Content capture system and method

• US 8,886,748 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flash Networks, Ltd. (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flash Networks, Ltd. (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pattison, Ian McLean, Zink, Roland, Dunnett, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKENZIE, MARCUS A
• Application Number:
  US13/037,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments

Abstract

Embodiments of the content capture system can receive the request and forward the request to the content provider such that the content provider is unaware that the content capture system is sending the request. When the content provider returns the content to the content capture system, the content capture system modifies the content to include an action trigger, then forwards the modified content to the user. When the user triggers the action trigger, the content capture system captures the content and prepares a message that includes the content. The message is then sent to the destination in a format that is viewable on the target device.

Claims

1. A method for handling capturing content transmitted from a content provider to a client device, comprising:

receiving, by a content proxy computer, original content from the content provider;

storing the original content in a content proxy data store;

inserting, by the content proxy computer, into the original content an action trigger, which enables a user to request capture of the original content;

wherein the action trigger comprises one or more of a menu of one or more items, a hot key and a button, wherein the step of receiving an indication from the client device that the original content is to be captured comprises one or more of receiving an indication that a menu item was selected, receiving an indication that the hot key was selected and receiving an indication that the button was selected;

forwarding, by the content proxy computer, the original content with the action trigger to the client device;

receiving, by a content capture module, a request for content capture associated with the action trigger indicating that the original content is to be captured;

retrieving, by the content capture module, the original content or a portion thereof from content proxy data store of the content capture system;

preparing, by the content capture system, a message containing a copy of the original content or the portion thereof in a format suitable for viewing by a target device; and

sending the message for delivery over a network to the target device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

caching all original content received from the one or more content providers in the content proxy data store.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the action trigger comprises inserting an action trigger which includes a link, into a header or footer of the forwarded content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the action trigger comprises inserting an action trigger which includes a URL link in a toolbar for display floating over the original content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the action trigger comprises inserting an action trigger which includes a plurality of menu items which enable a user to request capture of the original content and sending of the captured content to different respective destinations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the action trigger comprises inserting one or more action triggers which enable a user to request capture of different portions of the original content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the action trigger comprises inserting one or more action triggers which enable a user to request capture of the original content in different formats.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the original content in a content proxy data store comprises storing the original content on a per user and a per session basis.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for content capture comprises receiving a request indicating a plurality of destinations to which the captured content is to be sent.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for content capture comprises receiving a request indicating a destination, other than that of the requester, to which the captured content is to be sent.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining information on the capabilities of the indicated destination and wherein preparing the message is performed responsively to the determined information on the capabilities.

3. A system for capturing content, comprising:

at least one processor;

a content proxy data store; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for;

receiving original content from the content provider;

storing the original content in a content proxy data store;

inserting into the original content, an action trigger which enables a user to request capture of the original content;

wherein the action trigger comprises one or more of a menu of one or more items, a hot key and a button, wherein the step of receiving an indication from the client device that the original content is to be captured comprises one or more of receiving an indication that a menu item was selected, receiving an indication that the hot key was selected and receiving an indication that the button was selected;

forwarding the original content with the inserted action trigger to the client device;

receiving a request for content capture associated with the action trigger indicating that the original content is to be captured;

retrieving the original content or a portion thereof from the content provider or the content proxy data store;

preparing a message containing a copy of the original portion thereof in a format suitable for viewing by a target device; and

sending the message for delivery over a network to the target device.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the processor to insert an action trigger which includes a link, into a header or footer of the forwarded content.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the processor to insert an action trigger which includes a plurality of menu items which enable a user to request capture of the original content and sending of the captured content to different respective destinations.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the processor to insert one or more action triggers which enable a user to request capture of different portions of the original content.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions cause the processor to store the original content on a per user and a per session basis.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor of a content capture system for:

receiving, by the content capture system, original content from the content provider;

inserting, by the content capture system, into the original content, an action trigger which enables a user to request capture of the original content;

wherein the action trigger comprises one or more of a menu of one or more items, a hot key and a button, wherein the step of receiving an indication from the client device that the original content is to be captured comprises one or more of receiving an indication that a menu item was selected, receiving an indication that the hot key was selected and receiving an indication that the button was selected;

forwarding, by the content capture system, the original content with the action trigger to the client device;

receiving, by the content capture system, a request for content capture associated with the action trigger indicating that the original content is to be captured;

retrieving, by the content capture system, the original content or a portion thereof from the content proxy data store;

preparing, by the content capture system, a message containing a copy of the original content or the portion thereof in a format suitable for viewing by a target device; and

sending the message for delivery over a network to the target device.