Automated web browser synchronization by using session initiation protocol during a real-time session

• US 6,976,094 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: McKinnon, Steve, Chen, Ta-Ming, Dalrymple, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Oanh
• Application Number:
  US09/666,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/218, 709/221, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

The present invention allows synchronization of web browsers to eliminate the need for users to convey uniform resource locators (URLs) or like location indicia. The invention operates with a local user'"'"'s browser to identify the URL for a newly loaded web page and transmit this newly loaded URL to a remote user'"'"'s computer for loading on the remote user'"'"'s browser. Further, the invention also provides for receiving URLs associated with web pages loaded onto the remote user'"'"'s browser and loading the web pages on the local user'"'"'s browser using the received URLs.

Claims

1. A computer readable media containing software for facilitating synchronization of web browsers, said software comprising instructions for a computer to:

automatically identify first location indicia for a first web page loaded by an associated browser during a real-time communication session;

send the first location indicia for the first web page over a network for loading on a remote browser running on a remote computer as part of the real-time communication session;

receive second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

load the second web page on the associated browser based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporate the first location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message wherein the instructions to send the first location indicia for the first web page over the network send the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein the instructions to receive the second location indicia for the second web page over the network include instructions to receive a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message; and

remove the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

2. The computer readable media of claim 1 further comprising instructions to:

query a user of the associated browser whether to send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser;

receive a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser.

3. The computer readable media of claim 1 further comprising instructions to:

upon receiving the second location indicia for the second web page, query the user of the associated browser whether to load the second web page;

receive a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, effect loading of the second web page on the associated browser.

4. The computer readable media of claim 1 further comprising instructions to send the first location indicia for the first web page over the network for loading on a plurality of remote browsers.

5. The computer readable media of claim 1 further comprising instructions to configure the associated browser to provide the first location indicia for the first web page upon loading the first web page.

6. The computer readable media of claim 1 wherein said real-time communication session comprises a voice call.

7. The computer readable media of claim 1 further comprising instructions to implement the associated browser wherein the associated browser is configured for web browser synchronization.

8. A computer readable media containing software for implementing a web browser interface device facilitating synchronization of web browsers, said software comprising instructions for a computer to:

receive from an associated browser first location indicia for a first web page loaded by the associated browser, thereby forming received location indicia;

send the first location indicia for the first web page over a network for loading on a remote browser running on a remote computer;

receive second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

instruct the associated browser to load the second web page on the associated browser based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporate the received location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message wherein the instructions to send the first location indicia for the first web page over the network send the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein the instructions to receive the second location indicia for the second web page over the network include receiving a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message; and

remove the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

9. The computer readable media of claim 8 further comprising instructions to:

configure the associated browser to provide location indicia for a web page for sending to the remote browser, the web page initially selected by a user of the associated browser and loaded by the associated browser; and

configure the associated browser to receive and load the web page initially selected by a user of the remote browser upon receiving the location indicia for the web page initially selected by the user of the remote browser;

wherein the first web page is a web page initially selected by the user of the associated browser and the second web page is a web page initially selected by a user of the remote browser.

10. The computer readable media of claim 8 wherein interaction with the associated browser is conducted via an application protocol interface.

11. The computer readable media of claim 8 further comprising instructions to interact with an associated operating system to affect an application protocol interface server.

12. A computer readable media containing software for implementing a web browser interface device facilitating synchronization of web browsers, said software comprising instructions for a computer to:

during a real-time communication session;

interact with an associated browser to receive a first uniform resource locator for a first web page initially selected to load by a user of the associated browser thereby forming a first received uniform resource locator;

forward the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across a network to load on a remote browser as part of the real-time communication session;

receive a second uniform resource locator for a second web page selected by a remote user to load on the remote browser thereby forming a second received uniform resource locator;

effect loading of the second web page upon receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page;

incorporate the first received uniform resource locator for the first web page in a first invite message wherein the instructions to forward the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across the network send the first invite message to a remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein the instructions to receive the second uniform resource locator for a second web page include receiving a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a second received invite message; and

remove the second uniform resource locator for the second web page from the second received invite message.

13. The computer readable media of claim 12 wherein said real-time communication session comprises a voice call.

14. The computer readable media of claim 13 wherein the real-time communication session is established with a web interface device running in association with the remote browser on the remote computer.

15. The computer readable media of claim 13 wherein the real-time communication session is established with the remote browser on the remote computer.

16. The computer readable media of claim 12 further comprising instructions to:

query the user of the associated browser whether to send the first uniform resource locator for the first web page for loading on the remote browser;

receive a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, send the first uniform resource locator for the first web page for loading on the remote browser.

17. The computer readable media of claim 12 further comprising instructions to:

upon receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page, query the user of the associated browser whether to load the second web page;

receive a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, effect loading of the second web page by the associated browser.

18. The computer readable media of claim 12 further comprising instructions to send the first uniform resource locator for the first web page over the network for loading on a plurality of remote browsers.

