Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-24
2001-12-04
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2176)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer programs and in particular to software for controlling and moving along paths of previously accessed interactive inter- or intra-net HTML source files.
2. Description of Related Art
Current web browsers for accessing HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files from inter- or intra-net computer servers build an access path for accessed web pages constructed from data in the HTML files and provide the ability to move backward and forward along the access path. While this works well for data (non-interactive) web pages, it has drawbacks for interactive web pages. An interactive web page includes response areas on the screen that are used to communicate information to the user.
Although from the perspective of the user on the client computer it may appear as though only one interactive screen is used, in reality a new screen is created from the HTML data each time there is communication between the user and the web server program on the network computer. In most instances, the user is not interested in the various iterations of the same screen with blanks partially or wholly filled in.
These various screens which differ little from each other create a problem when the user attempts to move backward along the access path. The user must navigate through every screen that was created in the course of filling in the blanks for the interactive session to get back original screen position. When using the “BACK” function on the typical web browser, this means that additional time is expended. Additionally, the web browser cache in which the data to reconstruct the screens using HTML has its limits, which means that fewer different screens are saved. If the web browser screen access path is utilized, this path record may also be limited in the number of screen and web site URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) stored.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for controlling and moving along paths of previously accessed interactive inter- or intra-net HTML source files.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a web browser which will have the ability in the web browser cache and web browser screen access path to distinguish between interactive screens having blanks and interactive screens having filled-in blanks.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a web browser which will have the ability to selectively eliminate from the web browser cache interactive screens having filled-in blanks.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a web browser which will have the ability to avoid in the web browser screen access path interactive screens having filled-in blanks.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to one of skill in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to, in a first aspect, a process for controlling and moving along a path containing previously accessed interactive inter- or intra-net HTML source files and bypassing certain interactive HTML source files which contain informational messages. First, there is provided a web browser having i) a first non-interactive web browser cache for storing data from a plurality of HTML source files and a first non-interactive web browser screen access path for identifying and displaying each of the HTML source files in the first cache, and ii) a second interactive web browser cache for storing data from a plurality of HTML source files and a second interactive web browser screen access path for identifying and displaying each of the HTML source files in the second cache. The process includes selecting a desired non-interactive HTML source file, downloading the desired non-interactive HTML source file to the web browser, and storing the desired non-interactive HTML source file in the non-interactive web browser cache and the non-interactive web browser screen access path. Next, the process includes selecting a desired interactive HTML source file for a form which presents blank spaces for entry of information at the web browser, downloading the desired interactive HTML source file to the web browser, and storing the desired interactive HTML source file for a form which presents blank spaces in the non-interactive web browser cache and the non-interactive web browser screen access path. Finally, the process includes filling in the blank spaces on the desired interactive HTML source file form; and storing the desired interactive HTML source file form presenting filled-in spaces in the interactive web browser cache and the interactive web browser screen access path.
The process may further include traversing the non-interactive web browser screen access path and optionally displaying an HTML source file from data in the non-interactive web browser cache, such that only the non-interactive HTML files and the interactive HTML source file for a form which presents blank spaces are displayed.
Also, the process may include traversing the non-interactive web browser screen access path and printing a web page from data in the non-interactive web browser cache.
The process may also include traversing the interactive web browser screen access path and optionally displaying an HTML source file from data in the interactive web browser cache, such that only the interactive HTML files for forms which present filled-in spaces are displayed. Further, the process may include traversing the interactive web browser screen access path and printing a web page from data in the interactive web browser cache.
Preferably, a plurality of interactive HTML source file forms presenting filled-in spaces are stored in the interactive web browser cache and the interactive web browser screen access path, and the process further includes eliminating from the interactive web browser screen access path an interactive HTML source file form presenting filled-in spaces if the only difference between such interactive HTML source file form presenting filled-in spaces and another interactive HTML source file form presenting filled-in spaces is an informational message.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a web browser system for controlling and moving along a path containing previously accessed interactive inter- or intra-net HTML source files and bypassing certain interactive HTML source files which contain informational messages. The system comprises a first non-interactive web browser cache adapted to store data from a plurality of non-interactive HTML source files and a plurality of interactive HTML source files for forms which present blank spaces for entry of information at the web browser and a first non-interactive web browser screen access path for identifying and displaying each of the non-interactive HTML source files and interactive HTML source files for forms which present blank spaces from data in the first web browser cache. The system also comprises a second interactive web browser cache for storing data from a plurality of interactive HTML source files for forms which present filled-in spaces, and a second interactive web browser screen access path for identifying and displaying each of the interactive HTML source files for forms which present filled-in spaces from data in the second web browser cache.
The system may further include means for displaying from data in the first web browser cache only the non-interactive HTML source files and interactive HTML source files for forms which present blank spaces and means for displaying from data in the second web browser cache only the interactive HTML source files for forms which present filled-in spaces. Also, the system may further comprise means for printing from the first web browser cache only the non-interactive HTML source files and interactive HTML sourc
Dauerer Norman J.
Kelley Edward E.
Knickerbocker John U.
DeLio & Peterson LLC
Hong Stephen S.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Paula Cesar B.
Reynolds Kelly M.
LandOfFree
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