Mobile bookmarks

• US 8,171,109 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Schneider, James Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilles, Jude Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Means, Jaren M
• Application Number:
  US11/809,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/216
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for updating bookmarks is described. In one embodiment, a server has a bookmark database and a bookmark synchronizer. The bookmark synchronizer is configured to receive a communication from a web browser of a client of a user, to collect a list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client, to compare the list of bookmarks with a list of bookmarks stored in the server, and to synchronize the list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with the list of bookmarks stored in the server.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating bookmarks, the method comprising:

receiving a communication at a server from a first web browser of a first client of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the first web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server, wherein the local list is associated with the first client, and wherein the first web browser of the first client automatically sends the communication to the server to synchronize the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks upon a launch of the first web browser at the first client; and

upon receiving the communication to synchronize the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, automatically checking whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized, wherein said automatically checking comprises;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser; and

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database; and

when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser is accessible by the user of the first client while the first client is off-line, and wherein synchronizing further comprises synchronizing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with a corresponding one of a plurality of sublists of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, each of the plurality of sublists associated with at least one of a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers of the same user or a corresponding client of the same user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating the user of the first client with the server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database to be editable by the user via the server.

3. A computer-implemented method for updating bookmarks, the method comprising:

receiving a communication at a server from a first web browser to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the first web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server, wherein the local list is associated with a user of the first web browser;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser;

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database; and

synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first web browser stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks;

receiving a communication from a second web browser to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein the local list from the second web browser is associated with the same user of the first web browser, and wherein the second web browser is a different type than the first web browser;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser;

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database; and

synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the synchronized local list of bookmarks of the second web browser is a different list as the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser, wherein the communication received from the first web browser uses a first network protocol and the communication received from the second web browser uses a second network protocol, and wherein the first network protocol and the second network protocols are different network protocols.

5. A computer-implemented method for updating bookmarks, the method comprising:

receiving communications at a server from a plurality of web browsers associated with a same user, wherein at least two of the plurality of web browsers are different types of web browsers, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of web browsers communicate with the server using different network protocols;

collecting local lists of bookmarks from the plurality of web browsers;

comparing the local lists of bookmarks with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server;

synchronizing the local lists of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, wherein at least two of the synchronized local lists of bookmarks of the plurality of web browsers are different lists, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local lists of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks; and

partitioning the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database,

wherein the partitioned list of bookmarks comprises a plurality of sublists of bookmarks, each of the plurality of sublists associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of web browsers of the same user.

6. A computer-implemented method for updating bookmarks, the method comprising:

automatically communicating with a server upon a launch of a web browser of a client of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server, wherein the local list is associated with the client, wherein said automatically communicating comprises sending a request to the server to retrieve the remote list of bookmarks upon the launch of the web browser;

receiving the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database from the server in response to the request;

upon launch of the web browser, automatically checking whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized, wherein said automatically checking comprises comparing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the client stored in the bookmark database; and

when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the client stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the web browser is accessible by the user of the client while the client is off-line, wherein synchronizing further comprises synchronizing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with a corresponding one of a plurality of sublists of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, each of the plurality of sublists associated with at least one of a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers of the same user or a corresponding client of the same user.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising authenticating the user of the client with the server.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising accessing the server to edit the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a server computer system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a communication at the server computer system from a first web browser of a first client of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the first web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server computer system, wherein the local list is associated with the first client, and wherein the first web browser of the first client automatically sends the communication to the server to synchronize the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks upon a launch of the first web browser at the first client; and

upon receiving the communication to synchronize the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, automatically checking whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized, wherein said automatically checking comprises;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser; and

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored the bookmark database; and

when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser is accessible by the user while the first client is off-line, and wherein synchronizing further comprises synchronizing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with a corresponding one of a plurality of sublists of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, each of the plurality of sublists associated with at least one of a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers of the same user or a corresponding client of the same user.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises authenticating the user of the first client with the server computer system.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises configuring the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database to be editable by the user via the server computer system.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a server computer system to perform a method comprising:

receiving a communication at the server computer system from a first web browser to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the first web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server computer system, wherein the local list is associated with a user of the first web browser;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser;

