Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-06
2001-02-13
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S224000, C345S215000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to the navigation and task management of network browsers in a computer environment. More particularly, the invention relates to the recording and storing of user navigational paths and tasks for network browsers and computer programs in a computer environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modern Internet browsers allow users to navigate through websites easily. Most browsers provide some type of device that enables the user to backtrack through previously visited web pages. This “history” function generally lasts throughout the time that a user instantiates the browser program until the point where the browser is terminated. This time period is what traditionally defines a “session.” The session history function on browsers record the current navigation path of the user, i.e. it is a single-threaded path. Referring to
FIG. 1
, browsers
101
provide back
102
and forward
103
buttons which are used to traverse the path.
With respect to
FIG. 2
, a drawback to this approach is apparent when a user navigates through a path on a typical browser, visiting page A 201 first. Page B 202 is then visited, followed by page C 203. The user backtracks up this path to page B 205 and deviates to page D 207. Once the user goes off the path, information about the previous path that was deviated from is lost. Here, the fact that the user visited page C 206 after page B 205 is lost. Only the path of pages A 204, B 205, and D 207 exists.
Another approach uses a global history, where every page that is visited is recorded and the user has the ability to get back to any of the previous pages visited. However, there is no context associated with global history. The paths can be sorted by date which means that as long as the user visits all of the pages in the global history only once, then she is able to tell what other pages were visited in that time period. This gives the user an idea of her activities within a certain time frame. However, if the user revisits a page, then the time stamp for that page is updated and all context is lost because each site is saved only once, not multiple times. Global history only records the first and last visited date for any page. The user is unable to tell what other pages were visited within the previous time period.
Further, one other approach allows the user to create a list of pages that she is interested in and which defines her path. The user navigates through the custom path in the browser. The back and forward buttons in the browser operate on the path. This allows the user to use the same path multiple times. However, there is only one list and it is single-threaded.
It would be advantageous to provide a session navigation system that records and categorizes all of the paths that a user navigates through in a session. It would further be advantageous to provide a session navigation system that is centralized and enables the user to designate multiple custom paths which include tasks that cross application programs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a session navigation and recording system. The invention uses an easily configured session recording system that automatically records all of the web pages that the user visits during a session and organizes them into paths. In addition, the invention uses a user-definable path system that enables the user to create paths that include web pages, macros, filters, search queries, and any object that can be acted upon, such as application programs.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system automatically records every web page that the user visits. This preserves the context of the paths and allows the user to view all of the paths traversed in a session. The session paths are placed in a file.
The user navigates through the saved session paths using a session history toolbar. The toolbar allows the user to navigate through any selected session path and provides controls for backward, forward, pause, and record commands. Sessions can be automatically executed by the user with a time delay between each task.
The invention enables the user to edit and display any session path. Pages may be marked for different levels of priorities and also for aging. Pages may be marked to expire within a certain time span or by a certain date.
Further, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the user creates a custom path comprised of web pages, macros, filters, search queries, email, and any object that can be acted upon, including other application programs. User defined paths may also be combined with all or part of a session path. The user defined paths are executed in the same manner as session paths.
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Bauersfeld Kristin
Putterman Scott
Caldwell Andrew
Glenn Michael A.
Maung Zarni
Netscape Communications Corporation
Wong Kirk
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