19. A system for facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising a central processing unit and a network interface providing for communications with a remote computer over a network, said central processing unit adapted to:

run a local browser configured to download web pages based on location indicia during a real-time communication session; and

obtain first location indicia for a first web page loaded by the local browser;

send the first location indicia for the first web page over the network for loading on a remote browser running on the remote computer as part of the real-time communication session;

receive second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

load the second web page on the local browser based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporate the first location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message;

wherein said central processing unit adapted to send the first location for the first web page over the network is adapted to send the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein said central processing unit adapted to receive the second location indicia for the second web page over the network is adapted to receive a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message;

remove the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to:

query a user of the system whether to send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser;

receive a response to the query from the user; and

if the response is affirmative, send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to:

upon receiving the second location indicia for the second web page, query a user of the system whether to load the second web page;

receive a response to the query from the user; and

if the response is affirmative, effect loading of the second web page by the local browser.

22. A system for facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising a central processing unit and a network interface providing communication with remote computers over a network, said central processing unit adapted to:

during a real-time communication session;

run a local browser configured to download web pages based on location indicia, and run a browser interface device configured to;

obtain from the local browser first location indicia for a first web page loaded by the local browser, the first web page initially selected by a user of the local browser;

send the first location indicia for the first web page over the network for loading on a remote browser running on a remote computer as part of the real-time communication session;

receive second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

instruct the local browser to load the second web page based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporate the first location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message wherein said browser interface device is adapted to send the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

receive a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message; and

remove the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to:

query the user of the system whether to send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser;

receive a response to the query from the user; and

if the response is affirmative, send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to:

upon receiving the second location indicia for the second web page, query the user of the system whether to load the second web page;

receive a response to the query from the user; and

if the response is affirmative, effect loading of the second web page by the local browser.

25. A method facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising:

automatically identifying first location indicia for a first web page loaded by a local browser during a real-time communication session;

sending the first location indicia for the first web page over a network for loading on a remote browser running on a remote computer as part of the real-time communication session;

receiving over the network second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

effecting loading of the second web page on the local browser based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporating the first location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message;

sending the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

receiving a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message; and

removing the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

querying a user of the local browser whether to send the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser;

receiving a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, sending the first location indicia for the first web page for loading on the remote browser.

27. The method claim 25 further comprising:

upon receiving the second location indicia for the second web page, querying a user of the local browser whether to load the second web page;

receiving a response to the query; and

if the response is affirmative, effecting loading of the second web page on the local browser.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising sending the first location indicia for the first web page over the network for loading on a plurality of remote browsers.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the real-time communication session comprises a voice call.

30. A method facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising;

receiving from a local browser first location indicia for a first web page loaded by an associated browser during a real-time communication session;

sending the first location indicia for the first web page over a network for loading on a remote browser running on a remote computer as part of the real-time communication session;

receiving second location indicia for a second web page loaded by the remote browser running on the remote computer;

instructing the local browser to load the second web page on the local browser based on the second location indicia for the second web page;

incorporating the first location indicia for the first web page in a first invite message;

sending the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

receiving a second invite message from the remote computer, thereby forming a received invite message; and

removing the second location indicia for the second web page from the received invite message.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

configuring the local browser to provide location indicia for a web page for sending to the remote browser, the web page initially selected by a user of the associated browser and loaded by the local browser; and

configuring the associated browser to receive and load the web page initially selected by the user of the remote browser upon receiving the location indicia for the web page initially selected by the user of the remote browser;

wherein the first web page is a web page initially selected by the user of the local browser and the second web page is a web page initially selected by a user of the remote browser.

32. A method facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising:

interacting with a local browser to receive a first uniform resource locator for a first web page initially selected to load by a user of the local browser during a real-time communication session;

forwarding the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across a network to load on a remote browser as part of the real-time communication session;

receiving a second uniform resource locator for a second web page selected by a remote user to load on the remote browser;

effecting loading of the second web page after receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page;

incorporating the first uniform resource locator for the first web page in a first invite message;

wherein forwarding the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across the network includes forwarding the first invite message to the remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page over the network includes receiving a second invite message from the remote computer; and

removing the second-uniform resource locator for the second web page from the second invite message.

33. A system for facilitating synchronization of web browsers comprising:

means for conducting a real-time communication session;

means for interacting with a local browser to receive a first uniform resource locator for a first web page initially selected to load by a user of the local browser;

means for forwarding the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across a network to load on a remote browser as pan of the real-time communication session;

means for receiving a second uniform resource locator for a second web page selected by a remote user to load on the remote browser;

means for affecting the load of the second web page after receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page;

means for incorporating the first uniform resource locator for the first web page in a first invite message;

wherein said means for forwarding the first uniform resource locator for the first web page across the network comprises means for forwarding the first invite message to a remote computer using session initiation protocol;

wherein said means for receiving the second uniform resource locator for the second web page over the network comprises means for receiving a second invite message from the remote computer; and

means for removing the second uniform resource locator for the second web page from the second invite message.