Method and system for enabling a script on a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a script on a second computer over a network

• US 20030014479A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slack Technologies, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Staib, Christopher, Shafron, Thomas Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for enabling a script on a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a script on a second computer so as to provide access by the script to data typically inaccessible by a script. The method and system enable a first computer to control the Internet navigation of a second computer, and also enable instant messaging between a first computer and a member of a synchronization group. The computers may be connectable with each other over any type of network (e.g., LAN, WAN, intranet, Internet, cellular, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of enabling a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, the first and second computer being connectable via a server, the second computer having a second script and a second control loaded thereon and operable in connection therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

downloading, to the first computer, computer code comprising a first script operable in connection with the first computer for accessing a function of a first control loaded on the first computer, the first script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer and for causing the first control to communicate with the server and to transmit the data input by the user to the server; and

causing the server to transmit the data received from the first script to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

2. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the computer code further comprises the first control.

3. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first control comprises an ActiveX control.

4. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can display data output to the user of the first computer.

5. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the first control.

6. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can call the function of the first control.

7. A method as recited by claim 6, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the function of the first control.

8. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script.

9. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the server has defined in a database thereon a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of the member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer.

10. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

11. A method of enabling a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, the first and second computer being connectable via a server, said method comprising the steps of:

downloading, to the first computer, first computer code comprising a first script operable in connection with the first computer for accessing a function of a first control loaded on the first computer, the first script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer and for causing the first control to communicate with the server and to transmit the data input by the user to the server;

downloading, to the second computer, second computer code comprising a second script operable in connection with the second computer for accessing a function of a second control loaded on the second computer, the second script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the second computer; and

causing the server to transmit the data received from the first script to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

12. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first computer code further comprises the first control.

13. A method as recited by claim 12, wherein the first control comprises an ActiveX control.

14. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the second computer code further comprises the second control.

15. A method as recited by claim 14, wherein the second control comprises an ActiveX control.

16. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can display data output to the user of the first computer, and wherein the second script can display data output to the user of the second computer.

17. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the first control, and wherein the second script can send data to and receive data from the second control.

18. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can call the function of the first control.

19. A method as recited by claim 18, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the function of the first control, and wherein the second script can send data to and receive data from the function of the second control.

20. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script, and wherein the second script is operable in connection with the second computer by opening a web page containing the second script.

21. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the server has defined in a database thereon a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of the member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer;

and wherein the function of the second control comprises;

a login function to enable the user of the second computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the second computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of the computer of a member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the second computer.

22. A method as recited by claim 21, wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

24. A method as recited by claim 23, further comprising the step of enabling the user of the first computer to send an instant message to the user of the second computer.

25. A method as recited by claim 23, wherein said step of enabling the user of the first computer to login comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a login function that generates a login identification and that receives the data input to the script from the user of the first computer, the ActiveX control transmitting the data input and login identification to the server, the ActiveX control receiving login confirmation or rejection data from the server and passing the login confirmation or rejection data to the script.

26. A method as recited by claim 23, wherein said step of enabling the user of the first computer to synchronize comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from the script, the ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

27. A method as recited by claim 26, wherein Internet navigation is carried out by the user of the first computer in connection with an Internet browser, and wherein said step of controlling the navigation comprises:

providing a browser helper object (BHO) control for receiving a navigation message from the Internet browser when the user of the first computer navigates from a first Internet web page to a second Internet web page;

providing a script for receiving the navigation message from the BHO control and for creating an XML feed of the navigation message; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from the script, the ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server to control the Internet navigation of the second computer based upon Internet navigation of the first computer.

28. A method as recited by claim 27, wherein the navigation message comprises a url for the second Internet web page.

29. A method as recited by claim 24, wherein said step of enabling the user of the first computer to send an instant message comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from the script, the ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

30. A method as recited by claim 23, further comprising the step of enabling the user of the second computer to login to the synchronization group.

31. A method as recited by claim 30, wherein said step of enabling the user of the second computer to login comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a login function that generates a second login identification and that receives the data input to the script from the user of the second computer, the ActiveX control transmitting the data input and second login identification to the server, the ActiveX control receiving login confirmation or rejection data from the server and passing the login confirmation or rejection data to the script.

32. A method as recited by claim 23, further comprising the step of enabling the user of the second computer to synchronize with the user of the first computer.

33. A method as recited by claim 32, wherein said step of enabling the user of the second computer to synchronize comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from the script, the ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

34. A method as recited by claim 23, further comprising the step of enabling the user of the second computer to send an instant message to the user of the first computer.

35. A method recited by claim 34, wherein said step of enabling the user of the second computer to send an instant message comprises:

providing a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

providing an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from the script, the ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

37. A system as recited by claim 36, wherein the server has defined in a database thereon a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a ember of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of a member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer.

