Client-controlled link processing in computer network
First Claim
1. A computer network having a first station and a second station, the first and second stations being separated from one another and coupled by said network, comprising:
- a request mechanism at said first station for requesting data from said second station;
a reply mechanism at said second station for sending to said first station in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said second station;
a selection mechanism in said first station for sending instructions to said second station based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer network such as the internet has servers to deliver pages of data to remote users upon demand, and these pages usually contain links to further pages. The request for data is in the form of a page address sent by the user, identifying a specific page, usually by a “URL”. The server has the ability to generate context-sensitive information about delivery of this page, including current loading at the server, transmission bandwidth for the server, and size of the data requested. The server can calculate the time needed to transfer the requested data, and send this information to the client. The user can then decide the transfer method desired, based on the information sent by the server. For example, the user may want immediate transfer, or delayed transfer, or may want to abort the request. The requested page may be sent later by email. The server may send this context-sensitive information for all of the links on a page, and the user station may display the information for a link when it is clicked, in one embodiment. In this manner, receipt of information can be selective, based on user'"'"'s needs and network delays.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer network having a first station and a second station, the first and second stations being separated from one another and coupled by said network, comprising:
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a request mechanism at said first station for requesting data from said second station;
a reply mechanism at said second station for sending to said first station in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said second station;
a selection mechanism in said first station for sending instructions to said second station based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a computer network of the type having a first station and a second station, the first and second stations being separated from one another and coupled by said network, comprising the steps of:
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sending a request for data from said first station to said second station;
sending from said second station to said first station in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said second station; and
sending instructions from said first station to said second station based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A program product residing in computer memory in a computer system for providing delivery of data from a server on a network, wherein said data is displayed by a graphic interface at a user station, said program product comprising:
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transfer means to send from said user station to said server a request for a page of said data;
receiving means to receive from said server in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said server;
said transfer means including means for sending instructions from said user station to said server based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data; and
signal-bearing media bearing said transfer means and said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification