Apparatus for implementing universal resource locator (URL) aliases in a web browser and method therefor

• US 6,195,707 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Minh, Tran Trung
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US09/181,826
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-219, 709/223, 709/229, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Abstract

A method and apparatus for URL alias mechanism is implemented. A user-defined alias is associated with a URL. Aliases and the URL to which each corresponds are contained in a file accessible by a web browser. In response to the entry of an alias during a browsing session, the web browser retrieves the associated URL from the alias file, and accesses the corresponding web page. The alias file may be generated in response to a preference selection in the web browser, and in response to the user selecting to edit the file.

Claims

1. A method of using a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) alias comprising the steps of:

entering a URL alias;

opening a URL alias file in response to said step of entering said URL alias;

creating said URL alias file in response to said step of entering said URL alias, if said alias file does not exist; and

retrieving a URL corresponding to said URL alias.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of editing said URL alias file.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of editing said URL alias file comprises the step of creating a file entry corresponding to said URL alias.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of creating a file entry is in response to bookmarking a web page.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of editing said URL alias file is in response to a user selecting to edit an alias file.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of entering said URL in response to said prompting step.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing a web page corresponding to said URL obtained in said retrieving step.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of accessing said web page includes the step of entering a URL alias and a path for said web page, wherein said path is concatenated with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of prompting a user to create said alias file.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of prompting a user for said URL corresponding said URL alias.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said URL alias file is appended to a bookmark file.

12. A data processing system for implementing a universal resource locator (URL) alias mechanism comprising:

circuitry operable for associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

circuitry operable for storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL; and

circuitry operable for creating said alias file in response to a first user input for accessing said alias file.

13. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said first user input comprises bookmarking a web page.

14. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein said alias file is appended to a bookmark file.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein said circuitry operable for associating said user defined alias with said URL comprises:

circuitry operable for entering said URL alias; and

circuitry operable for associating said URL alias with a URL corresponding to said bookmarked page.

16. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said first user input comprises an edit alias file request.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 further comprising circuitry operable for editing said alias file.

18. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising circuitry operable for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL in response to an entry of said URL alias.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein said circuitry operable for accessing said web page includes:

circuitry operable for entering a URL alias and a path for said web page; and

circuitry operable for concatenating said path with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

20. The data processing system of claim 12 further comprising circuitry operable for opening said alias file in response to an entry of said URL alias.

21. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said alias file includes a plurality of URL aliases and associated URLs.

22. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said first user input comprises a URL alias.

23. The data processing system of claim 12 wherein said first user input comprises a preference selection.

24. A method of universal resource locator (URL) alias implementation comprising the steps of:

associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for entry in lieu of said URL thereby accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL; and

creating said alias file in response to a first user input for accessing said alias file.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said first user input comprises bookmarking a web page.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said alias file is appended to a bookmark file.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of associating said user defined URL alias with said URL comprises the steps of:

inputting said URL alias; and

associating said URL alias with a URL corresponding to said bookmarked page.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein said first user input comprises an edit alias file request.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of editing said alias file.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of accessing a web page corresponding to said URL in response to an entry of said URL alias.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said step of accessing said web page includes the step of entering a URL alias and a path for said web page, wherein said path is concatenated with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

32. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of opening said alias file in response to an entry of said URL alias.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein said alias file includes a plurality of URL aliases and associated URLs.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein said first user input comprises a URL alias.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein said first user input comprises a preference selection.

36. A program product adaptable for storage on program storage media, the program product operable for implementing a universal resource locator (URL) alias mechanism comprising:

programming for associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

programming for storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL; and

programming for creating said alias file in response to a first user input for accessing said alias file.

37. The program product of claim 36 wherein said first user input comprises bookmarking a web page.

38. The program product of claim 37 wherein said alias file is appended to a bookmark file.

39. The program product of claim 37 wherein said programming for associating said user defined alias with said URL comprises:

programming for inputting said URL alias; and

programming for associating said URL alias with a URL corresponding to said bookmarked page.

40. The program product of claim 36 wherein said first user input comprises an edit alias file request.

41. The program product of claim 40 further comprising programming for editing said alias file.

42. The program product of claim 36 further comprising programming for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL in response to an entry of said URL alias.

43. The program product of claim 42 wherein said programming for accessing said web page further includes:

programming for entering a URL alias and a path for said web page; and

programming for concatenating said path with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

44. The program product of claim 36 further comprising the programming for opening said alias file in response to an entry of said URL alias.

45. The program product of claim 36 wherein said alias file includes a plurality of URL aliases and associated URLs.

46. The program product of claim 36 wherein said first user input comprises a URL alias.

47. The program product of claim 36 wherein said first user input comprises a preference selection.

48. A method of universal resource locator (URL) alias implementation comprising the steps of:

associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for entry in lieu of said URL thereby accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL; and

entering a URL alias and a path for said web page, wherein said path is concatenated with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

49. A program product adaptable for storage on program storage media, the program product operable for implementing a universal resource locator (URL) alias mechanism comprising:

programming for associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

programming for storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL;

programming for entering a URL alias and a path for said web page; and

programming for concatenating said path with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

50. A data processing system for implementing a universal resource locator (URL) alias mechanism comprising:

circuitry operable for associating a user defined URL alias with a URL, wherein said URL alias is operable for accessing a web page corresponding to said URL;

circuitry operable for storing said URL alias in an alias file, wherein said alias file is operable for accessing to obtain said associated URL;

circuitry operable for entering a URL alias and a path for said web page; and

circuitry operable for concatenating said path with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.

51. A method of using a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) alias comprising the steps of:

entering a URL alias;

opening a URL alias file in response to said step of entering said URL alias;

retrieving a URL corresponding to said URL alias; and

entering a path for a web page, wherein said path is concatenated with said URL corresponding to said alias, and wherein said URL comprises a root portion of a URL of said page.