System and method for generating persistence on the web

• US 6,636,863 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Friesen E. Lane
• Original Assignee: Friesen E. Lane
• Inventors: Friesen, E. Lane
• Primary Examiner(s): KINDRED, ALFORD W
• Application Number:
  US09/660,912
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-3, 707/6, 707/10, 707/102, 707/500-501, 707/511, 707/513, 709/1, 709/100, 709/200, 709/202-203, 715/500.1, 715/511, 715/513, 717/100, 717/116, 717/118, 717/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4493 Object persistence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Persistence of information and programming from one web page to another is gained by loading an applet or an Active X object repeatedly by addition of applet or Active X object code to the HTML code of a plurality of web pages. The persistence is also spread, beyond the web pages that repeatedly load the said applet or Active X object, by forming a pseudo-constructor with which an object, such as a graphical user interface, is generated by the initial loading and execution of the applet or Active X object, and persists even after the web page which loaded the applet or Active X object has been closed. In an exemplary application of the techniques, a shopping cart is generated that keeps track of the quantity and prices of items selected from a plurality of web pages. The cart operates without any interaction with the host server or other source of the web pages, apart from initial downloading of the applet or Active X object and final presentation of purchased items. Information about available items is also preferably hardcoded into the original HTML page, and not downloaded separately from the server. The techniques can also be used to cache database requests, thus avoiding the need for any server-client interaction beyond a first initial download. For example, this method of caching can be used to store, on the client, optional price updates to the products which are purchased in the shopping cart.

Claims

1. A method for generating persistence among a plurality of web pages comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computing device including a memory, a browser application, and a software engine associated with said browser application;

b) providing at least first and second codes that are employed to generate first and second web pages, respectively, each of said codes including a first and a second subset, said first code subset defining a program to be accessed and including identification information for said program, said program including a plurality of static variables that remain defined as long as said program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine, each of said variables having a corresponding value, and said second code subset comprising program code that facilitates access and modification of said static variables with said browser-associated software engine through said web pages;

c) loading said first code in said memory of said computing device;

d) accessing said first code of said first web page with said browser application;

e) executing said program with said browser-associated software engine;

f) employing said browser-associated software engine facilitated by said second code subset to modify said static variables in said program;

g) suspending said program without unloading said program from said memory by ceasing access of said first code of said first web page;

h) loading said second code in said memory of said computing device;

i) accessing said second code of said second web page with said browser application;

j) employing said program identification information in said first code subset of said second code to reactivate said program with said browser-associated software engine using the values of said static variables as they were prior to said program being suspended; and

k) employing said browser-associated software engine facilitated by said second code subset to access the values of said static variables in said program;

whereby, said program performs a function with both said first and said second web pages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said program is selected from the group comprising a JAVA applet and an Active X object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of said static variables comprise a database or a database cache.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of said static variables contain quantity and price information for one or more items selected for purchase from information provided in said first and second web pages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said program subset further includes at least one parameter that can be altered from one web page to another, without altering the identity of said program, whereby, said program can be made to run differently, depending on the web page currently loaded in said memory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second codes are loaded from a storage device selected from the group comprising a hard drive, a CD-ROM, a remotely located server and a local server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of static variables that remain defined as long as said first program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine are used to generate an object that remains active as long as said first program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine regardless of whether code that was loaded in said memory when said object was created continues to be loaded.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said object is a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display associated with said computing device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said object is a visual object that is displayed on a display associated with said computing device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said object communicates with a database.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said object is a database cache.

12. A computer device for accessing a program to be associated with a plurality of web pages comprising:

a) a processor;

b) an operating memory;

c) a browser application; and

d) a software application associated with said browser application,

said processor being programmed with said a software engine to;

1) load in said memory, a first of first and second codes that are employed to generate first and second web pages, respectively, each of said codes including a first and a second subset said first subset defining a program to be accessed and including identification information for said program, said program including a plurality of static variables that remain defined as long as said program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine, each of said variables having a corresponding value; and

said second subset comprising program code that facilitates access and modification of said static variables with said browser-associated software engine through said web pages;

2) access said first code of said first web page with said browser application;

3) execute said program with said browser-associated software engine;

4) suspend said program without unloading said program from said memory by ceasing access of said first code of said first web page;

5) load said second code in said memory;

6) access said second code of said second web page with said browser application;

7) employ said program identification information in said first code subset of said second code to reactivate said program using the values of said static variables as they were prior to said program being suspended; and

8) employ said browser-associated software engine facilitated by said second code subset to access the values of said static variables in said program;

whereby, said program performs a function with both said first and said second web pages.

13. The computer device of claim 12, wherein said program is selected from the group comprising a JAVA applet and an Active X object.

14. The computer device of claim 12, wherein at least some of said static variables comprise a database or a database cache.

15. The computer device of claim 12, wherein at least some of said static variables contain quantity and price information for one or more items selected for purchase from information provided in said first and second web pages.

16. The computer device of claim 12, wherein said first subset further includes at least one parameter that can be altered from one web page to another, without altering the identity of said program, whereby, said program can be made to run differently, depending on the web page currently loaded in said memory.

17. The computer device of claim 12, further including a storage device selected from the group comprising a hard drive, a CD-ROM, a remotely located server and a local server for storing said first and second codes before they are loaded into said operating memory.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein at least some of said plurality of static variables that remain defined as long as said first program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine are used to generate an object that remains active as long as said first program remains loaded in said memory by said browser-associated software engine, regardless of whether code that was loaded in said memory when said object was created continues to be loaded.

19. The computer device of claim 18, wherein said object is a graphical user interface that is displayed on a display associated with said computing device.

20. The computer device of claim 18, wherein said object is a visual object that is displayed on a display associated with said computing device.

21. The computer device of claim 18, wherein said object communicates with a database.

22. The computer device of claim 18, wherein said object is a database cache.

23. The computer device of claim 18, wherein said object contains quantity and price information for one or more items selected for purchase from information provided in said first and second web pages.