Method, apparatus and computer program product for user selected refreshing of internet web pages

• US 6,032,182 A
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mullen-Schultz, Gary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US08/890,734
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 395/200.49, 395/200.33, 395/200.53, 345/335, 709/203, 709/206, 709/219, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for user selected refreshing of internet web pages. A user selected refreshing optional setting is stored together with at least one selected internet web page. A request for viewing an internet web page is received. Then checking for the user selected refreshing optional setting for the requested internet web page is performed. Responsive to identifying the user selected refreshing optional setting for the requested internet web page, the requested internet web page is selectively refreshed utilizing the user selected refreshing optional setting. The user selected refreshing optional setting is stored together with the user'"'"'s favorites and bookmarks of internet web pages. Global browser default values are used when a user selected refreshing optional setting is not identified for a particular requested internet web page.

Claims

1. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages comprising the steps of:

receiving a user selected refreshing optional setting;

storing said user selected refreshing optional setting together with at least one selected internet web page;

receiving a request for viewing an internet web page;

responsive to said request, checking for said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page;

responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting.

2. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of storing said user selected refreshing optional setting together with at least one selected internet web page includes the step of identifying a user added favorite or bookmark of an internet web page and receiving said user selected refreshing optional setting for said user added favorite or bookmark of said internet web page.

3. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of utilizing global browser default values responsive to said user selected refreshing optional setting not being identified for said requested internet web page.

4. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, of selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting, includes the steps of identifying an always update user selected refreshing optional setting and obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

5. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, of selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting, includes the steps of identifying a never update user selected refreshing optional setting and obtaining said requested internet web page from cache memory.

6. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, of selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting, includes the steps of identifying a last touched user selected refreshing optional setting, subtracting a cached page timestamp for said requested page from a current time value to provide a result, comparing said result with said last touched user selected refreshing optional setting, and responsive to said result greater than said last touched user selected refreshing optional setting, obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

7. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 6 responsive to said result less than or equal to said last touched user selected refreshing optional setting, obtaining said requested internet web page from cache memory.

8. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, of selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting, includes the steps of identifying a user selected time of day refreshing optional setting, utilizing a current time value for identifying a most recent user selected time of day value from said user selected time of day refreshing optional setting, comparing a cached page timestamp for said requested page with said identified most recent user selected time of day value, and responsive to said cached page timestamp older than said most recent current time of day value, obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

9. A method for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 8 includes the step responsive to said cached page timestamp not being older than said most recent current time of day value, obtaining said requested internet web page from cache memory.

10. A computer program product for use in a computer system comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for storing a user selected refreshing optional setting together with at least one selected internet web page;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving a request for viewing an internet web page;

means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to said received request for checking for said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page;

means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 include a refresh manager program and a browser program and wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for storing said user selected refreshing optional setting together with at least one selected internet web page include means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a user added favorite or bookmark of an internet web page and for receiving said user selected refreshing optional setting for said user added favorite or bookmark.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 11 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting include means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting of one of an always update user selected refreshing optional setting, a never update user selected refreshing optional setting, a last touched user selected refreshing optional setting, and a user selected time of day refreshing optional setting.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 12 include means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a cached timestamp value for said requested internet web page.

14. Apparatus for user selected refreshing of internet web pages comprising:

means for storing a user selected refreshing optional setting together with at least one user selected favorite or bookmark internet web page;

means for receiving a request for viewing an internet web page;

means responsive to said received request for checking for said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page;

means responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting.

15. Apparatus for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 14 wherein said means responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting include means for identifying an always update user selected refreshing optional setting and for obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

16. Apparatus for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 14 wherein said means responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting include means for identifying a last touched user selected refreshing optional setting;

means for comparing a cached page timestamp for said requested page with a current time value; and

means, responsive to said comparing means, for obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

17. Apparatus for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 14 wherein said means responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting include means for identifying a user selected time of day refreshing optional setting;

means, utilizing a current time value, for identifying a most recent user selected time of day value from said user selected time of day refreshing optional setting;

means for comparing a cached page timestamp for said requested page with said identified most recent user selected time of day value; and

means responsive to said cached page timestamp older than said most recent current time of day value, for obtaining said requested internet web page from the internet.

18. Apparatus for user selected refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 14 wherein said means responsive to identifying said user selected refreshing optional setting for said requested internet web page, for selectively refreshing said requested internet web page utilizing said user selected refreshing optional setting include means for identifying a never update user selected refreshing optional setting and for obtaining said requested internet web page from cache memory.