Intelligent method, apparatus and computer program product for automated refreshing of internet web pages

• US 6,275,858 B1
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Paul Reuben, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/224,910
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223-228
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An intelligent method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for automated refreshing of internet web pages. Page data are stored including a record of page data values for each user selected internet web page. The page data values include at least one refresh interval, a last time refreshed and a last time accessed. A user request for refreshing an internet web page is received and the internet web page is refreshed. Utilizing the refreshed internet web page, checking for changes in the refreshed internet web page is performed. Then scanning the stored page data is performed and for each user selected internet web page, the stored refresh interval is compared with a current refresh time interval. For each user selected internet web page, responsive to the current refresh time interval being greater than the stored refresh time interval, the internet web page is refreshed. A feedback message is sent to the user responsive to refreshing an internet web page and the stored refresh interval is updated.

Claims

1. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages comprising the steps of:

storing page data including a record of page data values for each user selected internet web page;

said page data values including at least one refresh time interval, a last time refreshed and a last time accessed;

receiving a user request for refreshing an internet web page;

refreshing of said internet web page;

utilizing said refreshed internet web page, checking for changes in said refreshed internet web page;

scanning said stored page data and for each said user selected internet web page, comparing said at least one refresh time interval with a current refresh time interval; and

for each said user selected internet web page, responsive to said current refresh time interval being different from said stored at least one refresh time interval, updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.

2. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of storing page data including a record of page data values for each user selected internet web page includes the step of identifying an added user selected internet web page to a favorite or bookmark list of internet web pages and storing said record of page data values for said user added internet web page to said favorite or bookmark list, said page data values further including a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value.

3. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of checking for changes in said refreshed internet web page includes the steps of calculating said CRC value for said refreshed internet web page and comparing said calculated CRC value with a store CRC value for said refreshed internet web page.

4. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of responsive to an identified change in said refreshed internet web page, sending a message for user viewing indicating that the internet web page has changed.

5. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of responsive to an identified no change in said refreshed internet web page, sending a message for user viewing indicating that the internet web page has not changed.

6. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of scanning said stored page data and for each said user selected internet web page, comparing said stored at least one refresh interval with a current refresh time interval includes the steps of subtracting a last time updated from a current time to identify said current refresh time interval;

and responsive to refreshing said internet web page, checking for changes in said refreshed internet web page, and responsive to said checking step, selectively displaying a message for viewing by the user.

7. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 6 further includes the step of responsive to said checking step, updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.

8. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the steps of responsive to each said refreshing step, updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.

9. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the step of receiving a user selected new page;

checking for said user selected new page in local memory;

responsive to identifying said selected new page in local memory, displaying said selected new page and updating said last time accessed page data value.

10. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 9 further includes the step responsive to said selected new page not being stored in local memory, loading said selected new page, displaying said loaded new page and updating said stored page data for said loaded new page.

11. An intelligent method for automated refreshing of internet web pages as recited in claim 1 further includes the step checking for a change in refresh default values and updating said stored page data responsive to an identified changed refresh default value.

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

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for storing page data including a-record of page data values for each user selected internet web page;

said page data values including at least one refresh time interval, a last time refreshed and a last time accessed;

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

means, recorded on the recording medium, for refreshing of said internet web page;

means, recorded on the recording medium, utilizing said refreshed internet web page, for checking for changes in said refreshed internet web page;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for scanning said stored page data and for each said user selected internet web page, for comparing said at least one refresh time interval with a current refresh time interval; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for each said user selected internet web page, responsive to said current refresh time interval being different from said stored at least one refresh time interval, for updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 12 include a refresh manager program and a browser program;

and wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for storing page data including a record of page data values for each user selected internet web page include means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying an added user selected internet web page to a favorite or bookmark list of internet web pages and for storing said record of page data values for said user added internet web page to said favorite or bookmark list, and wherein said page data values further includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 12 further include means, recorded on the recording medium, for responsive to said refreshed internet web page, sending a message to a user.

15. A computer system having apparatus for automated refreshing of internet web pages comprising:

a processor,

a memory;

a communications adapter;

a bus connecting said processor, memory, and communications adapter;

means for storing page data including a record of page data values for each user selected internet web page;

said page data values including at least one refresh time interval, a last time refreshed and a last time accessed;

means for receiving a user request for refreshing an internet web page;

means for refreshing of said internet web page;

means, utilizing said refreshed internet web page, for checking for changes in said refreshed internet web page;

means for scanning said stored page data and for each said user selected internet web page, for comparing said at least one refresh time interval with a current refresh time interval; and

means for each said user selected internet web page, responsive to said current refresh time interval being different from said stored at least one refresh time interval, for updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 15 includes means responsive to said refreshed internet web page, for sending a message to a user.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 15 includes means for checking for a change in refresh default values and means for updating said stored page data responsive to an identified changed refresh default value.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 15 includes means responsive to said means for refreshing, for updating said stored at least one refresh time interval.