Modifying web page links for display on a mobile terminal to indicate the cache status of linked web pages

• US 6,931,439 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Ventures Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanmann, Jonathan Lee, Sareen, Anil, Smith, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US09/863,194
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile terminal comprising a local memory and a screen is disclosed. Web pages are received by the mobile terminal and stored in the local memory. A cache status of each web page identified by each link is determined, wherein the cache status is evaluated to control the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal comprising a local memory and a screen, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a plurality of web pages and storing the web pages in the local memory, wherein at least one of the web pages comprises a plurality of links and at least one of the links identifies a web page at least partially cached in the local memory;

(b) determining a cache status of each web page identified by each link; and

(c) evaluating the cache status to control the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

(a) a first one of the links identifies a web page substantially cached in the local memory;

(b) a second one of the links identifies a web page not substantially cached in the local memory;

(c) the first link is displayed to indicate the web page identified by the first link is substantially cached in the local memory; and

(d) the second link is displayed to indicate the web page identified by the second link is not substantially cached in the local memory.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the cache status comprises the step of omitting links in the displayed web page that identify web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the cache status comprises the step of displaying the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the cache status comprises the step of displaying the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory and an availability of a connection to download the web pages from the Internet.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the step of receiving the plurality of web pages occurs during a synchronization session with a target computer; and

(b) the step of controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal occurs during an off-line browsing session.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal occurs during an on-line browsing session.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the cache status of each web page indicates an extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the number of subordinate web pages is determined by traversing the web pages linked to the web page identified by a link.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory is determined relative to a link-depth configured for a synchronization session.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

(a) web page content is associated with at least one of the links; and

(b) the step of controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal further includes the step of controlling the display of the associated web page content.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of controlling the display of the associated web page content comprises the step of omitting the associated web page content.

13. A mobile terminal comprising:

(a) a local memory for storing a plurality of web pages received by the mobile terminal, wherein at least one of the web pages comprises a plurality of links and at least one of the links identifies a web page at least partially cached in the local memory;

(b) a screen; and

(c) a terminal controller for;

determining a cache status of each web page identified by each link; and

evaluating the cache status to control the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein:

(a) a first one of the links identifies a web page substantially cached in the local memory;

(b) a second one of the links identifies a web page not substantially cached in the local memory;

(c) the terminal controller displays the first link to indicate the web page identified by the first link is substantially cached in the local memory; and

(d) the terminal controller displays the second link to indicate the web page identified by the second link is not substantially cached in the local memory.

15. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the terminal controller omits links in the displayed web page that identify web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

16. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the terminal controller displays the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

17. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the terminal controller displays the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory and an availability of a connection to download the web pages from the Internet.

18. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein:

(a) the plurality of web pages are received by the mobile terminal during a synchronization session with a target computer, and

(b) the terminal controller controls the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal during an off-line browsing session.

19. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the terminal controller controls the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal during an on-line browsing session.

20. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein the cache status of each web page indicates an extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory.

21. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 20, wherein the number of subordinate web pages is determined by traversing the web pages linked to the web page identified by a link.

22. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 20, wherein the extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory is determined relative to a link-depth configured for a synchronization session.

23. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 13, wherein:

(a) web page content is associated with at least one of the links; and

(b) the terminal controller controls the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal by controlling the display of the associated web page content.

24. The mobile terminal as recited in claim 23, wherein the terminal controller omits the associated web page content.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium for use in a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a local memory and a screen, the computer program comprising code segments for:

(a) receiving web pages and storing the web pages in the local memory, wherein at least one of the web pages comprises a plurality of links and at least one of the links identifies a web page at least partially cached in the local memory;

(b) determining a cache status of each web page identified by each link; and

(c) evaluating the cache status to control the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal.

26. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein:

(a) a first one of the links identifies a web page substantially cached in the local memory;

(b) a second one of the links identifies a web page not substantially cached in the local memory;

(c) the first link is displayed to indicate the web page identified by the first link is substantially cached in the local memory; and

(d) the second link is displayed to indicate the web page identified by the second link is not substantially cached in the local memory.

27. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein the code segment for evaluating the cache status omits links in the displayed web page that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

28. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein the code segment for evaluating the cache status displays the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory.

29. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein the code segment for evaluating the cache status displays the links in a manner that identifies web pages not substantially cached in the local memory and an availability of a connection to download the web pages from the Internet.

30. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein:

(a) the plurality of web pages are received during a synchronization session with a target computer; and

(b) controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal occurs during an off-line browsing session.

31. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal occurs during an on-line browsing session.

32. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein the cache status of each web page indicates an extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory.

33. The computer program as recited in claim 32, wherein the number of subordinate web pages is determined by traversing the web pages linked to the web page identified by a link.

34. The computer program as recited in claim 32, wherein the extent that subordinate web pages are cached in the local memory is determined relative to a link-depth configured for a synchronization session.

35. The computer program as recited in claim 25, wherein:

(a) web page content is associated with at least one of the links; and

(b) the code segment for controlling the display of the links of a web page on the screen of the mobile terminal further includes a code segment for controlling the display of the associated web page content.

36. The computer program as recited in claim 35, wherein the code segment for controlling the display of the associated web page content omits the associated web page content.