Selective synchronization of web browsers

• US 7,225,225 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Atsushi, Kuki, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/823,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709204-205, 709/238, 709/245, 709/246, 709/250, 709/219, 709/227, 709/218, 709/223, 709/224, 709/201, 709/248, 707/10, 707/201, 715/751, 715/500.1
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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]

Abstract

A web browser and browser method permit the display of web pages and dynamic effects related to displayed objects to be selectively synchronized for a plurality of browsers. A location attribute can be used to identify a browser at which an action is initiated and specify one or more browsers to display the results of the initiated action.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an input associated with an object in a shared display of a web browser;

(b) detecting a location attribute associated with said object, said location attribute comprising at least one of;

(i) a function conditioning the occurrence of an event on the location of said input; and

(ii) a function limiting the location at which an event is to be presented;

(c) producing an effect based on said location attribute;

(d) sending a synchronization command from a first web browser to a second web browser in response to detection of said location attribute specifying said second web browser as said location for said effect; and

(e) producing said effect at said second browser in response to said synchronization command.

2. The method of claim 1 where said step of producing said effect comprises the step of loading a web page on a remote web browser.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of loading said web page on a local web browser at which said input was detected.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said remote web browser and said local web browser are engaged in a synchronized display session.

5. The method of claim 1 where said step of producing said effect comprises the step of dynamically altering said object as displayed by a remote web browser.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dynamically altering said object as displayed on a local web browser at which said input was detected.

7. The method of claim 6 where said remote web browser and said local web browser are engaged in a synchronized display session.

8. The method of claim 1 where said effect comprises loading a web page in a frame specified by said location attribute.

9. The method of claim 8 where said frame is displayed by said first web browser.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an input associated with an object in a shared display of a web browser;

(b) detecting a location attribute associated with said object, said location attribute comprising at least one of;

(i) a function conditioning the occurrence of an event on the location of said input; and

(ii) a function limiting the location at which an event is to be presented;

(c) producing an effect based on said location attribute;

(d) sending a synchronization command from a first web browser to a second web browser in response to detection of said location attribute specifying said first web browser as a location for said input; and

(e) producing said effect on at least one of said first and said second web browsers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of sending said synchronization command from said first web browser to said second web browser comprises the steps of:

(a) detecting said location attribute where said location attribute specifies a property to be associated with a source of said input;

(b) confirming that said web browser at which said input was detected has said property specified by said location attribute; and

(c) sending said synchronization command to said second web browser in response to said confirmation.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of loading a web page at second web browser in response to said synchronization command.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of loading a web page in a frame displayed by said second web browser in response to said synchronization command.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising dynamically altering an object displayed by said second web browser in response to said synchronization command.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically altering an object displayed by said first web browser in response to said location attribute.

16. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an input at a local web browser;

(b) generating an event in response to said input;

(c) detecting at least one location attribute associated with said event, said location attribute comprising at least one of;

(i) a function conditioning the occurrence of an action manipulating a shared object on the location of said input; and

(ii) a function limiting the location at which an action manipulating a shared object is to be presented; and

(d) executing said action to manipulate said shared object based on said location attribute;

(e) registering an association of said event and an input object;

(f) detecting said input at a display location corresponding to said input object; and

(g) confirming said association in response to said input; and

(h) generating said event in response to said confirmation.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an input at a local web browser;

(b) generating an event in response to said input;

(c) detecting at least one location attribute associated with said event, said location attribute comprising at least one of;

(i) a function conditioning the occurrence of an action manipulating a shared object on the location of said input; and

(ii) a function limiting the location at which an action manipulating a shared object is to be presented; and

(d) executing said action to manipulate said shared object based on said location attribute;

(d) sending a synchronization command from a local web browser to a remote web browser in response to detection of a location attribute specifying said remote web browser as said location for said action; and

(e) executing said action to manipulate said object at said remote web browser in response to said synchronization command.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of manipulating said object in a frame displayed by said remote web browser in response to detection of a location attribute of said event specifying a frame displayed by said remote browser.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said action comprises loading a web page.