Method and mechanism for a portal website architecture

• US 7,548,957 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wichmann, Derek, Lam, Ling
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US10/141,583
• Time in Patent Office: 2,597 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 709/227, 709/204, 709/219, 707/1, 707/4, 706/12, 706/14, 706/61
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A method and mechanism for portal web site architecture supporting a plurality of portlets, which are configurable content area displayable on a web page that provides content or performs one or more associated functions or both. Web providers provide the functionality and house the content for portlets. In response to receiving a request for a web page with a portlet, an application server contacts a web provider to obtain the content for the portlet, and assembles the web page using the retrieved content from the web provider and information stored in a database about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page. Discussion forum portlets, notice board portlets, and memo pad portlets may be used to provide discussion forum functionality, notice board functionality, and memo pad functionality respectively.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a discussion forum over a computer network, comprising:

configuring a web provider to support a discussion forum portlet;

receiving a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the discussion forum portlet, the discussion forum portlet hosting at least one of the one or more discussion forums, wherein the at least one of the one or more discussion forums comprises restricting access through a password, a moderator alias, and at least one of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link or announcements for a specified duration;

identifying the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmitting a second request to the web provider for content;

parsing the second request at the web provider;

checking, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfilling the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmitting the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure, appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtaining the content to be displayed in the discussion forum portlet from the web provider;

assembling the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and the database; and

transmitting the web page to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the discussion forum portlet was created by an admin discussion forum portlet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is transmitted over a wireless network to the user.

4. A method for providing access to a notice board over a computer network, comprising:

configuring a web provider to support a notice board portlet;

receiving a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the notice board portlet, wherein the notice board comprises restricting access by users, a user alias, and notice to a group for a specified duration;

identifying the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmitting a second request to the web provider for content;

parsing the second request at the web provider;

checking, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfilling the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmitting the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure, appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtaining the content to be displayed in the notice board portlet from the web provider;

assembling the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and the database; and

transmitting the web page to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notice board portlet is configured such that a list of notices is displayed to the user, the list of notices comprising the date of posting, the name of the person posting the notice, the name of the intended recipient, and the subject of the notice.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the web page is transmitted over a wireless network to the user.

7. A method for providing access to a memo pad over a computer network, comprising:

configuring a web provider to support a memo pad portlet;

receiving a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the memo pad portlet, wherein the memo pad portlet comprises restricting access by the identity of the user, a content screen, and a listing of one or more documents created by the user for a specified duration;

identifying the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmitting a second request to the web provider for content;

parsing the second request at the web provider;

checking, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfilling the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmitting the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure, appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtaining the content to be displayed in the memo pad portlet from the web provider;

assembling the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and database; and

transmitting the web page to the user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a document composed in the memo pad portlet; and

storing the document at the web provider.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the document is composed using voice recognition software.

10. A computer readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing access to a discussion forum over a computer network, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

configure a web provider to support a discussion forum portlet;

receive a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the discussion forum portlet, the discussion forum portlet hosting at least one of the one or more discussion forums, wherein the at least one of the one or more discussion forums comprises restricting access through a password, a moderator alias, and at least one of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link or announcements for a specified duration;

identify the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmit a second request to the web provider for content;

parse the second request at the web provider;

check, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfill the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmit the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtain the content to be displayed in the discussion forum portlet from the web provider;

assemble the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and the database; and

transmit the web page to the user.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the discussion forum portlet was created by an admin discussion forum portlet.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the web page is transmitted over a wireless network to the user.

13. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing access to a notice board over a computer network, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

configure a web provider to support a notice board portlet;

receive a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the notice board portlet, wherein the notice board comprises restricting access by users, a user alias, and notice to a group for a specified duration;

identify the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmit a second request to the web provider for content;

parse the second request at the web provider;

check, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfill the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmit the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure, appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtain the content to be displayed in the notice board portlet from the web provider;

assemble the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and database; and

transmit the web page to the user.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the notice board portlet is configured such that a list of notices is displayed to the user, the list of notices comprising the date of posting, the name of the person posting the notice, the name of the intended recipient, and the subject of the notice.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the web page is transmitted over a wireless network to the user.

16. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing access to a memo pad over a computer network, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

configure a web provider to support a memo pad portlet;

receive a first request for a web page from a user, the web page comprising the memo pad portlet, wherein the memo pad portlet comprises restricting access by the identity of the user, a content screen, and a listing of one or more documents created by the user for a specified duration;

identify the web provider at an application server based on the request;

transmit a second request to the web provider for content;

parse the second request at the web provider;

check, at the web provider, one or more central repositories to determine whether the content exists;

fulfill the second request with the content at the web provider;

transmit the information satisfying the second request from the web provider to the application server to be assembled in response to the first request for content by using information about the structure, appearance and operation of requested web page and the information obtained from the web provider;

obtain the content to be displayed in the memo pad portlet from the web provider;

assemble the requested web page at the application server, wherein the application server retrieves information about the structure, appearance, and operation of the web page from a database and thereafter composes the web page with the information and the content from the web provider and database; and

transmit the web page to the user.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a document composed in the memo pad portlet; and

storing the document at the web provider.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the document is composed using voice recognition software.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the web page is transmitted over a wireless network to the user.