Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-20
2001-10-02
Choules, Jack (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C711S113000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298356
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to data communication. In particular, the invention is drawn to methods and apparatus to enable the monitoring of accessed information.
BACKGROUND
Systems are available that allow an individual to search for information and conduct transactions. For example, an individual may use a web browser application to search for information stored on web servers in the form of web pages. Additionally, a web browser application can be used to conduct transactions (such as bank transactions) across the Internet. Various other types of systems and applications may be used to search for information and conduct transactions.
When an individual is searching for specific information or executing a transaction, the web pages or other information sources may not provide the specific information desired by the individual. In this situation, the individual may continue searching other information sources using the same searching system or application. Alternatively, the individual may attempt to search for the desired information using a different searching system or application. For example, if the individual is unable to locate the desired information at a particular web site, the individual may try searching at a different web site or may try searching through product brochures for the desired information.
These existing systems typically provide minimal feedback to the source of the information (e.g., the organization responsible for the web server or web page) regarding the success or failure of the individual's search results. Generally, the individual does not have any options for assistance except by initiating a communication (such as a telephone call) to the organization responsible for the web page or by searching at another information source. If the individual contacts the organization responsible for the web server or web page, the representative of the organization will initially be unfamiliar with the information already obtained by the individual. Additionally, the representative will initially be unfamiliar with the number of web pages viewed and the time spent viewing each web page. Further, the representative that receives the telephone call may not have the required knowledge or expertise to provide the required information to the individual. In this situation, the individual may need to talk to another representative having the appropriate knowledge and expertise. This procedure can be tedious and time-consuming for the individual.
One method of tracking web server and other information source accesses involves logging the occurrence of an access and the identity of the resource accessed. If the resource is static, the representative has a record of which resources were accessed and can recreate the access in order to aid the individual, for example, by viewing the static results of the access while communicating with the individual. The representative may still have no information on the length of time or number of times that the static resource (e.g., a static web page) was visited. In the case of a dynamic resource (e.g., a dynamically generated web page) the representative is additionally unlikely to be able to recreate or analyze the accessed information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Methods and apparatus for enabling collaboration with web pages and other resources is described. A method includes the step of establishing a collaboration session between a first client and a second client. A requested web page is provided to the first client in response to a client request having a first uniform resource locator (URL). The requested web page is cached if the requested web page has a pre-determined characteristic.
In one embodiment, the requested web page is cached if it is a dynamic web page. In one embodiment an expiration date of the requested web page is indicative of whether the requested web page should be cached. In another embodiment, a filename associated with the requested web page is indicative of whether the requested web page should be cached. In another embodiment, components of the request indicate whether the requested web page should be cached. A second URL is provided to the second client. The second URL identifies the requested web page or the cached web page in accordance with whether the requested web page is cached.
Another method includes the steps of establishing a collaboration session between a first client and a second client with a session host. A requested resource is cached with the session host in response to a request issued by the first client, if the requested resource is a pre-determined type of resource.
In one embodiment, the requested resource is cached if it is a dynamic resource. In one embodiment an expiration date of the requested resource is indicative of whether the requested resource should be cached. In another embodiment, a filename associated with the requested resource is indicative of whether the requested resource should be cached. In another embodiment, components of the request indicate whether the requested resource should be cached. A URL is provided to the second client. The URL identifies the requested resource or the cached resource in accordance with whether the requested resource is cached.
Apparatus for enabling collaboration includes a web server, a cache, and a filter. The web server provides a requested web page in response to a first client's request. The filter stores the requested web page in the cache, if the requested web page is a pre-determined type of web page.
In one embodiment, the requested web page is cached if it is a dynamic web page. In one embodiment an expiration date of the requested web page is indicative of whether the requested web page should be cached. In another embodiment, a filename associated with the requested web page is indicative of whether the requested web page should be cached. In another embodiment, components of the request indicate whether the requested web page should be cached.
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Dilip Venkatachari
Jawahar Janardhanan
Aspect Communications Corp.
Choules Jack
Davis William D.
Davis & Johnson, LLP
Lewis Cheryl
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