Update notification method and system

• US 8,601,120 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co.,Ltd. (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co.,Ltd. (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Gao, Zhi, Wang, Xiaochuan
• Primary Examiner(s): DAILEY, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/300,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20120066380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 744 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 715/203
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

An update notification method is provided. The method includes taking snapshots of a network resource and capturing specific contents of the network resource. The method also includes comparing specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource and, if there is a change in the specific contents of the network resource, notifying a user that contents of the network resource have been updated.

Claims

1. An update notification method, comprising:

taking snapshots of a network resource;

capturing specific contents of the network resource through obtaining at least one of a specific area of the network resource and a specific element of the network resource, wherein the specific area of the network resource is determined based on areas of child nodes and a number of nodes similar to the child nodes in a document object model of the network resource;

the areas of the child nodes are not greater than a first threshold, the similar nodes and the child nodes are placed in a group based on marking;

a total of the areas of the child nodes and areas of the similar nodes in the group is greater than a second threshold; and

the first threshold and the second threshold are not less than 0.5;

comparing specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource; and

if there is a change in the specific contents of the network resource, notifying a user that contents of the network resource have been updated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the specific contents further includes:

comparing the specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource based on HTML source code of the network resource.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein comparing the specific contents further includes:

comparing the specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource based on a corresponding document object model of the network resource.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein obtaining the specific area of the network resource includes:

determining whether there is a user-defined method;

when it is determined that there is a user-defined method, obtaining the specific area of the network resource through the user-defined method;

when it is determined that there is no user-defined method, searching a database to find a specific area matching a URL of the network resource;

determining whether the specific area matching the URL of the network resource can be found; and

when it is determined that the specific area matching the URL of the network resource cannot be found, obtaining the specific area of the network resource through a specific-area determination method.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, after the specific area of the network resource is obtained through the user-defined method or the specific-area determination method, the method further includes:

storing a matching relationship between the URL of the network resource and the specific area of network resource in the database.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific area of the network resource is determined based on areas of nodes and a number of similar nodes in the document object model of the network resource by:

setting a child node with an area greater than or equal to the preset threshold as a current node;

selecting child nodes with areas less than a preset threshold;

sorting selected child nodes of a current node based on area;

grouping the selected child nodes;

when there is a group containing child nodes whose number is greater than two and whose total area is greater than the preset threshold, marking all child nodes in the group;

when there is not a group containing child nodes whose number is greater than two and whose total area is greater than the preset threshold, traversing all child nodes according to areas of individual child nodes, from largest to smallest, and accumulating areas of the traversed child nodes;

when the accumulated areas of the traversed child nodes are greater than the preset threshold, marking all traversed child nodes; and

outputting the marked child nodes as the specific area matching the URL of the network resource,

wherein the preset threshold being not less than 0.5.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user-defined method includes:

obtaining coordinates of an area specified by the user;

marking the coordinates in a document object model of the network resource; and

forming the specific area matching the URL of the network resource with all marked nodes.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein capturing the specific contents through obtaining the specific area of the network resource includes:

obtaining a subpage area of the network resource;

determining a subpage property of the network resource based on the subpage area; and

capturing specific contents of all subpages.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein capturing the specific contents through obtaining the specific element of the network resource includes:

obtaining coordinates of an element of the network resource as identified by the user;

marking the obtained coordinates in a document object model of the network resource; and

finding the specific element of the network resource through node information in the marked document object model.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein notifying the user that the contents of the network resource have been updated includes:

notifying the user that the contents of the network resource have been updated when a user-defined notification rule is satisfied, wherein the user-defined notification rule includes one or more conditions of;

a total number of changed words in the specific contents exceeds a certain threshold value;

a changed portion in the specific contents contains a picture;

the changed portion in the specific contents contains a link;

the changed portion in the specific contents contains a keyword; and

the changed portion in the specific contents contains a multi-media file.

11. The method according to claim 1, further including:

receiving an instruction from the user to read the network resource;

highlighting a changed portion of the specific contents of the network resource according to results of comparison and analysis; and

displaying the processed contents of the network resource to the user.

12. The method according to claim 1, further including:

receiving an instruction from the user to add the network resource to a collection;

searching a URL weight matching a URL of the network resource;

providing the user with a dynamic collection prompt based on the URL weight; and

determining whether to set the URL of the network resource as the link to a captured network resource based on the user'"'"'s response to the dynamic collection prompt.

13. An update notification system, comprising an update detection module and a user interface module, wherein:

the update detection module includes;

a snapshot unit configured to take snapshots of a network resource;

a capturing unit configured to capture specific contents of the network resource through obtaining at least one of a specific area of the network resource and a specific element of the network resource, wherein the specific area of the network resource is determined by a system automatic specific-area determination sub-unit based on areas of child nodes and a number of nodes similar to the child nodes in a document object model of the network resource;

the areas of the child nodes are not greater than a first threshold, the similar nodes and the child nodes are placed in a group based on marking;

a total of the areas of the child nodes and areas of the similar nodes in the group is greater than a second threshold; and

the first threshold and the second threshold are not less than 0.5;

a comparison and analysis unit configured to compares specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource, and

the user interface module includes;

a notification unit configured to notify a user of a change in contents of the network resource when the update detection module detects the change in the specific contents of the network resource.

14. The update notification system according to claim 13, wherein the comparison and analysis unit compares the specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource based on HTML source code of the network resource.

15. The update notification system according to claim 14, wherein the comparison and analysis unit compares the specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource based on a corresponding document object model of the network resource.

