Processing selected browser requests

• US 7,401,115 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arsenault, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US09/693,840
• Time in Patent Office: 2,822 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/218, 709/219, 709/238, 709/239, 370/352
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

Processing a browser request that specifies a destination network resource generally includes intercepting a browser request that specifies a selected destination network resource and redirecting the browser request to a network server that differs from the destination resource specified by the browser request. Processing a browser request also may include intercepting a browser request received from a client computer at a proxy server when the browser request specifies a selected destination network resource and performing instructions associated with and in addition to instructions performed to download the selected destination network resource.

Claims

1. A method of processing a browser request from a browser executing on a computer, wherein the browser request specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server, the method comprising:

intercepting the browser request that specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server;

determining whether the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource;

directing the browser request to a server other than the destination server when the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource; and

processing the browser request at the other server, wherein processing the browser request comprises;

retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

splitting a display of the browser at the computer into at least two sections;

displaying the destination network resource specified by the browser request in a first of the two sections; and

displaying a toolbar in a second of the two sections.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource comprises:

determining the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

comparing the destination network resource specified by the browser request to a list of selected destination network resources to determine if the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one of the slected destination network resources in the list.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request comprises retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request from the destination server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request comprises retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request from a cache associated with the server other than the destination server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the toolbar comprises shopping tools.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the destination network resource specified by the browser request corresponds to a merchant web site.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the toolbar comprises at least two segments.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a first of the two segments comprise one or more of:

a tool for selecting a shopping category;

a tool for issuing a new browser request for a different destination network resource;

a tool for obtaining customer service information;

a tool for finding an appropriate merchant based on a user'"'"'s shopping needs;

or a tool for obtaining protection in the event of unfair treatment by a merchant.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a second of the two segments comprise one or more of:

a tool for accelerating business transactions with the merchant web site corresponding to the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

a tool for determining one or more merchant web sites that a user has previously visited;

a tool for issuing a request for a destination network resource that corresponds to a most recently visited merchant web site;

or a tool for searching the merchant web site that corresponds to the destination network resource specified by the browser request.

10. A system for processing a browser request from a browser executing on a computer, wherein the browser request specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server, the system comprising:

an interceptor to intercept the browser request that specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server;

a determiner to determine whether the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource;

a redirector to direct the browser request to a server other than the destination server when the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource; and

a processor to process the browser request at the other server, wherein to process the browser request, the processor;

retrieves the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

splits a display of the browser at the computer into at least two sections;

displays the destination network resource specified by the browser request in a first of the two sections; and

displays a toolbar in a second of the two sections.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the determiner comprises:

a comparer to compare the destination network resource specified by the browser request to a list of selected destination network resources to determine if the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one of the selected destination network resources in the list.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein, to retrieve the destination network resource specified by the browser request, the processor retrieves the destination network resource specified by the browser request from the destination server.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein, to retrieve the destination network resource specified by the browser request, the processor retrieves the destination network resource specified by the browser request from a cache associated with the server other than the destination server.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the toolbar comprises shopping tools.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the destination network resource specified by the browser request corresponds to a merchant web site.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the toolbar comprises at least two segments.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a first of the two segments comprise one or more of:

a tool for selecting a shopping category;

a tool for issuing a new browser request for a different destination network resource;

a tool for obtaining customer service information;

a tool for finding an appropriate merchant based on a user'"'"'s shopping needs;

or a tool for obtaining protection in the event of unfair treatment by a merchant.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein a second of the two segments comprise one or more of:

a tool for accelerating business transactions with the merchant web site corresponding to the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

a tool for determining one or more merchant web sites that a user has previously visited;

a tool for issuing a request for a destination network resource that corresponds to a most recently visited merchant web site;

or a tool for searching the merchant web site that corresponds to the destination network resource specified by the browser request.

19. A system for processing a browser request from a browser executing on a computer, wherein the browser request specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server, the system comprising:

means for intercepting the browser request that specifies a destination network resource residing on a destination server;

means for determining whether the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource;

means for directing the browser request to a server other than the destination server when the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource; and

means for processing the browser request at the other server, wherein the means for processing the browser request comprises;

means for retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

means for splitting a display of the browser at the computer into at least two sections;

means for displaying the destination network resource specified by the browser request in a first of the two sections; and

means for displaying a toolbar in a second of the two sections.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for determining whether the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one selected destination network resource comprises:

means for determining the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

means for comparing the destination network resource specified by the browser request to a list of selected destination network resources to determine if the destination network resource specified by the browser request matches at least one of the slected destination network resources in the list.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request comprises means for retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request from the destination server.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request comprises means for retrieving the destination network resource specified by the browser request from a cache associated with the server other than the destination server.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the toolbar comprises shopping tools.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the destination network resource specified by the browser request corresponds to a merchant web site.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the toolbar comprises at least two segments.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein a first of the two segments comprises one or more of:

a tool for selecting a shopping category;

a tool for issuing a new browser request for a different destination network resource;

a tool for obtaining customer service information;

a tool for finding an appropriate merchant based on a user'"'"'s shopping needs;

or a tool for obtaining protection in the event of unfair treatment by a merchant.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein a second of the two segments comprise one or more of:

a tool for accelerating business transactions with the merchant web site corresponding to the destination network resource specified by the browser request;

a tool for determining one or more merchant web sites that a user has previously visited;

a tool for issuing a request for a destination network resource that corresponds to a most recently visited merchant web site;

or a tool for searching the merchant web site that corresponds to the destination network resource specified by the browser request.