System for managing and automatically deleting network address identified and stored during a network communication session when the network address is visited

• US 6,510,461 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Jakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/886,023
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 395/200.06, 395/829, 395/187.01, 395/200.57, 395/200.48, 395/200.31, 395/200.54, 709/224, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast

Abstract

A network address is captured from a source document or signal and is stored in a data structure such as a list for subsequent use. When a network resource at the network address is subsequently visited, the network address is automatically deleted from the list. The list storage and deletion functions are integrated into a World Wide Web browser. If a connection cannot be established using the network address, the connection is retried, and the network address is marked for delection after a pre-determined number of retries. Thereafter, if another connection attempt fails, a user may delete the network address or retain it for another retry after a user-defined time. Identified network addresses are accessed over the network to validate their correctness and a snapshot of the page displayed is stored and related to the network address.

Claims

1. A method of managing a plurality of network addresses, comprising the steps of:

providing an element for storing at least one network address identified during a network communication session in a data structure; and

providing an element for automatically deleting said network address from said data structure when said network address is visited.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an element for testing whether a connection to a network resource identified by one said network address is a successful connection.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of providing an element for marking said network address as pending unless said connection is a successful connection.

4. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

providing an element for attempting a second connection to said network resource when said network address is marked as pending; and

providing an element for deleting said network address from said data structure unless said second connection is a successful connection.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of

providing an element for identifying said network address from an image selected from a broadcast signal.

6. Computer apparatus comprising:

a memory having therein a data structure for storing a plurality of network addresses; and

a processor configured to store, in said data structure, one or more network addresses identified during a network communication session; and

to automatically delete a said network address from said data structure when said network address is visited.

7. The computer apparatus recited in claim 6, in which said processor is configured to test whether a connection to a network resource identified by a network address is a successful connection.

8. The computer apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to mark said network address as pending unless said connection is a successful connection.

9. The computer apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to attempt a second connection to said network resource when said network address is marked as pending;

and to delete said network address from said data structure unless said second connection is a successful connection.

10. A computer software product that includes a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to store a network address identified during a network communication session in a data structure;

and to automatically delete said network address from said data structure when said network address is visited.

11. The computer software product recited in claim 10, in which the instructions cause said processor to test whether a connection to a network resource identified by said network address is a successful connection.

12. The computer software product recited in claim 11, in which the instructions cause said processor to mark said network address as pending unless said connection is a successful connection.

13. The computer software product recited in claim 11, in which the instructions cause said processor to attempt a second connection to said network resource when said network address is marked as pending, and to delete said network address from said data structure unless said second connection is a successful connection.

14. The computer software product recited in claim 13, in which the instructions cause said processor to identify said network address from an image selected from a broadcast signal.

15. A system for managing information, comprising:

a. a network;

b. at least one server connected to said network having information stored thereon; and

c. computer apparatus, connected to said network, configured to store a network address that is identified during a network communication session in a data structure; and

to automatically delete said network address from said data structure when said network address is visited.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said computer apparatus is configured to visit said network address by opening a connection using said network;

and to mark said network address as pending unless said connection is a successful connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said computer apparatus is further configured to attempt a second connection to said network address when said network address is marked as pending;

and to delete said network address from said data structure unless said second connection is a successful connection.