16. The update notification system according to claim 13, wherein the capturing unit includes:

a first obtaining sub-unit configured to obtain the specific area of the network resource through at least one of a specific-area determination method and a user-defined method.

17. The update notification system according to claim 16, wherein the first obtaining sub-unit includes a specific-area-obtaining-method determination sub-unit, and the specific-area-obtaining-method determination sub-unit is configured to:

determine whether there is a user-defined method;

if there is a user-defined method, instruct the first obtaining sub-unit to obtain the specific area of the network resource through the user-defined method; and

if there is no user-defined method, instruct the first obtaining sub-unit to obtain the specific area of the network resource through the specific-area determination method.

18. The update notification system according to claim 16, wherein the first obtaining sub-unit includes a specific-area-obtaining-method determination sub-unit, and the specific-area-obtaining-method determination sub-unit is configured to:

determine whether there is a user-defined method;

if there is a user-defined method, instruct the first obtaining sub-unit to obtain the specific area of the network resource through the user-defined method;

if there is no user-defined method, instruct the first obtaining sub-unit to search a database to find a specific area matching a URL of the network resource; and

if the specific area matching the URL of the network resource is not found, instruct the first obtaining sub-unit to obtain the specific area of the network resource through the specific-area determination method.

19. The update notification system according to claim 18, wherein, after obtaining the specific area of the network resource through the user-defined method and the specific-area determination method, the first obtaining sub-unit further is configured to store the matching relationship between the URL of the network resource and the specific area of network resource in the database.

20. The update notification system according to claim 13, wherein the system automatic specific-area determination sub-unit includes:

a selection sub-unit configured to sort selected child nodes of a current node based on area, to select child nodes with areas less than a preset threshold, and to set a child node with an area greater than or equal to the preset threshold as the current node to continue selecting satisfying child nodes;

a first marking sub-unit configured to group the selected child nodes based on tags and, if there is a group containing child nodes whose number is greater than two and whose total area is greater than the preset threshold, to mark all child nodes in the group;

a second marking sub-unit configured to traverse all child nodes according to areas of individual child nodes, from largest to smallest;

to accumulate the areas of the traversed child nodes; and

, when the accumulated areas of the traversed child nodes are greater than the preset threshold, to mark all traversed child-nodes; and

a first output sub-unit configured to output the marked nodes to form the specific area matching the URL of the network resource,

wherein the preset threshold being not less than 0.5.

21. The update notification system according to claim 18, wherein the first obtaining sub-unit includes:

a user-defined specific-area determination sub-unit configured to obtain coordinates of an area specified by the user, to mark the coordinates in a document object model of the network resource, and to form the specific area matching the URL of the network resource with all marked nodes.

22. The update notification system according to claim 16, wherein the capturing unit is used to obtain a subpage area of the network resource, the capturing unit includes the second obtaining sub-unit, and the second obtaining sub-unit is configured to obtain a subpage area of the network resource, to determine a subpage property of the network resource based on the subpage area, and to capture specific contents of all subpages.

23. The update notification system according to claim 16, wherein the capturing unit further including:

a third obtaining sub-unit configured to obtain coordinates of an element of the network resource as identified by the user, to mark the obtained coordinates in a document object model of the network resource, and to find the specific element of the network resource through node information in the marked document object model.

24. The update notification system according to claim 13, wherein the notification unit includes:

a determination sub-unit configured to determine whether a change in the specific contents satisfies a user-defined notification rule;

wherein the user-defined notification rule includes one or more conditions of;

a total number of changed words in the specific contents exceeds a certain threshold value, a changed portion in the specific contents contains a picture, the changed portion in the specific contents contains a link, the changed portion in the specific contents contains a keyword, and the changed portion in the specific contents contains a multi-media file; and

a notification sub-unit configured to, when the user-defined notification rule is satisfied, notify the user that contents of the network resource have been updated.

25. The update notification system according to claim 13, further including a network resource processing module, wherein:

the user interface module further includes;

a first receiving unit configured to receive an instruction from the user to read the network resource and to trigger the network resource processing module;

the network resource processing module is configured to highlight a changed portion of the specific contents of the network resource according to results of comparison and analysis; and

the user interface module further includes;

a display module configured display the processed contents of the network resource to the user.

26. The update notification system according to claim 13, further including a dynamic collection prompt module, wherein:

the user interface module further includes;

a second receiving unit configured to receive an instruction from the user to add the network resource to a collection and to trigger the dynamic collection prompt module;

the dynamic collection prompt module includes;

a searching unit configured to search a URL weight matching a URL of the network resource;

a prompt unit configured to provide the user with a dynamic collection prompt based on the URL weight if the searching unit finds the URL weight matching the URL of the network resource; and

a processing unit configured to determine whether to set the URL of the network resource as the link to a captured network resource based on the user'"'"'s response to the dynamic collection prompt.

27. The update notification system according to claim 13, wherein the update notification system is a browser.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer program code, when being executed by a computer unit, instructing the computer unit to:

take snapshots of a network resource;

capture specific contents of the network resource;

compare specific contents of two consecutive snapshots of the network resource through obtaining at least one of a specific area of the network resource and a specific element of the network resource, wherein the specific area of the network resource is determined based on areas of child nodes and a number of nodes similar to the child nodes in a document object model of the network resource;

the areas of the child nodes are not greater than a first threshold, the similar nodes and the child nodes are placed in a group based on marking;

a total of the areas of the child nodes and areas of the similar nodes in the group is greater than a second threshold; and

the first threshold and the second threshold are not less than 0.5; and

if there is a change in the specific contents of the network resource, notify a user that contents of the network resource have been updated.