Systems and methods for co-browsing on a mobile device

• US 8,239,773 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Billman, Bradly Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/259,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/753, 715/759
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for the concurrent display of information between devices. A co-browsing module is implemented to provide concurrent display of information displayed within a Web browser on a mobile device. A co-browsing module implemented on a stationary system queries a co-browsing module implemented on the mobile device to collect information including the device'"'"'s hardware configuration, the network communications protocol being used, and a session number. The collected information is then used by the co-browsing module on the stationary system to establish a co-browsing session with the co-browsing module on the mobile device. The co-browsing module on the mobile device then provides web display information to the co-browsing module on the CSR'"'"'s system to control the concurrent display of Web information displayed on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for providing a concurrent display of information between devices, comprising:

a first information processing device comprising a first co-browsing module and a first browser, said first co-browsing module being operable to receive web page display information over a network, comprising a plurality of subnetworks, from a second information processing device comprising a second co-browsing module and a second browser, said first co-browsing module being operable to use said web page display information to control the display of information in a first user interface in said first browser;

wherein said information displayed in said first user interface is concurrently displayed in a second user interface in said second browser and said concurrent display of information is initiated upon receipt of a request from said second information processing device;

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to maintain concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces while said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point; and

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to re-establish concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces using configuration information of the said second information processing device after said second information processing device is decoupled from said network and subsequently recoupled to said network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first information processing device is connected to a first said subnetwork comprising a first communication protocol and said second information processing device is connected to a second said subnetwork comprising a second communication protocol and a plurality of wireless network access points, wherein said network comprises a protocol processor operable to provide translation between said first communication protocol and said second communication protocol.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second subnetwork is operable to maintain said connection when said second information processing device passes out of the connectivity range of a first said wireless network access point and into the connectivity range of a second said wireless access point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said first co-browsing module is operable to receive said device configuration information from said second co-browsing module; and

said first co-browsing module is further operable to continue receiving said device configuration information when said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said device configuration information comprises a unique identifier.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said unique identifier comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

7. A computer-implementable method for providing a concurrent display of information between devices, comprising:

using a first information processing device to receive web page display information over a network, comprising a plurality of subnetworks, from a second information processing device on said network, wherein said first information processing device comprises a first co-browsing module and a first browser and said second information processing device comprises a second co-browsing module and a second browser;

wherein said first co-browsing module is operable to use said web page display information to control the display of information in a first user interface in said first browser;

wherein said information displayed in said first user interface is concurrently displayed in a second user interface in said second browser and said concurrent display of information is initiated upon receipt of a request from said second information processing device;

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to maintain concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces while said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point; and

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to re-establish concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces using configuration information of the said second information processing device after said second information processing device is decoupled from said network and subsequently recoupled to said network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first information processing device is connected to a first said subnetwork comprising a first communication protocol and said second information processing device is connected to a second said subnetwork comprising a second communication protocol and a plurality of wireless network access points, wherein said network comprises a protocol processor operable to provide translation between said first communication protocol and said second communication protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said second subnetwork is operable to maintain said connection when said second information processing device passes out of the connectivity range of a first said wireless network access point and into the connectivity range of a second said wireless access point.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said first co-browsing module is operable to receive said device configuration information from said second co-browsing module; and

said first co-browsing module is further operable to continue receiving said device configuration information when said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said device configuration information comprises a unique identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said unique identifier comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

13. A non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

using a first information processing device to receive web page display information over a network, comprising a plurality of subnetworks, from a second information processing device on said network, wherein said first information processing device comprises a first co-browsing module and a first browser and said second information processing device comprises a second co-browsing module and a second browser;

wherein said first co-browsing module is operable to use said web page display information to control the display of information in a first user interface in said first browser;

wherein said information displayed in said first user interface is concurrently displayed in a second user interface in said second browser and said concurrent display of information is initiated upon receipt of a request from said second information processing device;

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to maintain concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces while said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point; and

wherein said first and second co-browsing modules are operable to re-establish concurrent display of information in said first and second user interfaces using configuration information of the said second information processing device after said second information processing device is decoupled from said network and subsequently recoupled to said network.

14. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein said first information processing device is connected to a first said subnetwork comprising a first communication protocol and said second information processing device is connected to a second said subnetwork comprising a second communication protocol and a plurality of wireless network access points, wherein said network comprises a protocol processor operable to provide translation between said first communication protocol and said second communication protocol.

15. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 14, wherein said second subnetwork is operable to maintain said connection when said second information processing device passes out of the connectivity range of a first said wireless network access point and into the connectivity range of a second said wireless access point.

16. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 15, wherein:

said first co-browsing module is operable to receive said device configuration information from said second co-browsing module; and

said first co-browsing module is further operable to continue receiving said device configuration information when said second information processing device transitions from communication with a first wireless access point to communication with a second wireless access point.

17. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 16, wherein said device configuration information comprises a unique identifier.

18. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 17, wherein said unique identifier comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

19. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are provided to a client computer from a server, wherein said server is located at a remote location.

20. The non-transitory computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are provided as a service on an on-demand basis, wherein said service is provided by a service provider.