SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZED CO-BROWSING BY USERS IN DIFFERENT WEB SESSIONS

• US 20090164581A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Vanguard Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Vanguard Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Ceklosky, Joseph F. JR., Hubler, Glenn Jackson, Bove, Louis Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A system and method for enabling co-browsing between two or more users accessing a website in separate sessions. Each of the users operates a web browser instance to browse the website. The website comprises one or more web pages, at least a portion of which includes embedded software code or script. A collaboration manager, established after the users consent to co-browsing, associates the sessions of the users. As the users navigate to new web addresses in the website or enter data into their browser instances, the software code or script embedded within the web pages rendered in the browser instances causes each user'"'"'s browser to communicate changes in the web addresses or data to the collaboration manager. The collaboration manager receives the communicated changes and provides them to other co-browsing users. Synchronization of cursors, scroll-bar positions and other browser events is also supported.

Claims

1. A method for collaborative internet browsing by a first user associated with a first computer comprising a first display and a first browser comprising a first open browser instance, and a second user associated with a second computer comprising a second display and a second browser comprising a second open browser instance, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a website accessible by the first and second browsers, the website comprising one or more web pages, each web page corresponding to a web address;

establishing a first connection between the first computer and the website and causing a web page to load in the first browser instance;

establishing a second connection between the second computer and the website and causing a web page to load in the second browser instance;

without requiring installation or downloading of any collaboration-enabling executable software program by either the first or second computer or requiring use of an additional browser instance or frame to transmit or receive changes in the first or second browser instances, establishing a collaboration manager that associates the first and second browser instances and communicates changes or events originating in the first browser instance to the second browser instance;

causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the second browser instance;

causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to receive changes or events originating in the second browser instance; and

causing the first browser instance to synchronize to the second browser instance to mirror the changes or events originating in the second browser instance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the first browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the first browser instance;

causing the second browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to receive changes or events originating in the first browser instance; and

causing the second browser instance to synchronize to the first browser instance to mirror the changes or events originating in the first browser instance, wherein

the collaboration manager communicates changes or events originating in the second browser instance to the first browser instance and changes or events originating in the first browser instance to the second browser instance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the website comprises a first set of web pages accessible to the first user and a second set of web pages accessible only to the second user, wherein one or more pages in the second set of web pages comprises at least a portion thereof that is identical in content to a corresponding page or pages in the first set of web pages.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more pages in the second set of web pages comprises additional content not provided in a corresponding page or pages in the first set of web pages.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing data entered by the first user in the first browser instance among the additional content provided on the one or more web pages in the second set of web pages.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing changed or added information in a web page rendered in the first browser instance to be highlighted whenever the information is changed or added in response to a communication received from the collaboration manager.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a first cursor controller for controlling a position of a first cursor relative to content on the first display, the second computer comprises a second cursor controller for controlling a position of a second cursor relative to content on the second display, the method further comprising generating a first cursor avatar on the first display for showing the position of the second cursor relative to the content on the second display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing data sufficient to provide a history of a user'"'"'s use of the website.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the step of establishing the collaboration manager, causing the first browser instance to display a query requesting authorization to create a collaborative browsing session;

receiving authorization to create the collaborative browsing session;

creating the collaborative browsing session by establishing the collaboration manager only after receiving the authorization; and

