Access to network content

• US 8,745,212 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Arvind, Hamon, Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Algibhah, Hamza
• Assistant Examiner(s): COX, NATISHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/174,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859

Abstract

A method and system for improving access to network content are described. Aspects of the disclosure minimize the delay between a navigation event and a network response by prerendering the next navigation event. For example, the method and system may predict a likely next uniform resource locator during web browsing to preemptively request content from the network before the user selects the corresponding link on a web page. The methods and systems describe a variety of manners for prerendering content and managing and configuring prerendering operations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for accessing network content, the method comprising:

determining a probability value, using a processor, for each of one or more links associated with web content, the probability value indicating a likelihood that a user will select the associated link;

determining whether the probability value satisfies at least one action threshold in a series of action thresholds, each action threshold in the series being associated with an increasingly aggressive network content access action; and

performing the network content access action associated with each action threshold in the series of action thresholds based on a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies so as to reduce a delay in accessing network content upon selection of the associated link, wherein performing comprises;

determining an amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action;

comparing the amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action to an amount of available resources; and

assigning a priority for performing the network content access action based on the comparison and the probability value associated with the network content access action associated with a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the probability value by at least one of analyzing a navigation history, analyzing a text entry, and analyzing a mouse cursor movement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network content access action comprises at least one of displaying the network content in a primary browser window, prerendering the network content in a hidden browser instance, prefetching a top-level resource, initiating a transmission control protocol connection, and retrieving domain name services information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeating determining the probability value, determining whether the probability value exceeds the one or more action thresholds, and performing the network content access action for each of a plurality of links present on a web page.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ordering the one or more action thresholds in increasing order of required probability value, such that network content access actions requiring a higher threshold probability value are performed after network content access actions requiring a lower threshold probability value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability value is received from a web service.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the one or more links are selected within a given time period; and

when the given time period has passed, discarding the non-selected links.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a probability value, using a processor, for each of one or more links associated with web content, the probability value indicating a likelihood that a user will select the associated link;

determining whether the probability value satisfies at least one action threshold in a series of action thresholds, each action threshold in the series being associated with an increasingly aggressive network content access action; and

performing the network content access action associated with each action threshold in the series of action thresholds based on a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies so as to reduce a delay in accessing network content upon selection of the associated link, wherein performing comprises;

determining an amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action;

comparing the amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action to an amount of available resources; and

assigning a priority for performing the network content access action based on the comparison and the probability value associated with the network content access action associated with a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising determining the probability value by at least one of analyzing a navigation history, analyzing a text entry, and analyzing a mouse cursor movement.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the network content access action comprises at least one of displaying the network content in a primary browser window, prerendering the network content in a hidden browser instance, prefetching a top-level resource, initiating a transmission control protocol connection, and retrieving domain name services information.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

repeating determining a probability value, determining whether the probability value exceeds the one or more action thresholds, and performing the network content access action for each of a plurality of links present on a web page.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

ordering the one or more action thresholds in increasing order of required probability value, such that network content access actions requiring a higher threshold probability value are performed after network content access actions requiring a lower threshold probability value.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the probability value is received from a web service.

13. A processing system for accessing network content, the processing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, for storing one or more probability values;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a probability value for each of one or more links associated with web content, the probability value indicating a likelihood that a user will select the associated link;

determine whether the probability value satisfies at least one action threshold in a series of action thresholds, each action threshold in the series being associated with an increasingly aggressive network content access action; and

perform the network content access action associated with each action threshold in the series of action thresholds based on a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies so as to reduce a delay in accessing network content upon selection of the associated link, wherein to perform the processor is further configured to;

determine an amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action;

compare the amount of resources needed to perform the network content access action to an amount of available resources; and

assign a priority for performing the network content access action based on the comparison and the probability value associated with the network content access action associated with a highest action threshold that the probability value satisfies.

14. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the probability value by at least one of analyzing a navigation history, analyzing a text entry, and analyzing a mouse cursor movement.

15. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the network content access action comprises at least one of displaying the network content in a primary browser window, prerendering the network content in a hidden browser instance, prefetching a top-level resource, initiating a transmission control protocol connection, and retrieving domain name services information.

16. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to repeat determining a probability value, determining whether the probability value exceeds the one or more action thresholds, and performing the network content access action for each of a plurality of links present on a web page.

17. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to order the one or more action thresholds in increasing order of required probability value, such that network content access actions requiring a higher threshold probability value are performed after network content access actions requiring a lower threshold probability value.

18. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the probability value is received from a web service.