Method and system for adding function to a web page

• US 6,594,691 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Upland Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Surfnet Media Group Inc.
• Inventors: Burgess, Jr., Andrew L., McCollum, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLINTON, GREGORY L
• Application Number:
  US09/429,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/203, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227, 709/281, 709/310, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A computer network (20) includes a first processor (22) for maintaining a Web page (34) having an embedded first code module (36) and accessible through a Web address (38). A second processor (24) supports a Web browser (52) for downloading the Web page (34) and executing the first code module (36). When executed, the first code module (36) issues a first command (93) to retrieve a second code module (90) from a server system (26). The server system (26) includes a database (68) having a service response (162, 176, 186) associated with the Web address (38). A processor (62) assembles the second code module (90) having the service response (162, 176, 186). When the second code module is retrieved, the first code module (36) issues a second command (106) to initiate execution of the second code module (90) to provide added function to the Web page (34).

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer network to add function to a Web page comprising the steps of:

downloading said Web page at a processor platform, said downloading step being performed by a Web browser;

when said Web page is downloaded, automatically executing a first code module embedded in said Web page;

said first code module issuing a first command to retrieve a second code module, via a network connection, from a server system;

receiving, at said server system, first information characterizing said Web browser in response to said executing step;

receiving, at said server system, second information characterizing said processor platform in response to said executing step;

storing said first and said second information in a visitor database of said server system, said first and said second information being associated with a tracking index;

assembling, at said server system, said second code module, said second code module containing a service response related to said Web page;

said second code module being responsive to said first and second information;

downloading, in response to said first command, said code module to said processor platform; and

said first code module issuing a second command to initiate execution of said second code module at said processor platform.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Web browser employs HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and said first code module is generated in a HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said Web page is generated in said HTML, and said first code module includes a comment tag informing said Web browser to ignore said second command.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the steps performed by said server system of:

receiving a Web address of said Web page;

determining if said Web page is registered with said server system; and

when said Web page is not registered, performing a registration of said Web page.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said performing step comprises the steps of:

receiving said Web page at said server system;

extracting informational content of said Web page;

archiving said informational content of said Web page; and

producing a profile of said Web page in response to said extracting and archiving steps.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said service response is related to said profile of said Web page, further comprising the steps of:

storing said service response in association with said Web address;

accessing said service response when said first code module issues said first command.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second code module includes a service response indicating a denial of service.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second code module includes a service response indicating a conditional service.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second code module includes a service response indicating a predetermined service.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

applying said tracking index to said processor platform in response to said first and second information; and

using said tracking index at said server system to track and identify said processor platform.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

appending visitor specified parameters to a visitor database entry for said first and said second information associated with said tracking index;

executing said second code module in response to said second command; and

presenting, at said processor platform, a service response having a conditional service characterized by said visitor specified parameters.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein prior to said downloading step, said method further comprises the steps of:

registering said first and second information characterizing said Web browser and said processor platform in said visitor database; and

establishing said visitor specified parameters.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

executing said second code module in response to said second command; and

presenting a service response upon execution of said second code module.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said service response is a metaphor, and said method further comprises the step of displaying said metaphor in connection with said Web page on said processor platform.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of customizing said metaphor to include a parameter set relevant to said Web page, said customized metaphor describing a conditional service presented upon execution of said second code module.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

detaching said metaphor from said Web page; and

displaying said metaphor disassociated from said Web page.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of terminating said presenting step upon detection, at said server system, of a terminate service response indicator from said processor platform.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

executing said second code module in response to said second command, said second code module including a Web address for a second Web page;

downloading information content from said second Web page at said processor platform; and

presenting said information content in a service response at said processor platform.

19. A computer readable code module for adding function to a Web page, said code module configured to be embedded in said Web page generated in a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and configured for automatic execution when said Web page is downloaded to a client machine supporting a graphical user interface and a Web browser, said computer readable code module including:

means for communicating a Web address of said Web page to a server system via a network connection to initiate a download of a second computer readable code module to said client machine;

means for communicating first information characterizing said Web browser to said server system;

means for Communicating second information characterizing said client machine to said server system;

means for assembling, at said server system, said second computer readable code module, said second computer readable code module containing a service response related to said Web page, said second computer readable code module being responsive to said first and second information;

means for downloading said second computer readable code module to said client machine;

means for initiating execution of said second computer readable code module following said download of said second computer readable code module; and

means for providing a comment tag informing said Web browser to ignore said initiating means.

20. A computer readable code module as claimed in claim 19 wherein said code module is generated in said HTML.

21. A computer network comprising a first processor platform for maintaining a Web page accessible through a Web address, said Web page including a first code module embedded therein, and a second processor platform in communication with said first processor platform via a network connection, said second processor platform supporting a Web browser, said Web browser being configured to download said Web page and execute said first code module, wherein:

said first code module issues a first command to retrieve a second code module; and

said computer network further comprises a server system in communication with said second processor platform for receiving said first command, said server system including;

a database having stored therein a service response in association with said Web address;

a processor, in communication with said database, for assembling said second code module having said service response; and

means for communicating said second code module to said second processor platform, such that upon retrieving said second code module, said first code module issues a second command to initiate execution of said second code module at said second processor platform.

22. A computer network as claimed in claim 21 wherein said server system further comprises a memory element accessible by said processor, said memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to access said database to locate an entry in said database for said Web address, and when said entry is absent, said instructions cause said processor to receive said Web page, extract informational content of said Web page, archive said informational content in said database, and produce a profile of said Web page.

23. A computer network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said instructions further cause said processor to generate said entry for said Web address in said database, said entry including said service response related to said profile.

24. A computer network as claimed in claim 23 wherein said service response is a metaphor, and said instructions further cause said processor to establish a parameter set in response to said profile, said parameter set defining said metaphor.

25. A computer network as claimed in claim 21 wherein said server system further comprises:

means for receiving, from said second processor platform, first information related to said Web browser and second information related to said second processor platform, said processor being in communication with said receiving means; and

a memory element accessible by said processor, said memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to assemble said second code module in response to said first and second information.

26. A computer network as claimed in claim 21 wherein said server system further comprises:

means for receiving, from said second processor platform, first information related to said Web browser and second information related to said second processor platform, said processor being in communication with said receiving means;

a visitor database; and

a memory element accessible by said processor, said memory element having instructions stored therein which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to apply a tracking index to said second processor platform for subsequent access by said server system and to generate an entry in said visitor database, said entry including said first and second information related to said tracking index.

27. A computer network as claimed in claim 26 wherein said server system further comprises:

an input element for receiving visitor specified parameters; and

means for amending said entry in said visitor database in response to said visitor specified parameters.

28. A computer network as claimed in claim 21 wherein said service response includes a second Web address for a second Web page, and said second code module includes said second Web address for subsequent download of information content from said second Web page by said Web browser of said second processor platform when said first code module issues said second command.