Methods and apparatus for enabling shared web-based interaction in stateful servers
First Claim
1. A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the method comprising the steps of:
- in accordance with a network element operatively positioned between a first device and an information source in the network, retrieving information from the information source in the network for storage in response to receipt of a request from a first browser associated with the first device to retrieve the information, wherein the request from the first browser is automatically translated at the first device so as to be directed to the network element such that the network element is substantially transparent to the first browser; and
in accordance with the network element, sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source in accordance with the network element.
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Abstract
A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, includes retrieving information from an information source in the network for storage in response to receipt of a retrieval request from a first browser associated with a first device. The method further includes sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source. Preferably, a surrogate is established in at least the first device for informing the second device of the request made such that the browser of the second device can make the similar request. Also, the information available from the information source in the computer network may include dynamically changing (i.e., stateful) content.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the method comprising the steps of:
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in accordance with a network element operatively positioned between a first device and an information source in the network, retrieving information from the information source in the network for storage in response to receipt of a request from a first browser associated with the first device to retrieve the information, wherein the request from the first browser is automatically translated at the first device so as to be directed to the network element such that the network element is substantially transparent to the first browser; and
in accordance with the network element, sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source in accordance with the network element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the method comprising the steps of:
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downloading code to a first browser associated with a first device to establish a surrogate therein, the surrogate translating requests from the browser, wherein request translation is automatically performed by the surrogate such that the network element is substantially transparent to the first browser;
in accordance with a network element operatively positioned between the first device and an information source in the network, retrieving information from the information source in the network for storage in response to receipt of a translated request from the surrogate of the first browser to retrieve the information; and
in accordance with the network element, sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar translated request therefrom, the second device receiving the translated request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source in accordance with the network element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. Apparatus for interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor, associated with a network element operatively positioned between a first device and an information source in the network, for retrieving information from the information source in the network in response to receipt of a request from a first browser associated with a first device to retrieve the information, wherein the request from the first browser is automatically translated at the first device so as to be directed to the network element such that the network element is substantially transparent to the first browser, the processor further being operable to send the information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source in accordance with the network element; and
memory, associated with the network element, for storing the retrieved information in association with the request from the first browser.
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21. An article of manufacture for enabling interactive sharing of information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the article comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
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in accordance with a network element operatively positioned between a first device and an information source in the network, retrieving information from the information source in the network for storage in response to receipt of a request from a first browser associated with a first device to retrieve the information, wherein the request from the first browser is automatically translated at the first device so as to be directed to the network element such that the network element is substantially transparent to the first browser; and
in accordance with the network element, sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source in accordance with the network element.
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22. A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a request at a first browser associated with a first device to retrieve information from an information source in the network;
directing the request to a storage element operatively residing between the first browser and the information source so that the storage element retrieves the information from the information source in response to receipt of the request, wherein direction of the request includes automatically modifying the request at the first device so as to be directed to the storage element rather than to the information source such that the storage element is substantially transparent to the first browser;
storing the retrieved information at the storage element;
sending the retrieved information from the storage element to the first browser; and
sending the retrieved information from the storage element to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 28)
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27. Apparatus for interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processor associated with a first device operative to;
generate a request at a first browser associated with the first device to retrieve information from an information source in the network; and
direct the request to a storage element operatively residing between the first browser and the information source so that the storage element retrieves the information from the information source in response to receipt of the request, wherein direction of the request includes automatically modifying the request at the first device so as to be directed to the storage element rather than to the information source so that the storage element is substantially transparent to the first browser, such that the retrieved information may be;
(i) stored at the storage element;
(ii) sent from the storage element to the first browser; and
(iii) sent from the storage element to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source.
Specification