Method and apparatus for selective caching and cleaning of history pages for web browsers

• US 6,453,342 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Herman, Himmel, Maria Azua
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231, 709/213, 709/216, 711/135, 711/136, 711/139
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a data processing system for selectively caching web information in a cache for a browser. Web content is first retrieved by the browser during a browsing session. The web content is parsed for an indication of how the page should be stored. The web content is then stored using the indication. For example, retrieved web content may be parsed for an indication that the web content is to be removed after the browsing session terminates. Responsive to identifying the indication, the web content is cleared from the cache in response to the browsing session terminating.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for selectively caching web information in a cache for a browser comprising:

retrieving web content by the browser, wherein the web content is retrieved web content received during a browsing session;

parsing the retrieved web content for an indication that the web content is be removed from a cache after the browsing session terminates; and

responsive to identifying the indication, clearing the web content from the cache in response to the browsing session terminating.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing a universal resource locator associated with the retrieved web content from a history list of the browser in response to the browser session terminating.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing a document list held by an operating system.

4. A method in a browser for processing pages from a distributed data processing system, the method comprising:

retrieving a page from the distributed data processing system;

parsing the page for an indication of how the page should be cached;

clearing a cache in response to encountering a clear indication while parsing the page; and

clearing a page history list in response to encountering the clear indication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the page is stored in cache and further comprising:

clearing the cache after a period of time passes while the browser is idle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a universal resource locator associated with the page is stored in a history list and further comprising:

clearing the history list after a period of time passes while the browser is idle.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the page is normally cached for a default period of time and wherein the indication causes the page to be cached longer than the default period of time.

8. A method in a browser for processing pages from a distributed data processing system, the method comprising:

retrieving a page from the distributed data processing system;

parsing the page for an indication of how the page should be cached;

caching the page in a cache; and

removing the page from the cache after a browsing session ends in response to the indication being an end indication.

9. A data processing system for selectively caching web information in a cache for a browser comprising:

retrieving means for retrieving web content by the browser, wherein the web content is retrieved web content received during a browsing session;

parsing means for parsing the retrieved web content for an indication that the web content is be removed from a cache after the browsing session terminates; and

clearing means, responsive to identifying the indication, for clearing the web content from the cache in response to the browsing session terminating.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 further comprising:

removing means for removing a universal resource locator associated with the retrieved web content from a history list of the browser in response to the browser session terminating.

11. The data processing system of claim 9 further comprising:

removing means for removing a document list held by an operating system.

12. A data processing system in a browser for processing pages from a distributed data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

retrieving means for retrieving a page from the distributed data processing system;

parsing means for parsing the page for an indication of how the page should be cached;

first clearing means for clearing a cache in response to encountering a clear indication while parsing the page; and

second clearing means for clearing a page history list in response to encountering the clear indication.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the page is stored in cache and further comprising:

clearing means for clearing the cache after a period of time passes while the browser is idle.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein a universal resource locator associated with the page is stored in a history list and further comprising:

clearing means for clearing the history list after a period of time passes while the browser is idle.

15. A data processing system for processing pages from a distributed data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

retrieving means for retrieving a page from the distributed data processing system;

parsing means for parsing the page for an indication of how the page should be cached;

caching means for caching the page in a cache; and

removing means for removing the page from the cache after a browsing session ends in response to the indication being an end indication.

16. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for selectively caching information from pages from a distributed data processing system, computer program product comprising:

first instructions for retrieving web content by the browser, wherein the web content is retrieved web content received during a browsing session;

second instructions for parsing the retrieved web content for an indication that the web content is be removed from a cache after the browsing session terminates; and

third instructions for, responsive to identifying the indication, clearing the web content from the cache in response to the browsing session terminating.

17. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for selectively caching information from pages from a distributed data processing system, computer program product comprising:

first instructions for retrieving a page from the distributed data processing system;

second instructions for parsing the page for an indication of how the page should be cached; and

third instructions for caching the page using the indication.

18. The computer program product claim 17, wherein the indication is an end indication and wherein the first instructions comprise:

instructions for caching the page in a cache; and

instructions for removing the page from the cache after a browsing session ends.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the page is stored in cache and further comprising:

fourth instructions for clearing the cache after a period of time passes while the browser is idle.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the page is normally cached for a default period of time and wherein the indication causes the page to be cached longer than the default period of time by the third instructions.