registering the first user or the first browser instance with the collaborative browsing session.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a communication from the first user over a communication channel and using unique information about the first user provided via the communication channel to identify a collaborative browsing session for which the first user has registered from a list of registered collaborative browsing sessions.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a cache of the changes or events originating from the second browser instance prior to the step of establishing the collaboration manager, sharing at least a portion of the cache with the collaboration manager, once established, and the collaboration manager providing information to the first browser instance from the cache sufficient to enable the first browser instance to reflect browser changes or events originating in the second browser instance and stored in the cache before the collaboration manager was established.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the portion of the cache shared with the collaboration manager and provided to the first browser instance is sufficient to enable the first browser instance to move backward and forward through a series of web pages corresponding to web pages visited by the second browser instance before the collaboration manager was established and to enable the first browser instance to display the changes or events originating in the second browser instance.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the website comprises a plurality of identical website instances and wherein the first browser instance is connected to a first website instance and the second browser instance is connected to a second website instance.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing one or more predetermined functions to be performed by one of the first or second browser instances during a collaboration session.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more predetermined functions are non-navigational in nature.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more web pages include embedded software code that is interpreted by the first and second browser instances, that causes the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of the changes or events originating in the second browser instance, and that causes the first browser instance to request the collaboration manager to communicate to the first browser instance the changes or events originating in the second browser instance.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the embedded software code includes a first event handler that requests the collaboration manager to communicate to the first browser instance the changes or events originating in the second browser instance and a second event handler that identifies or captures browser change events triggered by the changes originating in the second browser instance and communicates notifications of the changes originating in the second browser instance to the collaboration manager.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the embedded software code includes script that causes periodic triggering of events that cause the first browser instance to execute the first event handler.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the changes or events include changes in web addresses accessed by the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager comprises causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to receive changes in web addresses accessed by the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to synchronize to the second browser instance comprises causing the first browser instance to access the web addresses accessed by the second browser instance, and

the step of causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager comprises causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of a change in a web address accessed by the second browser instance.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the changes or events include changes in data displayed in the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager comprises causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to receive changes in data displayed in the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to synchronize to the second browser instance comprises causing the first browser instance to display the data displayed in the second browser instance, and

the step of causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager comprises causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of a change in data displayed in the second browser instance.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of synchronizing the first browser instance with the second browser instance comprises mapping data from one or more data fields in a web page rendered within the first browser instance to data fields in a web page rendered within the second browser instance.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the changes or events include changes in positions of scroll bars of the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager comprises causing the first browser instance to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to receive changes in a position of one or more scroll bars of the second browser instance,

the step of causing the first browser instance to synchronize to the second browser instance comprises causing the position of one or more scroll bars of the first browser instance to synchronize to the position of the one or more scroll bars of the second browser instance, and

the step of causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager comprises causing the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of a change in the position of the one or more scroll bars of the second browser instance.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaboration manager comprises first and second tables, the method further comprising:

storing the browser changes or events originating in the second browser instance in the second table, as a result of the notification of the changes or events originating in the second browser instance; and

communicating the browser changes or events originating in the second browser instance to the first table for storage therein.

24. A system for synchronizing data displayed on a first computer comprising a first processor, a first display, and a first browser instance, with data displayed on a second computer comprising a second processor, a second display, and a second browser instance, the system comprising:

a computer network;

means for establishing a first connection between the first computer and the computer network;

means for establishing a second connection between the second computer and the computer network;

means for establishing a collaboration manager for associating the first browser instance with the second browser instance, communicating to the first browser instance changes or events originating in the second browser instance and communicating to the second browser instance changes or events originating in the first browser instance, without requiring installation or downloading of any collaboration-enabling executable software program by either the first or second computer or requiring use of an additional browser instance or frame to transmit or receive changes in the first or second browser instances;

a plurality of web pages stored in memory media on the computer network and accessible by the first and second browser instances, each web page comprising a set of instructions tangibly embodied on the memory media, said instructions adapted to cause;

the first browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the first browser instance, to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to return changes or events originating in the second browser instance, and to synchronize the first browser instance to mirror the changes or events originating in the second browser instance; and

the second browser instance to notify the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the second browser instance, to communicate with the collaboration manager in order to return changes or events originating in the first browser instance, and to synchronize the second browser instance to mirror the changes or events originating in the first browser instance.