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database; and

synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first web browser stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks;

receiving a communication from a second web browser to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein the local list from the second web browser is associated with the same user of the first web browser, and wherein the second web browser is a different type than the first web browser;

collecting the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser;

comparing the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database; and

synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser with the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks from the second web browser or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the synchronized local list of bookmarks of the second web browser is a different list as the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser, wherein the communication received from the first web browser uses a first network protocol and the communication received from the second web browser uses a second network protocol, and wherein the first network protocol and the second network protocols are different network protocols.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a server computer system to perform a method comprising:

receiving communications at the server computer system from a plurality of web browsers associated with a same user, wherein at least two of the plurality of web browsers are different types of web browsers, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of web browsers communicate with the server using different network protocols;

collecting local lists of bookmarks from the plurality of web browsers;

comparing the local lists of bookmarks with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server computer system;

synchronizing the local lists of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, wherein at least two of the synchronized local lists of bookmarks of the plurality of web browsers are different lists, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local lists of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks; and

partitioning the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database,

wherein the partitioned list of bookmarks comprises a plurality of sublists of bookmarks, each of the plurality of sublists associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of web browsers of the same user.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a client computer system to perform a method comprising:

automatically communicating with a server upon a launch of a web browser of the client computer system of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server, wherein the local list is associated with the client computer system, wherein said automatically communicating comprises sending a request to the server to retrieve the remote list of bookmarks upon the launch of the web browser;

receiving the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database from the server in response to the request;

upon launch of the web browser, automatically checking whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized, wherein said automatically checking comprises comparing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the client computer system stored in the bookmark database; and

when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, synchronizing the local list of bookmarks from the web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the client computer system stored in the bookmark database, wherein said synchronizing comprises adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the web browser is accessible by the user of the client computer system while the client computer system is off-line, wherein synchronizing further comprises synchronizing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with a corresponding one of a plurality of sublists of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, each of the plurality of sublists associated with at least one of a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers of the same user or a corresponding client of the same user.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the method further comprises authenticating the user of the client computer system with the server.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the method further comprises accessing the server to edit the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database.

17. A server comprising:

a processing device configured to execute a bookmark synchronizer;

a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device to store a bookmark database;

wherein the bookmark synchronizer configured to receive a communication from a first web browser of a first client of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the first web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein the local list is associated with the first client, wherein the first web browser of the first client automatically sends the communication to the server to synchronize the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to automatically check whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized upon receiving the communication to synchronize, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to collect the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser and to compare the local list of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database when automatically checking, and, when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to synchronize the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is configured to synchronize the lists by adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser is accessible by the user of the first client while the first client is off-line, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to partition the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein the partitioned list of bookmarks comprises a plurality of sublists of bookmarks, each of the plurality of sublists associated with at least one of a corresponding client of the same user or a corresponding web browser of the same user.

18. A client comprising:

a processing device configured to execute a web browser and a bookmark plug-in communicatively coupled to the web browser; and

a storage device coupled to the processing device;

wherein the bookmark plug-in is configured to automatically communicate with a server upon a launch of the web browser of the client of a user to synchronize a local list of bookmarks of the web browser with a remote list of bookmarks stored in a bookmark database associated with the server by sending a request to the server to retrieve the remote list of bookmarks upon the launch of the web browser, wherein the local list is associated with the client, wherein the bookmark plug-in is further configured to receive the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database from the server in response to the request, wherein, upon launch of the web browser, the bookmark plug-in is further configured to automatically check whether the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are synchronized by comparing the local list of bookmarks of the web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the client stored in the bookmark database, and wherein, when the local list of bookmarks and the remote list of bookmarks are not synchronized, the bookmark plug-in is further configured to synchronize the local list of bookmarks from the first web browser with the remote list of bookmarks associated with the first client stored in the bookmark database, wherein the bookmark plug-in is configured to synchronize the lists by adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local list of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks, wherein the local list of bookmarks of the first web browser is accessible by the user of the client while the first client is off-line, wherein the bookmark plug-in is further configured to synchronize the local list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client with a corresponding one of a plurality of sublists of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, each of the plurality of sublists associated with a corresponding client of the same user.

19. A server comprising:

a processing device configured to execute a bookmark synchronizer;

a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device to store a bookmark database;

wherein the bookmark synchronizer configured to receive communications from a plurality of web browsers associated with a same user, wherein at least two of the plurality of web browsers are different types of web browsers, wherein the at least two of the plurality of web browsers communicate with the server using different network protocols, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to collect local lists of bookmarks from the plurality of web browsers, to compare the local lists of bookmarks with a remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, and to synchronize the local lists of bookmarks with the remote list of bookmarks, wherein at least two of the synchronized local lists of bookmarks of the plurality of web browsers are different lists, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is configured to synchronize the lists by adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to or from at least one of the local lists of bookmarks or the remote list of bookmarks to reflect the latest version of bookmarks.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to partition the remote list of bookmarks stored in the bookmark database, wherein the partitioned list of bookmarks comprises a plurality of sublists of bookmarks, each of the plurality of sublists associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of web browsers of the same user.