Method and apparatus for managing history logs in a data processing system

• US 20020191015A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Michael Wayne, Ullmann, Cristi Nesbitt, Kaply, Michael Aaron, Reed, Aaron Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/884,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing a history for a browser in a data processing system. A history is recorded for a browser. The history may be presented to the user in a fashion similar to a video or slide show presentation in which Web pages in the history are sequentially presented in the order of visitation. The presentation of the history may be manipulated through a set of controls, such as a play button, a reverse button, a fast forward button, and a stop button. Potions of the history may be deleted or selectively exported for analysis or later use.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for managing a history for a browser, the method comprising:

recording a history for a browser; and

selectively exporting a portion of the history for analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion covers a period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the period of time is for a session.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting the portion of the history.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion includes a set of Web pages visited during the period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of the history; and

receiving user input to select the portion of the history.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical representation is in a form of a tree.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical representation is in a form of a set of entries in a window.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording step is initiated in response to a beginning of a browser session.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the recording step terminates in response to a termination of the browsing session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording step is initiated in response to a user input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the log includes a plurality of browsing sessions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selection is received from a user input.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the log is stored in a storage device located within the data processing system.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the log is stored in a storage device located in a remote data processing system.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the storing step forms a stored log and further comprising:

presenting Web pages in the portion of the log in response to an event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the event is a user input.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving a user input manipulating presentation for the Web pages.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user input is one of a play, fast forward, reverse, or stop.

12. A method in a data processing system for logging browsing activities for a browser, the method comprising:

logging Web pages visited using the browser to form a log;

presenting the log;

receiving a selection of a portion of the log; and

storing the log in response to receiving the selection.

19. A method in a data processing system for presenting a history of browser activities, the method comprising:

logging Web pages received by a browser session to form a log; and

sequentially displaying Web pages from the log.

22. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to record a history for a browser; and

selectively export a portion of the history for analysis.

26. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein the portion covers a period of time.

27. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the period of time is for a session.

28. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising:

presenting means for presenting the portion of the history.

29. The data processing system of claim 26, wherein the portion includes a set of Web pages visited during the period of time.

30. The data processing system of claim 25 further comprising:

displaying means for displaying a graphical representation of the history; and

receiving means for receiving user input to select the portion of the history.

31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the graphical representation is in a form of a tree.

32. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the graphical representation is in a form of a set of entries in a window.

33. The data processing system of claim 25, wherein the recording means is initiated in response to a beginning of a browser session.

34. The data processing system of claim 33, wherein the recording means terminates in response to a termination of the browsing session.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the recording means is initiated in response to a user input.

37. The data processing system of claim 36, wherein the log includes a plurality of browsing sessions.

38. The data processing system of claim 36, wherein the selection is received from a user input.

39. The data processing system of claim 36, wherein the log is stored in a storage device located within the data processing system.

40. The data processing system of claim 36, wherein the log is stored in a storage device located in a remote data processing system.

41. The data processing system of claim 36, wherein the storing means forms a stored log and further comprising:

means for presenting Web pages in the portion of the log in response to an event.

42. The data processing system of claim 41, wherein the event is a user input.

23. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to log Web pages visited using the browser to form a log;

present the log;

receive a selection of a portion of the log; and

store the log in response to receiving the selection.

24. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to log Web pages received by a browser session to form a log; and

sequentially display Web pages from the log.

25. A data processing system for managing a history for a browser, the data processing system comprising:

recording means for recording a history for a browser; and

selectively exporting means for selectively exporting a portion of the history for analysis.

36. A data processing system for logging browsing activities for a browser, the data processing system comprising:

logging means for logging Web pages visited using the browser to form a log;

presenting means for presenting the log;

receiving means for receiving a selection of a portion of the log; and

storing means for storing the log in response to receiving the selection.

43. A data processing system for presenting a history of browser activities, the data processing system comprising:

logging means for logging Web pages received by a browser session to form a log; and

sequentially displaying means for sequentially displaying Web pages from the log.

44. The data processing system of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving means for receiving a user input manipulating presentation for the Web pages.

45. The data processing system of claim 44, wherein the user input is one of a play, fast forward, reverse, or stop.

46. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing a history for a browser, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for recording a history for a browser; and

second instructions for selectively exporting a portion of the history for analysis.

47. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for logging browsing activities for a browser, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for logging Web pages visited using the browser to form a log;

second instructions for presenting the log;

third instructions for receiving a selection of a portion of the log; and

fourth instructions for storing the log in response to receiving the selection.

48. A computer program product in a computer readable medium presenting a history of browser activities, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for logging Web pages received by a browser session to form a log; and

second instructions for sequentially displaying Web pages from the log.