Method, apparatus, and program for automatic client side refresh of advanced web pages

• US 20040109011A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Peterson, William David Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/315,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A refresh mechanism is provided for dynamic Web pages. A graphical user interface is provided for mimicking a pointer function. A graphical slider allows a user to set a refresh interval. The user may also set a pointer location to mimic. When the refresh mechanism is enabled, the mechanism will perform the pointer function at the pointer location each time the refresh interval expires. The refresh mechanism may be programmed as part of a Web browser, a plug-in for a Web browser, or as a separate application.

Claims

1. A method for refreshing a dynamically generated document, comprising:

receiving a dynamically generated document from a server;

recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

automatically repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user, wherein the pointer operation results in receiving the dynamically generated document to form an updated dynamically generated document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically generated document includes one of a JavaScript, a Java applet, and an Active Server Page.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of recording a pointer operation and a pointer location includes:

presenting a refresh tool including a mimic control for recording a refresh operation; and

responsive to selection of the mimic control, receiving the pointer operation and the pointer location as the refresh operation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the refresh tool includes a timer control for setting a refresh interval.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of automatically repeating the pointer operation includes repeating the pointer operation upon expiration of the refresh interval.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the timer control is a graphical slider control.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pointer operation is one of a selection of a hyperlink and a selection of a refresh navigation function.

8. A method for mimicking a pointer function, comprising:

setting a refresh interval;

recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

upon expiration of the refresh interval, repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of recording a pointer operation and a pointer location includes:

presenting a refresh tool including a mimic control for recording a refresh operation; and

responsive to selection of the mimic control, receiving the pointer operation and the pointer location as the refresh operation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of setting a refresh interval includes:

presenting a refresh tool including a timer control for setting the refresh interval; and

setting the refresh interval based on the timer control.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the timer control is a graphical slider control.

12. An apparatus for refreshing a dynamically generated document, comprising:

receipt means for receiving a dynamically generated document from a server;

recordation means for recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

refresh means for automatically repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user, wherein the pointer operation results in receiving the dynamically generated document to form an updated dynamically generated document.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the dynamically generated document includes one of a JavaScript, a Java applet, and an Active Server Page.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the recordation means includes:

presentation means for presenting a refresh tool including a mimic control for recording a refresh operation; and

means, responsive to selection of the mimic control, for receiving the pointer operation and the pointer location as the refresh operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the refresh tool includes a timer control for setting a refresh interval.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the refresh means includes means for repeating the pointer operation upon expiration of the refresh interval.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the timer control is a graphical slider control.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pointer operation is one of a selection of a hyperlink and a selection of a refresh navigation function.

19. An apparatus for mimicking a pointer function, comprising:

setting means for setting a refresh interval;

recordation means for recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

repetition means, upon expiration of the refresh interval, for repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the recordation means includes:

means for presenting a refresh tool including a mimic control for recording a refresh operation; and

means, responsive to selection of the mimic control, for receiving the pointer operation and the pointer location as the refresh operation.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the setting means includes:

means for presenting a refresh tool including a timer control for setting the refresh interval; and

means for setting the refresh interval based on the timer control.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the timer control is a graphical slider control.

23. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for refreshing a dynamically generated document, comprising:

instructions for receiving a dynamically generated document from a server;

instructions for recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

instructions for automatically repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user, wherein the pointer operation results in receiving the dynamically generated document to form an updated dynamically generated document.

24. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for mimicking a pointer function, comprising:

instructions for setting a refresh interval;

instructions for recording a pointer operation and a pointer location for the pointer operation; and

instructions, upon expiration of the refresh interval, for repeating the pointer operation at the recorded pointer location without interaction from the user.