Intermediate server having control program for storing content accessed during browsing sessions and playback program for asynchronously replaying browsing sessions

• US 6,356,934 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sabre GLBL Inc. (Sabre Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sabre Incorporated (Sabre Corp.)
• Inventors: Delph, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALDWELL, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US08/840,329
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200-8-2, 395/200.76, 709/203, 709/218-219, 709/236, 709/246, 709/204-205, 345/329-332
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing

Abstract

An intermediate server for sharing data between a sender computer and receiver computer(s)is disclosed. A sender initiates a browsing session by (1) requesting a session setup form from the intermediate server that is returned with a beginning URL or (2) being redirected to the intermediate server. A intermediate server control program retrieves content from a server, modifies the hyperlinks within the content by appending the original URL to the URL of the intermediate server, stores the modified content data for later use, and forwards the modified content data to the sender. In asynchronous playback mode, a receiver connects to the intermediate server using a session identifier associated with sender'"'"'s browsing session. An intermediate server playback program retrieves and pushes the stored content to the receiver. Storing the modified content guarantees that sender and receiver view the same content sequence as opposed to the same URL sequence.

Claims

1. A method for sharing data between a sender computer and a receiver computer through a network, the method including the steps of:

establishing a communication session between an intermediate server and the sender computer;

sending a request for content data from the sender computer to the intermediate computer;

receiving content data that includes hyperlinks from a first content server;

storing the content data in the intermediate server;

modifying, by the intermediate server, the content data to create modified content data;

transferring the modified content data from the intermediate server to the sender computer;

establishing a communication session between the intermediate server and the receiver computer;

retrieving the content data stored in the intermediate server;

transferring the content data from the intermediate server to the receiver computer; and

ending the communication session between the receiver computer and the intermediate server, in response to the receiver computer selecting a hyperlink in the content data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying step further includes:

modifying the hyperlinks in the content data, wherein the modified hyperlinks lead the sender computer to the intermediate server when selected.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the ending step further includes:

establishing a communication session directly between the receiver computer and a second content server associated with the hyperlink selected by the receiver computer.

4. A system for sharing data between a sender computer and a receiver computer through a network, the system comprising:

a sender computer interfaced with the network;

a first content server interfaced with the network, the content server providing content data that includes at least one hyperlink.

an intermediate server interfaced with the network, the intermediate server including a local storage device;

a control program loaded on the intermediate server, the control program operationally directing the intermediate server to;

receive the content data from the content server;

store the content data on the local storage device;

modify the at least one hyperlink in the content data to create modified content data, wherein the modified hyperlink leads to the intermediate server when selected;

transfer the modified content data to the sender computer;

a receiver computer that is operationally interfaced with the intermediate server;

a playback program loaded on the intermediate server, the playback program operating independently of the control program to direct the intermediate server to;

retrieve the content data stored in the local storage device; and

transfer the content data to the receiver computer;

wherein the transfer of the content data to the sender and receiver computers is performed independently in time and wherein the receiver computer leaves its interface with the intermediate server when the receiver computer selects a hyperlink in the content data.

5. The system of claim 4, further including a second content server that provides second content data and wherein the receiver computer establishes an operable interface with the second content server in response to the receiver computer selecting the hyperlink in the content data.

6. A method for sharing data between a sender computer and a receiver computer through a network, the method including the steps of:

establishing a first communication session between an intermediate server and the sender computer, using a single session identifier;

sending a request for content data from the sender computer to the intermediate computer receiving content data from a first content server;

storing the content data in the intermediate server;

modifying, by the intermediate server, the content data to create modified content data;

transferring the modified content data from the intermediate server to the sender computer;

establishing a second communication session between the intermediate server and the receiver computer using the single session identifier;

retrieving the content data stored in the intermediate server;

transferring the content data from the intermediate server to the receiver computer;

ending the second communication session between the receiver computer and intermediate server; and

establishing a third communication session between the receiver computer and a second content server, wherein the communication session between the intermediate server and the sender computer still exists when the communication session between the receiver computer and intermediate server is ended.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the single session identifier uniquely identifies the sender computer'"'"'s session with the intermediate server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the session identifier is used to connect to the intermediate server in order to establish the second communication session with the intermediate server, and

wherein the intermediate server is configured to send a session form to each of the receiver computer and sender computer, respectively upon the sender and receiver computers establishing an initial communication with the intermediate server, and the intermediate server is configured to receive and utilize the single session identifier to locate the content data sent to the receiver computer, wherein the single session identifier enables the receiver computer to bypass receiving the session form from the intermediate server.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the content data includes hyperlinks, and wherein the modifying step further includes:

modifying the hyperlinks in the content data, wherein the modified hyperlinks lead the sender computer to the intermediate server when selected by the sender computer.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of establishing a first communication session between the intermediate server and the sender computer further includes:

using, by the sender computer, a URL to connect to the intermediate server;

sending, by the intermediate server, a session form to the sender computer; and

sending, by the sender computer, the session form back to the intermediate server, wherein the sender computer inserts session information in the session form prior to sending the session form to the intermediate server.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of establishing a second communication session further includes:

using, by the receiver computer, the session identifier to connect to the intermediate server; and

using, by the intermediate server, the session identifier to locate the content data sent to the receiver computer.

