Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing – Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-10-16
Coulter, Kenneth R. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating
C709S230000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to computer networks, and more particularly to sending and retrieving data by the internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Retrieving data from remote servers by the internet is impeded by the delays often encountered between the time data is requested and the time when it has been retrieved and is available for display. Users spend a lot of time waiting. The download time can vary significantly depending on several factors, including server load, the transmission bandwidth from the server to the client, and the amount of data to be downloaded; as such, this very pertinent information is context-sensitive.
Network traffic is not well distributed. At one time, a user will select a link from a hypertext document on the screen, and for a time there is heavy communication on the network between the user and the server. The user may wait for an annoyingly long period as the new page of data is downloaded. The user then reads the new page while the communication path between client and server remains idle; the server may indeed be doing no work if there are no other pending requests from other users. It would be desirable to even out this load so that the network is used a greater percentage of the time; this could provide a mode of operation where data is available when the user is ready for it, and thus the user spends less time waiting.
In an effort to speed up the delivery of data via networks, the speed and bandwidth of these networks has been greatly increased. An increase in speed and bandwidth of course results in faster delivery of requested data. However, this is a great cost in view of the extensive hardware upgrades needed. And part of this increase in cost is needless, if the delivery could be spread out in time so that loading on the network is more even, rather than in short bursts of large blocks of data. And, due to the ever-increasing number of users, the same result is soon obtained, i.e., long delays experienced by users yet sporadic loading of the network.
Many advances have been made in factors influencing user delay, such as compression of data so that less need be downloaded to present a given page of data, and caching of data on local or intermediate servers or stations so that it is more unlikely that bottlenecks will be encountered. Nevertheless, increases in the number of users and volume of information available and the volume of data per page has resulted in delays which keep occurring in spite of vast increases in delivery speed and technique.
A previously-used way of avoiding the problem of delays in viewing data requested via the internet is to use a program that will download all of the pages linked to a web page whenever this page is requested. However, this method unnecessarily loads the servers and network since excessive transmission of unneeded pages occurs.
Currently, most links provide no indication of response time. Some download files are posted with their file size listed, or offer an estimated download time based on hypothetical context. Also, users can install products such as the IBM “Web Browser Intelligence” product, which provides some degree of proxy of the server, but these simply provide an indication of whether the server for a link is accessible, and, if so, whether the net transmission time is “normal” or “relatively slow.” There is no accurate, context-sensitive information about the time required to resolve a link.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of sending and receiving data over a computer network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved and more efficient method for retrieving pages of data from remote locations via the internet, particularly a method which allows the user to select actions when there are delays in viewing data from a remote server.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved way of more efficiently viewing or using data retrieved by a computer network, without requiring increases in speed or bandwidth of the network hardware itself.
An additional object of the invention to provide a way of presenting context-sensitive information about the ability to retrieve information from a remote server in a network environment so that a user can decide on an preferred method of receiving the information from the server.
The above objects are separate and distinct from one another; all such objects as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a computer network such as the internet has servers to deliver pages of data to remote users upon demand, and these pages usually contain links to further pages. The request for data is in the form of a page address sent by the user, identifying a specific page, usually by a “URL.” The server has the ability to generate context-sensitive information about delivery of this page, including current loading at the server, transmission bandwidth for the server, and size of the data requested. The server can calculate the time needed to transfer the requested data, and send this information to the client. The user can then decide the transfer method desired, based on the information sent by the server. The browser may have default or user-selected settings specifying what transfer method to use for sending the requested information from the server, e.g., a setting which specifies: if there will be more than a 30-second wait to transfer a requested page, ask the server to send the page via email and give the user a message informing them of this. Thus, the user station can specify immediate transfer, or delayed transfer, or may abort the request. The requested page may be sent later by email. The server may send the context-sensitive information for all of the links on a page, and the user station may display the information for a link when it is clicked, in one embodiment. In this manner, receipt of information can be selective, based on user's needs and network delays.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5504894 (1996-04-01), Ferguson et al.
patent: 5724514 (1998-03-01), Arias
patent: 5913041 (1999-06-01), Ramanathan et al.
patent: 5953506 (1999-09-01), Kalra et al.
patent: 6078919 (2000-06-01), Ginzburg et al.
patent: 6223221 (2001-04-01), Kunz
Isensee Scott Harlan
Mullaly John Martin
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Coulter Kenneth R.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Leeuwen Leslie A. Van
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