Method and a system for retrieving data of a data network

• US 20030065737A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Aasman, Jannes
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

A method and a system for speeding up and reducing the latency in retrieving data of a data network (1). The network (1) being of the type from which data can be retrieved as data pages, among others, multi-level data pages from a plurality of data servers (2) and by a plurality of users (6; 16). Users are provided with an editable navigation tool (19) for retrieving data pages from the network (1). Data pages and data page levels retrieved by a user (6; 16) with the aid of the navigation tool (19) are analyzed and stored in a personal proxy (9; 11) associated with the user (6; 16) and featured by a cache memory (10; 12). The cache memory (10; 12) is refreshed by retrieving relevant data pages and data page levels from the data network (1). Data pages and data page levels requested with the aid of the navigation tool (19) are at first instance retrieved from the personal proxy (9, 11) and, if not available, from the data network (1).

Claims

1. A method for retrieving data of a data network, said network being of the type from which data can be retrieved as data pages, among others multi-level data pages, from a plurality of data servers and by a plurality of users, said method comprising the steps of:

providing users with an editable navigation tool for retrieving data pages from said network;

analysing data pages and data page levels retrieved by a user with the aid of said navigation tool;

storing said retrieved data pages and data page levels in a personal proxy associated with said user, featured by a cache memory;

refreshing said cache memory by retrieving relevant data pages and data page levels from said data network; and

retrieving, with the aid of said navigation tool, data pages and data page levels stored in said personal proxy.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cache memory is selected from at least one of a group of cache memories located with a data network service provider, a residential or local network gateway and a home computer.

3. A method according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said analysing step comprises analysing data pages and data page levels retrieved by a group or family of users, wherein said retrieved data pages and data page levels of said family or group of users are stored in a family proxy associated with said family or group of users.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said family proxy is comprised of said personal proxy of said users associated with said group or family of users.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said analysing step comprises calculation of an average level depth and timing profile of retrieved data pages and, wherein said data pages and data page levels are stored and refreshed in said cache memory based on said calculated average depth and timing profiles.

6. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said cache memory is refreshed by randomly sampling on said data network of said data pages and data page levels stored in said cache memory.

7. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said analysing, storing, refreshing and retrieving steps are performed by said personal and family proxy.

8. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein said navigation tool takes the form of a navigation tree.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said navigation tree comprises a first list of data categories and each data category comprises a second list of multi-level data pages, wherein said first and second list are user editable.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said second list comprises icons taking the form of an arbitrary part of a data page.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a user editable tool for filtering a data content of a data page to be displayed, including levels of said data page retrieved with the aid of said navigation tree.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said filter tool comprises at least one of a plurality of a group of filters including text filters, graphic filters, colour filters, frame filters, background filters and page re-writing mechanisms.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein for a data page and data page levels thereof predetermined filters are prepared and made available for incorporating into a navigation tree of a user.

14. A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein said navigation tree and filters of a user are made available for incorporating into the navigation tree of another user.

15. A method according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein said navigation trees and filters of users are analyzed as to the content of and frequency by which data pages and data page levels are retrieved, and suggestions are provided to individual users for enhancing or amending the content of their individual navigation tree based on said analyses.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein of suggested data pages at least two data page levels are stored in said cache memory.

17. A method according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein at a first start up of a user, a navigation tree is provided, optionally based on certain characteristics of said user.

18. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said navigation tool is provided by a network service provider.

19. A system arranged for operating in accordance with the method of any of the previous claims, comprising a data network of the type from which data can be retrieved as multi-level data pages from a plurality of data servers and by a plurality of users having a personal computer arranged for connection to said data network and comprising a personal proxy featured by a cache memory.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said personal proxy is a family proxy.

21. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program arranged for providing a method according to any of the previous claims.