System and method for generating a modified web page in response to an information request from a client computer

• US 6,438,578 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smooth Ride, Series 53 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Education Networks of America
• Inventors: Schmid, Mark L., Carringer, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Application Number:
  US09/366,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 345/356, 705/14, 707/1, 707/102, 709/203, 709/218, 709/219, 709/279, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A network server from information sources in a computer communication network. The method routes the information through the network server to a network client. The network client sends a request for requested information, which it desires from a requested information source. The network server inspects the request, and determines whether the request is a first request. If it is the first request, then the network server sends the first request to the requested information source, and the requested information is received from the requested information source by the network server. The network server associates the requested information, and then saves the associated requested information in a memory. Format and request instructions are sent by the network server and received by the network client. The network client uses the format and request instructions to send a second request for the requested information. The network server sends the associated requested information from the memory to the network client in response to the second request. Using the format and request instructions, the network client also sends a request for supplemental information. The network server associates the request for supplemental information with supplemental information from a supplemental information source. The associated supplemental information is sent from the supplemental information source to the network client.

Claims

1. A method of accessing information through a network server from information sources in a computer communication network and for routing the information through the network server to a network client, the method comprising:

a) sending a request for requested information from a requested information source, using the network client,

b) inspecting the request and determining whether the request is a first request or a second request for the requested information, using the network server,

c) if the request is the first request, then sending the first request to the requested information source, using the network server,

d) receiving the requested information from the requested information source, using the network server,

e) buffering at least a portion of the requested information in a memory in the network server,

f) sending format and request instructions to the network client, using the network server,

g) receiving the format and request instructions, using the network client,

h) sending the second request for the requested information, using the request instructions at the network client,

i) if the request is the second request, then sending the requested information from the memory to the network client in response to the second request, using the network server,

j) sending a request for supplemental information, using the request instructions at the network client,

k) associating the request for supplemental information with supplemental information from a supplemental information source, using the network server,

l) sending the associated supplemental information from the supplemental information source to the network client; and

m) processing the format instructions in the network client to integrate the associated supplemental information with the requested information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the requests and requested information received in the network server comprise files formed of a plurality of data packets; and

the requests are inspected in the network server on a per packet basis.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

only a first portion of the requested information is buffered in the network server memory;

and

after the first portion of the requested information is sent to the network client, a second portion of the requested information is received in the network server and sent to the network client on a per packet basis.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the requested information received in the network server is inspected on a per packet basis to determine if the requested information file has a file type compatible with the format instructions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein if the requested information file has a compatible file type, at least the first portion of the requested information is modified while being buffered in the network server to conform to the formatting instructions sent to the network client.

6. A method of accessing information through a network server from information sources in a computer communication network and for routing the information through the network server to a network client, the method comprising:

a) sending a first request for requested information from a requested information source, using the network client,

b) inspecting the first request and determining whether the first request includes a tag, using the network server,

c) if the first request does not include the tag, then sending the first request to the requested information source, using the network server,

d) receiving the requested information from the requested information source, using the network server,

e) associating the requested information with the tag, using the network server,

f) saving the associated requested information in a memory in the network server,

g) sending format and request instructions that include the tag to the network client, using the network server,

h) receiving the format and request instructions, using the network client,

i) sending a second request for the requested information, using the request instructions at the network client, the second request including the tag,

j) inspecting the second request and determining whether the second request includes the tag, using the network server,

k) if the second request includes the tag, then sending the associated requested information from the memory to the network client in response to the tagged second request, using the network server,

l) sending a request for supplemental information, using the request instructions at the network client,

m) associating the request for supplemental information with supplemental information from a supplemental information source, using the network server,

n) sending the associated supplemental information from the supplemental information source to the network client; and

o) integrating the associated supplemental information with the requested information in the network client, using the format instructions.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising identifying the associated supplemental information to the network client as originating with the requested information source, using the network server.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising identifying the requested information to the network client as originating with the requested information source, using the network server.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving the associated requested information and presenting it in a manner specified by the format instructions, using the network client.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving the associated supplemental information and presenting it in a manner specified by the format instructions, using the network client.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises selecting the associated supplemental information based on the requested information source.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises selecting the associated supplemental information based on the requested information.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises:

a) receiving supplemental information preferences from the network client,

b) recording the supplemental information preferences in a network client profile,

c) reading the network client profile to determine the supplemental information preferences, and

d) associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises:

a) creating a history file for the network client,

b) writing entries in the history file based at least in part on the identity of each requested information source from which the network client has requested information,

c) determining supplemental information preferences based at least in part on the entries in the history file, and

d) associating the requested information source with supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences.

