Identifying changes in on-line data repositories

• US 6,596,030 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ball, Thomas J., Douglis, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 707/511, 707/513, 707/501.1, 707/522, 707/523, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 709/203, 709/217-219, 715/501.1, 715/511, 715/513, 715/522-523
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Abstract

A system for accessing documents contained in a remote repository, which change in content from version-to-version. The system allows users to specify lists of documents of interest. Based on the lists, the system maintains an archive, which contains a copy of one version of each listed document, and material from which the other versions can be reconstructed. The system periodically compares the archive with current versions of the documents located in the repository, and updates the archive, thereby maintaining the ability to reconstruct current versions. The system also monitors access to the versions by each user. When a user calls for a current version, the system presents the current version, and indicates what parts of the current version have not been previously accessed by the user.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring changes in documents stored on the World Wide Web, comprising the steps of:

(a) copying a first document selected by a first user from the World Wide Web to create a first copied archived document on a server separate from the World Wide Web and under independent control;

(b) monitoring for the changes in the first selected document;

(c) archiving, on the separate server, the changes in the first selected document, as detected during such monitoring;

(d) storing various versions of the first selected document on the separate server;

(e) presenting to the first user, a current version of the first document as archived, and an option to compare selected versions, as archived;

(f) receiving a second document selected by a second user from the World Wide Web;

(g) comparing the first copied document with the second selected document, and if the first copied document is same as the second selected document, follow step (h) below, otherwise follow steps (i) through (l) below;

(h) presenting to the second user, a current version of the first document as archived, and an option to compare selected versions, as archived;

(i) copying the second document selected by the second user from the World Wide Web to create a second copied archived document on a server separate from the World Wide Web and under independent control;

(j) monitoring the changes in the second selected document;

(k) archiving, on the separate server, the changes in the second selected document, as detected during such monitoring;

(l) presenting to the second user, a current version of the second document as archived, and an option to compare selected versions, as archived.

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

recording the times when the first and second user access each document.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the current version of the first selected document as archived with the first copied document

comparing the current version of the second selected document as archived with the second copied document.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

notifying the first user, the changes in the first selected document as archived with the first copied document.

notifying the second user, the changes in the second selected document as archived with the second copied document.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first user is notified upon a specific request by the first user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first user is notified by the first user'"'"'s access to the first selected document.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second user is notified upon a specific request by the second user.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the second user is notified by the second user'"'"'s access to the second selected document.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second users are notified by the electronic mail message.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the documents that are compared for any changes are determined by default.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the documents that are compared for any changes are specified by the first and the second user.