Method and system for searching web browser history

• US 6,460,060 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McBrearty, Gerald Francis, Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han, Maddalozzo, John Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US09/237,448
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 707/513, 707/500, 707/512, 707/526
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

A Web browser having search capabilities, automatically generates a search list from URLs in the browser'"'"'s bookmark and/or history files and automatically accesses and searches each URL on the Internet or cache on the browser'"'"'s computer. Each bookmark or each web page generated for the list, when accessed, may be searched for selected keywords. URL search parameters are entered into the search function, a list of URLs is automatically created from the bookmark file and/or the history file. A new browser is opened and the new browser, in background, accesses the Web or cache, connects when prompted, with each web page listed. Each web page is then searched for keywords provided by a user. Web pages containing the target keywords are then displayed in a format selected by the user on the data processing system display. Individual web pages may be accessed and displayed in successive order by utilizing the graphical “next/previous” buttons present in the web browser window.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing web browser history to enhance web browsing, comprising the steps of:

searching a URL history record maintained within a client computer system for URLs that match at least one user-input search parameter, wherein said URL history record includes a URL for each of a number of web pages previously accessed by said client computer system;

assembling a URL search result list from matches found during said URL history record search;

for each URL included within said URL search result list;

determining whether an associated web page is locally stored within said client computer;

responsive to said associated web page being locally stored within said client computer, searching the content of said locally stored web page utilizing said at least one user-input search parameter; and

responsive to said associated web page not being locally stored within said client computer, downloading said non-local associated web page and searching the content of said downloaded web page utilizing said at least one user-input search parameter; and

displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said URL history record is a URL bookmark file or a URL history log file, said step of assembling a URL search result list comprising:

retrieving URLs from said URL bookmark file or said URL history log file that contain said at least one search parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one search parameter is a file date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one search parameter is a pre-determined number of URLs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a new URL search result list based on a second set of search parameters applied to said URL search result list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying said URL search result list as a list of URLs in a browser window within said client computer system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system further comprises displaying contents of each web page in a separate browser window.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system further comprises displaying contents of each web page in a separate browser window, with a prompt indicating that a succeeding web page is accessible by utilizing a next/previous button.

9. A computer program product within a computer usable medium, for utilizing web browser history to enhance web browsing, comprising:

instructions within said computer usable medium for searching a URL history record maintained within a client computer system for URLs that match at least one user-input search parameter, wherein said URL history record includes a URL for each of a number of web pages previously accessed by said client computer system;

instructions within said computer usable medium for assembling a URL search result list from matches found during said URL history record search;

for each URL included within said URL search result list;

determining whether an associated web page is locally stored within said client computer;

responsive to said associated web page being locally stored within said client computer, searching the content of said locally stored web page utilizing said at least one user-input search parameter; and

responsive to said associated web page not being locally stored within said client computer, downloading said non-local associated web page and searching the content of said downloaded web page utilizing said at least one user-input search parameter, and instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said URL history record is a URL bookmark file or a URL history log file, said instructions for creating said list comprising:

instructions within said computer usable medium for retrieving URLs from said URL bookmark file or said history log file that contain said at least one search parameter.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said at least one search parameter is a file date.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said at least one search parameter is a pre-determined number of URLS.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

instructions within said computer usable medium for generating a new URL search result list based on a second set of search parameters applied to said URL search result list.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying said URL search result list as a list of URLs in a browser window within said client computer system.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system, further comprises instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying contents of each web page in a separate browser window.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying results of said web page content search on said client computer system further comprises instructions within said computer usable medium for displaying contents of each web page in a separate browser window, with a prompt indicating a succeeding web page is accessible by utilizing a next/previous button.