12. A system for sharing data between a sender computer and a receiver computer through a network, the system comprising:

a sender computer interfaced with the network;

a content server interfaced with the network, the content server including content data;

an intermediate server interfaced with the network, the intermediate server including a local storage device, wherein the sender computer establishes a first communication session with the intermediate computer through the network;

a control program loaded on the intermediate server, the control program operationally directing the intermediate server to;

receive content data from the content server;

transfer the content data to the sender computer during the first communication session in a sequence; and

store the content data on the local storage device, wherein the local storage device stores the content data in the sequence that the sender computer received the content data from the intermediate computer;

a receiver computer that is operationally interfaced with the intermediate server through the network, wherein the receiver computer establishes a second communication session with the intermediate server after the first communication session has ended and using a single session identifier;

a playback program loaded on the intermediate server, the playback program operating independently of the control program to direct the intermediate server to;

retrieve the content data stored in the local storage device; and

transfer the content data to the receiver computer during the second communication session;

wherein the receiver computer may receive the content data in the sequence that the sender computer previously received during the first communication session.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the single session identifier is associated with the first communication session.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the single session identifier is used by the receiver computer to connect to the intermediate server in order to establish the second communication session with the intermediate server, and

wherein the intermediate server is configured to send a session form to each of the receiver computer and sender computer, respectively upon the sender and receiver computers establishing an initial communication with the intermediate server, and the intermediate server is configured to receive and utilize the single session identifier to locate the content data sent to the receiver computer, wherein the single session identifier enables the receiver computer to bypass receiving the session form from the intermediate server.

15. A method for sharing data between a sender computer and a receiver computer through a network, the method including the steps, performed by a program loaded on an intermediate server, of:

receiving content data from a content server;

transferring the content data to the sender computer in a sequence during a communication session established between the sender computer and the intermediate server;

storing the content data in the sequence on a local storage device;

retrieving the content data stored in the local storage device; and

transferring the content data to a receiver computer,

wherein the content data is transferred to the receiver computer after the communication session has ended and the receiver computer receives the sequence of content data that the sender computer previously received during the communication session previously established between the sender computer and the intermediate server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiver computer establishes a separate communication session with the intermediate server by using a single session identifier prior to receiving the content data, and wherein the single session identifier is associated with the communication session between the sender computer and the intermediate server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the intermediate server is configured to send a session form to each of the receiver computer and sender computer, respectively upon the sender and receiver computers establishing an initial communication with the intermediate server, the method further including:

using, by the receiver computer, the single session identifier to connect to the intermediate server; and

using, by the intermediate server, the session identifier to locate the content data sent to the receiver computer, wherein the single session identifier enables the receiver computer to bypass receiving the session form from the intermediate server.

18. A system for sharing data between a sender computer and a plurality of receiver computers through a network, the system comprising:

an intermediate server interfaced with the network, the intermediate server including a local storage device;

a sender computer interfaced with the network, wherein the sender computer establishes a first communication session with the intermediate server;

a content server interfaced with the network, the content server including content data;

a plurality of receiver computers, wherein the plurality of receiver computers includes at least a first and second receiver computer, wherein the first and second receiver computers establish a second and third communication session with the intermediate server, respectively;

a control program loaded on the intermediate server, the control program operationally directing the intermediate server to;

receive the content data from the content server;

transfer the content data in a sequence to the sender computer during the first communication session;

store the content data in the sequence on the local storage device; and

transfer the content data to the first receiver computer during the first and second communication sessions, wherein the first receiver computer receives the content data in the same sequence as the sender computer such that the sender and first receiver computers render the same content data simultaneously;

a playback program loaded on the intermediate server, the playback program operating independently of the control program to direct the intermediate server to;

retrieve the content data stored in the local storage device; and

transfer the content data to the second receiver computer during the third communication session and after the first communication session has ended, wherein the second receiver computer receives content data in the same sequence that the sender computer previously received during the first communication session.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the content data is transferred to the second receiver computer without user intervention at the second receiver computer.