Method and Apparatus for the Implementation of a Real-Time, Sharable Browsing Experience on a Host Device

• US 20110289156A1
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samesurf, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Samesurf, Inc.
• Inventors: Pirnazar, Kambiz David
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable web browsing experience on a host device, utilizing the transfer of URL and form data information. The present invention further describes a method for establishing a synchronized browsing session, comprising sending a request to establish the synchronized browsing session to a synchronization server, receiving a confirmation message from the synchronization server including a session identifier associated with the established synchronized browsing session, and sending an invitation to an invitee to join the synchronized browsing session, wherein the invitation includes the session identifier. The present invention further describes a method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising recording a shared web browsing interaction, and transmitting information related to the shared web browsing interaction to a synchronization server.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a synchronized browsing session, comprising:

sending a request to establish the synchronized browsing session to a synchronization server;

receiving a confirmation message from the synchronization server including a session identifier associated with the established synchronized browsing session; and

sending an invitation to an invitee to join the synchronized browsing session, wherein the invitation includes the session identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a notification message indicative of the invitee joining the synchronized browsing session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a hyperlink on a website to initialize the sending of the request to establish the synchronized browsing session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the invitation comprises a hyperlink for joining the synchronized browsing session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the invitation is sent to the invitee via:

a social network communication;

a news feed;

an email message;

an instant message communication;

a micro-blogging communication;

a text message communication;

or

other communication medium that would be suitable for transmitting an invitation of this type.

6. An apparatus for establishing a synchronized browsing session, comprising:

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

a processor adapted to;

send a request to establish the synchronized browsing session to the synchronization server via the network interface;

receive a confirmation message from the synchronization server via the network interface, wherein the confirmation message includes a session identifier associated with the established synchronized browsing session; and

send an invitation to an invitee to join the synchronized browsing session, wherein the invitation includes the session identifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a user interface adapted to initiate the processor to send the request in response to a user input.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a memory adapted to store one or more software modules for controlling the processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises activation of a hyperlink on a website or third party application for initializing the sending of the request to establish the synchronized browsing session.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the invitation comprises a hyperlink for joining the synchronized browsing session.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the invitation is sent to the invitee via:

a social network communication;

a news feed;

an email message;

an instant message communication;

a micro-blogging communication;

a text message communication;

or

any other communication medium that would be suitable for transmitting an invitation of this type.

12. A method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising:

recording a shared web browsing interaction; and

transmitting information related to the shared web browsing interaction to a synchronization server.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein information related to the shared web browsing interactions comprises:

a URL;

form data;

cookie information;

java script data;

or

other web browsing interaction data.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the shared web browsing interaction is depicted in a first web browser window.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein non-shared web browsing interactions are depicted in a second web browser window.

16. An apparatus for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising:

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

a processor adapted to;

record a shared web browsing interaction; and

transmit information related to the shared web browsing interaction to the synchronization server via the network interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a user interface adapted to depict the shared web browsing interaction in a shared web browsing window.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a memory adapted to store one or more software modules for controlling the processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein information related to the shared web browsing interactions comprises:

a URL;

form data;

cookie information;

java script data;

or

other web browsing interaction data.

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