15. The method of claim 6 the associating step further comprises:

a) creating a history file for the network client,

b) writing entries in the history file based at least in part on the identity of each requested information source from which the network client has requested information,

c) selectively appending a time stamp to each of the entries in the history file,

d) determining supplemental information preferences based at least in part on the entries in the history file,

e) associating the requested information source with supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences, and

f) selectively deleting entries in the history file based at least in part on the time stamp.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises:

a) receiving predetermined information from the network client,

b) recording the predetermined information in a network client profile,

c) creating a network client preferences file including criteria relating the predetermined information to supplemental information from the supplemental information source,

d) reading the network client profile to determine the predetermined information,

e) reading the network client preferences file to determine the criteria,

f) determining matches between the predetermined information from the network client profile and the criteria from the network client preferences file, and

g) associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the matches between the predetermined information from the network client profile and the criteria from the network client preferences file.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein the associating step further comprises:

a) creating a supplemental information source account,

b) associating the supplemental information source account with the supplemental information source,

c) checking the supplemental information source account for a balance, and

d) selectively associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the balance of the supplemental information source account.

18. A method of accessing information through a network server from information sources in a computer communication network and for routing the information through the network server to a network client, the method comprising:

a) receiving supplemental information preferences from the network client,

b) recording the supplemental information preferences in a network client profile,

c) sending a first request for requested information from a requested information source using the network client,

d) inspecting the first request for a tag, using the network server,

e) if the first request does not include the tag, then sending the first request to the requested information source, using the network server,

f) receiving the requested information from the requested information source, using the network server,

g) associating the requested information with the tag, using the network server,

h) having the associated requested information in a memory in the network server,

i) associating the requested information source with supplemental information from a supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences, using the network server,

j) sending format and request instructions that include the tag to the network client, using the network server,

k) receiving the format and request instructions, using the network client,

l) sending a second request for the requested information, using the request instructions at the network client, the second request including the tag,

m) inspecting the second request for the tag, using the network server,

n) if the second request includes the tag, then sending the associated requested information from the memory to the network client in response to the tagged second request, using the network server,

o) identifying the requested information to the network client as originating with the requested information source, using the network

p) sending a request for the associated supplemental information to the supplemental information source from the network client, using the format and request instructions at the network client,

q) sending the associated supplemental information from the supplemental information source to the network client,

r) receiving and integrating the associated requested information and associated supplemental information and presenting the integrated associated requested information and associated supplemental information together in a manner specified by the format instructions, using the network client, and

s) identifying the associated supplemental information to the network client as originating with the requested information source, using the network server.

19. A network server that accesses information from information sources in a computer communication network and routes the information to a network client, the network server comprising:

a) transmission means for receiving the network client a request for requested information from a requested information source,

b) communication monitoring means for inspecting the request and for determining whether the request includes a tag,

c) the transmission means further for requesting the requested information and for receiving the requested information in the case where the request does not include the tag,

d) association means for associating the tag with the requested information,

e) memory means for storing the associated requested information,

f) the transmission means further for sending format and request instructions including the tag to the network client,

g) the transmission means further for sending the associated requested information to the network client in the case where the request does include the tag,

h) transmission means further for receiving from the network client a request for supplemental information from a supplemental information source in response to receipt of the format and request instructions,

i) the association means further for associating the request for supplemental information with supplemental information,

j) the transmission means further for requesting the associated supplemental information and for receiving the associated supplemental information,

k) the transmission means further for sending the associated supplemental information to the network client in response to the request for the supplemental information from the network client; and

l) the format instructions including instruction operable to integrate in the network client the associated requested information and the associated supplemental information.

20. The network server of claim 19 further comprising identification means for identifying the requested information to the network client as originating with the requested information source.