25. A method for collaborative internet browsing by a first user associated with a first computer comprising a first display and a first browser comprising a first open browser instance, and a second user associated with a second computer comprising a second display and a second browser comprising a second open browser instance, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a web page of a website accessible by the first and second computers, the website comprising one or more web pages, each web page corresponding to an associated web address, the web page received by the first computer being served by a server;

loading the received web page in the first browser instance of the first computer;

sending a request to establish a collaboration session, the request causing a collaboration manager that associates the first and second browser instances, that communicates changes or events originating in the first browser instance to the second browser instance, and that communicates changes or events originating in the second browser instance to the first browser instance to be created, the creation of the collaboration manager not requiring installation or downloading of any collaboration-enabling executable software program by the first computer or requiring use of an additional browser instance or frame by the first or second computers to transmit or receive browser changes or events;

notifying the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the first browser instance, the notification causing the collaboration manager to report the changes or events to the second browser instance to synchronize the second browser instance to the first browser instance;

sending a request for notification from the collaboration manager of changes or events originating in the second browser instance, the request causing the collaboration manager to send notification of changes or events originating in the second browser instance to the first computer;

receiving a notification of changes or events originating in the second browser instance from the collaboration manager; and

synchronizing the first browser instance to the second browser instance.

26. A method for synchronizing uniform resource locators (URLs) accessed by a first user associated with a first computer comprising a first software program and a first display and a second user associated with a second computer comprising a second software program and a second display, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection between the first computer and a computer network, the computer network comprising a plurality of URLs accessible by connected users, each URL being associated with one or more resources;

establishing a second connection between the second computer and the computer network;

receiving from the first computer a first request comprising a request to access a first URL;

providing resources specified by the first URL to the first computer;

causing the first computer to provide a notification of receipt of the resources as a result of the first computer receiving the resources specified by the first URL;

receiving the notification of the receipt of the resources by the first computer; and

as a result of receiving the notification from the first computer, providing resources specified by the first URL to the second computer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the providing of the resources specified by the first URL to the second computer comprises:

providing notification of the first URL to the second computer;

causing the second computer to send a request comprising a second URL as a result of the second computer receiving the notification of the first URL;

receiving the request from the second computer; and

as a result of receiving the request from the second computer, providing the resources specified by the second URL to the second computer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first URL is related to the second URL.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first URL is the same as the second URL.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving from the second computer a request comprising an initial URL prior to the providing of the notification of the first URL to the second computer;

providing to the second computer resources specified by the initial URL;

causing the second computer to provide a notification of the receipt of the resources specified by the initial URL as a result of the second computer receiving the resources specified by the initial URL; and

receiving the notification of the receipt of the resources specified by the initial URL,

wherein the resources provided to the second computer and specified by the initial URL comprise software code that causes the second computer to request notification of the URL accessed by the first computer

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the resources provided to the first computer and specified by the first URL comprise software code that causes the first computer to provide the notification of the receipt of the resources by the first computer, and wherein the resources provided to the second computer and specified by the second URL comprise software code that causes the second computer to provide the notification of the receipt of the resources by the second computer.

32. A method for synchronizing data displayed on a first computer comprising a first software program and a first display and on a second computer comprising a second software program and a second display, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection between the first computer and a computer network, the computer network comprising a plurality of web pages accessible by connected users;

establishing a second connection between the second computer and a second computer network;

receiving from the first computer a first request comprising a request to access a web page;

providing the web page to the first computer, the web page comprising embedded software code that causes the first computer to provide a notification of a data change in the web page;

receiving the notification of the data change in the web page provided to the first computer; and

providing notification of the data change to the second computer.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving from the second computer a request to access the web page;

providing the web page to the second computer, the web page comprising embedded software code that causes the second computer to request notification of a data change in the web page originating from the first computer; and

receiving, from the second computer, a request for notification of a data change in the web page originating from the first computer, and

providing notification of a data change in the web page of the first computer to the second computer as a result of receiving the request for notification from the second computer.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

providing the web page to the second computer, the web page comprising embedded software code that causes the second computer to provide a notification of a data change in the web page provided to the second computer;

receiving, from the second computer, notification of a data change in the web page provided to the second computer; and

providing notification of the data change originating from the second computer to the first computer.