38. A system as recited by claim 37, wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable the user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

39. A system as recited by claim 36, wherein the first computer code further comprises the first control.

40. A system as recited by claim 39, wherein the first control is an ActiveX control.

41. A system as recited by claim 36, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script.

42. A system as recited by claim 36, said processor being further operable in connection with the software for downloading, from the server to the second computer, second computer code comprising a second script operable in connection with the second computer for accessing a function of a second control loaded on the second computer, the second script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the second computer.

43. A system as recited by claim 42, wherein the server has defined in a database thereon a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the second control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the second computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the second computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of a member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the second computer.

44. A system as recited by claim 43, wherein the function of the second control further comprises and instant message function to enable the user of the second computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

45. A system as recited by claim 42, wherein the second computer code further comprises the second control.

46. A system as recited by claim 45, wherein the second control is an ActiveX control.

47. A system as recited by claim 42, wherein the second script is operable in connection with the second computer by opening a web page containing the second script.

48. A system as recited by claim 42, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script, and wherein the second script is operable in connection with the second computer by opening a web page containing the second script.

50. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to enable the user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

51. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a login function that generates a login identification and that receives the data input from the user of the first computer, said ActiveX control transmitting the data and login identification to the server, said ActiveX control receiving login confirmation or rejection data from the server and passing the login confirmation or rejection data to said script.

52. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from said script, said ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

53. A system as recited by claim 49, wherein Internet navigation is carried out by the user of the first computer in connection with an Internet browser, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a browser helper object (BHO) control for receiving a navigation message from the Internet browser when the user of the first computer navigates from a first Internet web page to a second Internet web page;

provide a script for receiving the navigation message from the BHO control and for creating an XML feed of the navigation message; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from said script, said ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server to control the Internet navigation of the second computer based upon Internet navigation of the first computer.

54. A system as recited by claim 53, wherein the navigation message comprises a url for the second Internet web page.

55. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the first computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from said script, said ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

56. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to enable the user of the second computer to login to the synchronization group.

57. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a login function that generates a login identification and that receives the data input from the user of the second computer, said ActiveX control communicating the data and login identification to the server, said ActiveX control receiving login confirmation or rejection data from the server and passing the login confirmation or rejection data to said script.

58. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to enable the user of the second computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group.

59. A system as recited by claim 58, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from said script, said ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

60. A system as recited by claim 49, said processor being further operable in connection with software to enable the user of the second computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

61. A system recited by claim 60, said processor being further operable in connection with software to:

provide a script that accepts data input from the user of the second computer and creates an XML feed of the data; and

provide an ActiveX control defining a synchronization function that generates a synchronization identification and that receives the XML feed from said script, said ActiveX control transmitting the XML feed and synchronization identification to the server.

23. A method of enabling a first computer to synchronize with a second computer as a synchronization group so that the second computer is caused to navigate the Internet based upon Internet navigation of the first computer, the first computer and second computer being connectable with each other via a server, said method comprising the steps of:

enabling a user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

enabling the user of the first computer to synchronize with a user of the second computer; and

controlling the Internet navigation of the second computer based upon Internet navigation of the first computer.

36. A system for enabling a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, the first and second computer being connectable via a server, the second computer having a second script and a second control loaded thereon and operable in connection therewith, said system comprising a processor provided on the server and operable in connection with software loaded on the server, said processor downloading, from the server to the first computer, first computer code comprising a first script operable in connection with the first computer for accessing a function of a first control loaded on the first computer, the first script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer and for causing the first control to communicate with the server and to communicate the data input by the user to the server, said processor being further operable in connection with the software to cause the server to transmit the data received from the first script to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

49. A system for enabling a first computer to synchronize with a second computer so that the second computer is caused to navigate the Internet based upon Internet navigation of the first computer, the first computer and second computer being connectable with each other via a server having a database thereon and having defined therein a synchronization group, said system comprising:

a processor operable in connection with software to provide login functionality to enable a user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

said processor being further operable in connection with software to provide synchronization functionality to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with the user of the second computer; and

said processor being further operable in connection with software to provide navigation functionality to control the Internet navigation of the second computer based upon Internet navigation of the first computer.

62. A computer connectable to a server and through the server to a second computer, said computer having an Internet browser installed thereon and operable in connection therewith for enabling connection to and navigation of the Internet, said computer comprising:

a processor;

a first control operable in connection with said processor and in communication with the Internet browser;

a script operable in connection with said processor and in communication with said first control for receiving Internet navigation data therefrom;

a second control operable in connection with said processor and having a function defined therein and being in communication with said script for receiving data therefrom, said second control receiving Internet navigation data from said script and transmitting the Internet navigation data to the server so as to control the Internet navigation of the second computer based upon the Internet navigation of said computer.