21. The network server of claim 19 further comprising the identification means further for identifying the associated supplemental information to the network client as originating with the requested information source.

22. The network server of claim 19 further comprising:

a) a network client profile associated with the network client residing in the memory means including supplemental information preferences for the network client, and

b) the association means further for associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences.

23. The network server of claim 19 further comprising:

a) a history file associated with the network client residing in the memory means including entries based at least in part on the identity of each requested information source from which the network client has requested information,

b) logic means for determining supplemental information preferences based at least in part on the entries in the history file, and

c) the association means further for associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the supplemental information preferences.

24. The network server of claim 19 further comprising:

a) a network client profile associated with the network client residing in the memory means including predetermined information,

b) a network client preferences file residing in the memory means including criteria relating the predetermined information to supplemental information from the supplemental information source,

c) logic means for determining matches between the predetermined information from the network client profile and the criteria from the network client preferences file, and

d) the associating means further for associating the requested information source with the supplemental information from the supplemental information source based at least in part on the matches between the predetermined information from the network client profile and the criteria from the network client preferences file.

25. A method of generating a modified web page in a client computer in response to a first request for a web page sent from the client computer to an information source on a computer network comprising the steps of:

a) receiving and monitoring in a server computer connected to the network the first request for the web page sent to the information source;

b) sending the first request for the web page to the information source from the server computer;

c) receiving the requested web page in the server computer and buffering at least a portion of the requested web page in computer memory;

d) in response to the first request, transmitting formatting and second request instructions from the server computer to the client computer;

e) processing the second request instructions in the client computer to automatically generate a second request for the web page from the information source and to automatically generate a request for supplemental web page content from the server computer;

f) receiving the request for supplemental web page content in the server computer;

g) in response to the request for supplemental web page content, sending the supplemental web page content to the client computer from the server computer;

h) receiving the second request for the web page in the client computer;

i) modifying the portion of web page stored in computer memory to create a conforming web page that is compatible with the formatting instructions sent to the client computer;

j) sending the conforming web page to the client computer;

k) receiving the conforming web page in the client computer;

l) processing the format instructions in the client computer to integrate the supplemental web page content with the conforming web page to create the modified web page; and

m) displaying the modified web page at the client computer.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the format instructions are processed in a browser program in the client computer to cause the browser program to display the supplemental web page content as a first frame portion integrated in the modified web page with a second frame portion displaying the conforming web page.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the supplemental web page content sent to the client computer is the same for each of a plurality of modified web pages, whereby the format instructions cause the browser program to display the first frame portion with a constant position and appearance in each of the plurality of modified web pages.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein only a first portion the requested web page is buffered in the server computer memory and wherein after the first portion of the requested web pages is modified and sent to the client computer as a first portion of the conforming web page, a second portion of the requested web page is received in the sever computer, modified, and then sent to the client computer as a second portion of the conforming web page.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the requested web page is transmitted across the network as a plurality of data packets and is received, inspected and modified in the server computer on a per packet basis.

30. A method of displaying in a client browser web pages requested by a client computer connected to a computer network comprising the steps of:

a) receiving first requests for the web pages from the client computer in a server computer connected to the network;

b) sending computer code containing second request instructions and formatting instructions from the server computer to the client computer;

c) sending first requests for the web page from the server computer;

d) receiving and buffering in memory in the network computer a first group of date packets defining first portions of the requested web pages;

e) processing the second request instructions in the client computer and sending second requests for the web pages from the client computer;

f) modifying the first group of data packets in the server computer to conform to the formatting instructions;

g) sending the first group of modified data packets to the client computer;

h) receiving and modifying in the network computer a second group of data packets defining second portions of the requested web pages and sending the second group of data packets to the client computer, the receiving, modifying and sending steps being performed by the server computer on a per packet basis to conform to the format instructions;

i) sending a third group of data packets defining supplemental web page content from the network computer to the client computer;

j) receiving the first and second groups of modified data packets and the third group of data packets in the client computer;

k) processing the formatting instructions in the client browser to combine the first, second, and third groups of modified data packets into an integrated web page; and

l) displaying in a client browser interface the integrated web page wherein the supplemental web page content appears as frame region in a fixed position with respect to each of the requested web pages.