Choose Your Start Page Based on History cover?
An IBM patent from 1998 that describes how a web browser can automatically pick which website to load first based on your past browsing habits.
Who owns patent US 6266060?
International Business Machines Corp owns this patent, granted in 2001.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 6266060 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 95 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents an early attempt to make web browsers 'smarter' by personalizing the startup experience. It moved the browser away from a static, user-defined homepage toward a system that actively learns from user behavior, a concept now standard in modern browser 'new tab' pages.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general search engine result ranking algorithms.
Same assignee
More from International Business Machines Corp
Patent monitoring