Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-12-04
Geckil, Mehmet B. (Department: 2752)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S223000, C709S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327609
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of Java programming. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved system and method for storing client-side data in Java.
2. Description of the Related Art
Java
Java is an object-oriented programming language which has attracted considerable amount in recent years. One key feature of Java is that it can be used to create computer programs which are platform-independent. That is, the same Java object code may be used on numerous different operating systems including Windows 95, Unix, Solaris, and Macintosh. This interoperability makes Java an ideal choice for programming Internet applications.
Once a program is written in Java source code, the Java compiler generates a compact, architecture-neutral object code known as a “bytecode.” Bytecodes are executed by a runtime interpreter residing on the client computer. This runtime interpreter is commonly referred to as a Java “virtual machine.” The Java virtual machine reads each bytecode and interprets the program instructions which comprise that bytecode so that the instructions may be executed by the native client microprocessor. Virtual machines are included in commonly available Internet browser applications such as Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer.™
Java was derived from the popular C++ programming language and, as such, retained many significant features of that language. For example, Java, like C++, is object-oriented. Accordingly, Java programs are developed around “classes” and “objects.” These two terms are not interchangeable but they are directly related to one another. A class can be thought of as a template or blueprint from which an object is made. When an object is created from a class, new object is called a new “instance” of that class. The object will initially have all of the same characteristics of the class from which it was derived. These characteristics are defined by the data within the object and the functions and procedures—i.e., the methods—associated with the object.
“Applets” are compact Java programs comprised of one or more bytecodes. They are typically embedded in-line as objects within Hypertext Markup Language (hereinafter “HTML”) documents on the World Wide Web (hereinafter “the Web”) in a similar fashion to HTML-embedded images. Unlike images, however, applets may be interactive, receiving user input, executing calculations based on it and presenting continually changing content. For example, applets are ideal for generating rich media content such as audio and/or video banners. One limitation on applets, however, is that (for security reasons) they are only capable of communicating with a single Web server.
Cookies
Cookies are a useful tool for maintaining state information on the Internet, particularly with respect to the Web. Because the Hyper Text Transport Protocol (“HTTP”)—the protocol used for communicating over the Web—is a “stateless” (i.e., non-persistent) protocol, Web servers are generally incapable of differentiating between Web site visits by clients.
This represents a significant limitation to client/server transactions on the Internet. In various situations, Web site owners may need their Web servers to save session information relating to Web site visits by clients. For example, e-commerce Web sites may need to assign client customers transaction IDs and passwords to help associate HTTP transactions with a single client customer. Such sites require some mechanism for determining when, and for how long, clients are “logged on.” Similarly, Web sites advertisers may need to track the areas on a particular Web site most frequently visited by client customers to (for example) help build demographic databases and/or to personalize sites with dynamic content.
The “cookie” was developed to address these problems. A cookie is simply a small amount of data that a Web server saves and can later retrieve from a client system. Cookies are typically utilized by server-side code such as Common Gateway Interface (“CGI”) programs. They are managed on the client side by Web browsers (referred to generally as “HTTP User Agents”).
Cookies are transmitted via two HTPP headers: Cookie and Set-Cookie. Before transmitting a cookie to a client, a server typically asks the client if it is accepting cookies. If so, then the server sends the cookie data via the Set-Cookie header. Included in the header is a description of the range of Universal Resource Locators (“URLs”) for which that cookie is valid. If the user subsequently revisits the Web server or any URL within the specified range, the client's browser returns the required state data via the Cookie header.
Although cookies have been widely implemented for Web pages, they have not been used to store state information associated with Java applets. Due to the widespread use of applets embedded in HTML documents on the Internet, and due to the fact that these applets and frequently uploaded to the client by a server other than the server on which the HTML document resides, a system for using cookies with Java applets would be beneficial to the applet provider for at least the reasons stated above. For example, such a system would allow a Web server providing advertising applets to keep track of the different applets (e.g., multimedia ads, sound-bytes . . . etc) downloaded by a particular client.
In addition, it would be useful in some circumstances to configure an applet (e.g., downloaded from a first Web server) to read cookie data generated by a other applets (e.g., downloaded from other Web servers). The first Web server could then learn more about the particular client and could narrowly tailor applet data for the client (e.g., sound or video clips) which accurately matches the client's preferences.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for using cookies in Java. What is also needed is a system and method for using cookies in Java wherein two applets generated by different Web server can exchange cookie data. What is also needed is a system and method for using cookies in Java which can be implemented on currently existing Java platforms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A system for using cookies in Java is disclosed comprising a first server which: transmits an applet to a client, the applet including content of a particular type and/or subject matter and configured to store cookie data relating to the client; and subsequently interprets the cookie data to select the type and/or subject matter of applet content to transmit to the client the next time the first server transmits applet content to the client.
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Joe Burns, “So You Want A Cookie, Huh?” http://htmlgoodies.earthweb.com/tutors/cookie.html, Jun. 18, 1997.
Ludewig Carl
Ryan Rhys
AudioBase, Inc.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Geckil Mehmet B.
LandOfFree
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