Browsers for focused access of data

• US 6,324,552 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Sih-Pin, Feig, Ephraim
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/977,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 707/500-501, 707/513, 707/104, 707/526, 395/200.3, 395/200.31, 395/200.33, 395/200.79, 395/200.57, 395/187.01, 709/200-203, 709/223-225, 709/229, 709/232
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web

Abstract

The present invention provides a browser which utilizes a Web access controller to limit access to pre-selected web sites. Such a browser is suitable for use in education, for example, where the intent is to keep students focused on a particular subject by restricting their access to predetermined relevant sites. The browser also has a “depth” parameter, whereby users are enabled to browse from those web sites on the select list to unlisted sites which are within the depth parameter away from the listed sites. This provides the users with the surfing capabilities inherent in the web. The Web access controller provides for a safer environment for children to browse through the Internet and a worry-free tool for parents.

Claims

1. A system for limiting user access to a set of Web pages, said system comprising:

means for storing a first Web page and a control depth parameter value associated with said first Web page, wherein said control depth parameter value indicates a maximum permitted linking distance from said first Web page to another Web page; and

browser means for accessing a second Web page only if said second Web page is at a depth permitted by said control depth parameter value, wherein said browser means denies access to said second Web page if said second Web page is at a depth of greater than said control depth parameter value.

2. The system as recited in claim 1,

wherein said first Web page includes a link to an associated Web page, and

wherein said associated Web page includes a depth parameter value.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said browser means inhibits display of said second Web page if a presently displayed Web page has a depth parameter equal in value to said control depth parameter value.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said browser means, in response to a request for display of a particular Web page, loads a list of Web pages associated with said particular Web page.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said browser means causes display of a default Web page when said browser means is initially launched and, in response to a user entry which requests a project Web page, requests a user-entered code to confirm validity of the request and that such project Web page is present in said storage means.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said browser means prohibits said first web page from offering a hyperlink to said second web page, if said second Web page is at a depth of greater than said control depth parameter value.

7. A system for enabling user access to a determined set of Web pages, said system comprising:

storage means for holding project Web pages and auxiliary data associated with said project Web pages, said auxiliary data including a control depth parameter value associated with each project Web page and further including linking information for accessing associated Web pages, if any; and

browser means for accessing Web pages, said browser means limited by each said control depth parameter to an ability to access only a set of said associated web pages,

wherein each said associated Web page includes a depth parameter value, and

wherein said browser means updates depth parameters of associated Web pages as follows;

(i) when a new associated Web page is requested by a user'"'"'s selection of linking data from a Web page that is currently displayed, checking whether a depth parameter value d(j) of the currently displayed Web page is equal to an associated control depth parameter D(j) value and if d(j)=D(j), inhibiting download and display of the requested associated Web page; and

(ii) if the requested associated Web page is a new page and has a depth parameter value d(j)<

D(j), said requested associated Web page is displayed, and its depth parameter value is reset as follows;

the new page inherits the d(j) value from the currently displayed Web page and the d(j) value is updated to d(j)+1.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said browser means responds to a request to display an associated Web page that has already been displayed, by not changing a depth parameter value previously assigned thereto and re-displaying the associated Web page.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said browser means updates depth parameters of associated Web pages when a project Web page is requested by the user, by setting the depth parameter value of each associated web page d(j)=0.

10. A memory media containing instructions for controlling a processor for limiting user access to a set of Web pages, said memory media comprising:

means for controlling said processor to store a first Web page and a control depth parameter value associated with said first Web page, wherein said control depth parameter value indicates a maximum plied inking distance from said first Web page to another Web page; and

means for controlling said processor to access a second Web page only if said second Web page is at a depth permitted by said control depth parameter value, and to deny access to said second Web page if said second Web page is at a depth of greater than said control depth parameter value.

11. The memory media of claim 10, wherein said means for controlling said processor to access said second web page prohibits said first web page from offering a hyperlink to said second web page, if said second Web page is at a depth of greater than said control depth parameter value.