Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing information between a client and a server

• US 8,447,806 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ferris, Michael, Popp, Nicolas, Forstall, Scott, D'Harcourt, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US13/414,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20120226744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/224, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• 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 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating applets running on a client with the application logic for applications running on a server. Instead of using the FORM element available in HTML, individual active applets are available and may be created that obtain user input (e.g. a checkbox, textbox, button, etc.). A hidden applet called the Applet Group Controller is created which handles communication between the applets on the browser and the application logic on the server.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing information comprising:

providing to a first computer from a second computer a display page comprising computer instructions which when executed by the first computer cause the first computer to;

accept user input via the display page at the first computer;

use a record of values received from the second computer to determine first computer values associated with said user input that have changed since a last communication with the second computer;

construct a first package that includes said first computer values; and

transmit said first package to the second computer;

receiving said first package at the second computer;

comparing said first computer values from said first package with one or more second computer variables;

constructing synchronization information based at least in part on information resulting from said comparison; and

transmitting said synchronization information to said first computer;

wherein the first computer is configured to update the display page at said first computer based at least in part on said synchronization information by using the synchronization information to update a portion of the display page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire display page.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving from said first computer at said second computer a request to retrieve the display page.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the request to retrieve is received from a browser or other client software at the first computer configured to retrieve the display page from the second computer.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the display page comprises a web page.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first computer is configured to use the synchronization information to update a portion of the web page as displayed at the first computer without requiring an entire web page to be rendered.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein accepting user input at said first computer comprises accepting user input in an input field of the display page.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first package includes one or more key-value pairs.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first package further includes an action data indicating an action to be invoked at the second computer.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the second computer is configured to use said action data to determine an action logic to be invoked at the second computer.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting said first package comprises sending an HTTP communication.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting said first package comprises sending an HTTP communication;

and wherein said first package comprises one or more key-values and an action data indicating an action to be invoked at the second computer.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said display page comprises a web page;

said user input comprises an input received via the web page as displayed at the first computer; and

said synchronization information is used at the first computer to update a portion of the web page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire web page from the second computer to the first computer.

13. A system comprising:

a communication interface; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to;

provide to a first computer via the communication interface a display page comprising computer instructions which when executed by the first computer cause the first computer to;

accept user input via the display page at the first computer;

use a record of values received from the second computer to determine first computer values associated with said user input that have changed since a last communication with the second computer;

construct a first package that includes said first computer values; and

transmit said first package to the system via the communication interface;

receive said first package;

compare said first computer values from said first package with one or more second computer variables;

construct synchronization information based at least in part on information resulting from said comparison; and

transmit said synchronization information to said first computer;

wherein the first computer is configured to update the display page at said first computer based at least in part on said synchronization information by using the synchronization information to update a portion of the display page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire display page.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the display page comprises a web page.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein accepting user input at said first computer comprises accepting user input in an input field of the display page.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first package includes one or more key-value pairs.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said first package includes an action data indicating an action to be invoked using the processor.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to use said action data to determine an action logic to be invoked using the processor.

19. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein transmitting said first package comprises sending an HTTP communication.

20. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first computer is configured to retrieve the display page from the system.

21. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein transmitting said first package comprises sending an HTTP communication;

and wherein said first package comprises one or more key-values and an action data indicating an action to be invoked using the processor.

22. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein said display page comprises a web page;

said user input comprises an input received via the web page as displayed at the first computer; and

said synchronization information is used at the first computer to update a portion of the web page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire web page from the system to the first computer.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:

providing to a first computer from a second computer a display page comprising computer instructions which when executed by the first computer cause the first computer to;

accept user input via the display page at the first computer;

use a record of values received from the second computer to determine first computer values associated with said user input that have changed since a last communication with the second computer;

construct a first package that includes said first computer values; and

transmit said first package to the second computer;

receiving said first package at the second computer;

comparing said first computer values from said first package with one or more second computer variables;

constructing synchronization information based at least in part on information resulting from said comparison; and

transmitting said synchronization information to said first computer;

wherein the first computer is configured to update the display page at said first computer based at least in part on said synchronization information by using the synchronization information to update a portion of the display page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire display page.

24. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the display page is a web page.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein accepting user input at said first computer comprises accepting user input in an input field of the display page.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said first package includes one or more key-value pairs.

27. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein transmitting said first package comprises sending an HTTP communication.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said display page comprises a web page;

said user input comprises an input received via the web page as displayed at the first computer; and

said synchronization information is used at the first computer to update a portion of the web page as displayed at the first computer without requiring retransmission of the entire web page to the first computer.