Client-controlled link processing in computer network

• US 6,304,909 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Isensee, Scott Harlan, Mullaly, John Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/215,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/230, 709/235, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A computer network such as the internet has servers to deliver pages of data to remote users upon demand, and these pages usually contain links to further pages. The request for data is in the form of a page address sent by the user, identifying a specific page, usually by a “URL”. The server has the ability to generate context-sensitive information about delivery of this page, including current loading at the server, transmission bandwidth for the server, and size of the data requested. The server can calculate the time needed to transfer the requested data, and send this information to the client. The user can then decide the transfer method desired, based on the information sent by the server. For example, the user may want immediate transfer, or delayed transfer, or may want to abort the request. The requested page may be sent later by email. The server may send this context-sensitive information for all of the links on a page, and the user station may display the information for a link when it is clicked, in one embodiment. In this manner, receipt of information can be selective, based on user'"'"'s needs and network delays.

Claims

1. A computer network having a first station and a second station, the first and second stations being separated from one another and coupled by said network, comprising:

a request mechanism at said first station for requesting data from said second station;

a reply mechanism at said second station for sending to said first station in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said second station;

a selection mechanism in said first station for sending instructions to said second station based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data.

2. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said first station is a user station, said second station is a remote server, and said network is the internet.

3. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said network is the internet and uses TCP/IP and hypertext transmission protocols, and said data includes pages identified by universal resource locator addresses.

4. A computer network according to claim 3 wherein said indication is based on size of said data, loading at said second station, and transmission bandwidth for said second station.

5. A computer network according to claim 4 wherein said transfer method includes a plurality of alternatives, said alternatives including immediate transfer, delayed transfer, and aborting transfer.

6. A computer network according to claim 3 wherein said data includes a page of hypertext, and said indication is sent to said first station by said second station for all links in said hypertext.

7. A computer network according to claim 6 wherein said first station sends instructions to said second station for each of said links in said hypertext.

8. A method of operating a computer network of the type having a first station and a second station, the first and second stations being separated from one another and coupled by said network, comprising the steps of:

sending a request for data from said first station to said second station;

sending from said second station to said first station in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said second station; and

sending instructions from said first station to said second station based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said first station functions as a user station, said second station functions as a remote server, and said network uses internet protocol.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said network is the internet and uses TCP/IP and hypertext transmission protocols, and said data includes pages identified by universal resource locator addresses.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said indication is generated based on size of said data, loading at said second station, and transmission bandwidth for said second station.

12. A method according to claim 11 where said transfer method includes a plurality of alternatives, said alternative including immediate transfer, delayed transfer, and aborting transfer.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein said data includes a page of hypertext, and said indication is sent to said first station by said second station for all links in said hypertext.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said first station sends instructions to said second station for each of said links in said hypertext.

15. A program product residing in computer memory in a computer system for providing delivery of data from a server on a network, wherein said data is displayed by a graphic interface at a user station, said program product comprising:

transfer means to send from said user station to said server a request for a page of said data;

receiving means to receive from said server in response to a said request an indication of time-delay conditions for transfer of data from said server;

said transfer means including means for sending instructions from said user station to said server based on said indication, said instructions identifying a transfer method for said data; and

signal-bearing media bearing said transfer means and said receiving means.

16. A program product according to claim 15 wherein said network is the internet and uses TCP/IP and hypertext transmission protocols, and said data includes pages identified by universal resource locator addresses.

17. A program product according to claim 16 wherein said indication is generated based on size of said data, loading at said server, and transmission bandwidth for said server.

18. A program product according to claim 17 wherein said transfer method includes a plurality of alternatives, said alternatives including immediate transfer, delayed transfer, and aborting transfer.

19. A program product according to claim 15 wherein said data includes a page of hypertext, and said indication is sent to said user station by said server for all links in said hypertext.

20. A program product according to claim 19 wherein said user station sends instructions to said server for each of said links in said hypertext.