Method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable browsing experience on a guest device

• US 9,185,145 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samesurf, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Samesurf, Inc.
• Inventors: Pirnazar, Kambiz David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US13/951,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/203, 715/733, 715/753
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable web browsing experience on a guest device, utilizing the transfer of URL and form data information. The present invention further describes a method for joining a synchronized browsing session administered by a synchronization server, comprising activating a hyperlink associated with the synchronized browsing session, sending a request to join the synchronized browsing session to the synchronization server in response to the activation of the hyperlink, and joining the synchronized browsing session. The present invention further describes a method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising receiving information related to a shared web browsing interaction performed by a host device from a synchronization server, and performing the shared web browsing interaction based on the information received from the synchronization server.

Claims

1. A method performed by a guest device for joining a synchronized browsing session administered by a synchronization server, comprising:

receiving from the synchronization server a session invitation including a session identifier associated with a host device;

activating the session invitation to send a request to join said synchronized browsing session to said synchronization server;

receiving web browsing interaction data from said synchronization server, wherein said web browsing interaction data is associated with;

a website server that is independent of the synchronization server, and

the host device that has initiated the session invitation; and

operating an application based on said web browsing interaction data received from said synchronization server to access a website server independent of the synchronization server subsequent to the activation of the session invitation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation comprises a hyperlink associated with said synchronized browsing session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said invitation is received via a viable means of communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said web browsing interaction data further comprises cookie information associated with the website server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said web browsing interaction data further comprises information related to shared user input web browsing interactions depicted in a first web browser window.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein non-shared web browsing interactions are depicted in a second web browser window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said web browsing interaction data further comprises form data associated with the website server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said web browsing interaction data further comprise a log-in into a restricted access webpage.

9. A guest device for performing a synchronized browsing session administered by a synchronization server, comprising:

a network interface adapted to communicate with said synchronization server; and

a processor configured to;

receive from the synchronization server a session invitation including a session identifier associated with a host device;

activate the session invitation to send a request to join said synchronized browsing session to said synchronization server via said network interface;

receive web browsing interaction data from said synchronization server, wherein said web browsing interaction data is associated with;

a website server that is independent of the synchronization server, and

the host device that has initiated the session invitation; and

operate an application based on said web browsing interaction data received from said synchronization server to access the website server that is independent of the synchronization server subsequent to the activation of the session invitation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a memory adapted to store one or more software modules for controlling said processor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said invitation comprises a hyperlink associated with said synchronized browsing session and said hyperlink is received from the host device via a viable means of communication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a user interface adapted to initiate said processor to send said request in response to a user input.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said user input comprises activation of said hyperlink for initializing sending of said request to join said synchronized browsing session.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a user interface adapted to depict shared user input web browsing interactions in a shared web browsing window.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein information related to said shared user input web browsing interactions comprises web browsing interaction data.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said shared user input web browsing interactions further comprise a log-in into a restricted access webpage.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said shared user input web browsing interactions are depicted in a first web browser window.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein non-shared web browsing interactions are depicted in a non-shared web browser window.