Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
  • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
  • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
  • G06F16/957—Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for accessing
• Computer communication networks typically include one or more server nodes and one or more client nodes.
• a server node provides a service to a client node upon receiving a request
• One example of a service is providing to the client node a web page for display.
• An interactive web page can be referred to as an active document. As shown in FIG. 1,
• an active document 10 generally contains at least two portions, a "contents" portion 38 and an
• a string of text 38a such as a string of text 38a, an image 38b, a table 38c, or a bullet
• Content components may also include graphics to be displayed as the document 10 is
• active document 10 changes the content components associated with the document 10 while the
• the executable portion 34 may include
• the executable portion 34 of the active document 10 may be provided as
• the executable coc e 34a alters the content of the text component 38a, the color characteristic, from black to red.
• changes in the text component 34a occur in response to the movement of the cursor over the displayed active document 10.
• the present invention addresses this need.
• the invention relates to an apparatus and method for accessing, displaying and
• Another advantage of the present invention is that the amount of code required to be
• code (e.g., scripts and applets) which will run on the server also can run on the client browser
• the present invention allows an active document to be delivered to a
• the invention relates to a method for providing an active
• the active document includes a
• This method includes the steps of transmitting over
• the method also includes the step of maintaining said executable portion of said
• the method also includes the step of
• the request from the client includes receiving a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address identifying the active
• the method also includes the steps of receiving data from the
• the method also includes the step of changing at
• the method also includes executing the executable portion of the active
• method also includes the steps of executing a second application that interacts with the active
• the invention also relates to a server for providing an active document to a client over a communication channel.
• the server includes an output data generator and
• the output data generator produces output data in response to the executable
• the transceiver receives generated output data for transmission
• the transceiver includes an Application Program Interface
• output data generator produces output data in response to input data received from the
• the server API includes a Document Object
• the server transceiver transmits generated output
• the invention also relates to a client for receiving over a communications channel and
• the client includes a browser interface and a transceiver.
• the browser interface is in communication with a browser application.
• the transceiver receives data
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an active document.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process of transmitting an active document from a
• server node to a client node as known in the prior art.
• FIG. 3 is a logical diagram of an embodiment of an active document in which an
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for providing and displaying
• FIG. 5 is a more detailed block diagram of the embodiment of the invention shown in
• FIG. 6 is a state diagram illustrating one embodiment of DAM behavior useful in
• FIG. 7 is a state diagram illustrating one embodiment of DOM Proxy behavior useful
• FIG. 8 is a screen shot of an embodiment of the invention, depicting in more detail a
• an active document 10 may include many different content
• component of the contents portion 38 may be created and modified by the executable portion 34
• each cont jnt component 38 is described by a Document Object Model (DOM) ⁇ _nd the DOM exposes an Application Programming Interface
• portion 34 of the active document 10 remains on the server 14 while the contents portion 38 is
• the DOM API 42 allows the executable portion 34 to manipulate
• content components 38 may be manipulated in a standard way regardless of the browser application 22 used to display the active document 10.
• invention permits a user acting on a client computer 18 to communicate with a server computer
• a communication channel 30 also referred to as a network
• executable portion 34 of the active document 10 is retained on the server 14. In response to a
• the server 14 transmits over the
• the contents components 38 may be transmitted all together, or each component may be
• the components 38 may be transmitted "on
• the server 14 provides a DOM Proxy 50, which includes a DOM API 42.
• executable portion 34 of the active document 10 issues commands to the DOM Proxy 50 and
• the DOM Proxy 50 may accept more commands than
• the DOM Proxy does.
• the DOM Proxy translates additional commands into one or more commands the DOM API provides.
• the DOM API 42 provided by the DOM Proxy 50 may be enhanced to provided additional functionality, or it may
• the DOM Proxy 50 receives commands from the executable portion of the active
• DOM Proxy 50 may also receive data from the client 18 over the communications channel 30 and provide the received data to the executable portion 34 of the active document 10.
• the DOM may also receive data from the client 18 over the communications channel 30 and provide the received data to the executable portion 34 of the active document 10.
• Proxy 50 may be provided as a servlet or application program.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a servlet or application program.
• DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• the client node 18 and the server node 14 can communicate with each other using a
• network connections including standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (e.g., TI,
• T3, 56kb, X.25 broad band connections (ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), and wireless connections.
• Connections can be established using a variety of communication protocols (e.g., TCP IP, HTTP,
• IPX IPX
• SPX NetBIOS
• Ethernet RS232
• direct asynchronous connections IPX, SPX, NetBIOS, Ethernet, RS232, and direct asynchronous connections
• the client 18 includes a DOM Access Module (DAM) 46.
• DAM DOM Access Module
• the DAM 46 issues DOM API
• the DOM Proxy 50 and the DAM 46 may pack
• Proxy 50 and the DAM 46 may enhance a standard protocol or provide their own protocol for transmission of data.
• the DAM 46 may be provided as a script, applet, plug-in or application
• the DAM 46 may be provided as a JAVA bean or an Active X control.
• FIG. 5 depicts the system of FIG. 4 in more detail.
• the client the client
• the browser 22 may be any type of software 54 located on the server 14 using the communications channel 30.
• the browser 22 may be any type of software 54 located on the server 14 using the communications channel 30.
• the browser 22 may be any type of software 54 located on the server 14 using the communications channel 30.
• the browser 22 may be any type of software 54 located on the server 14 using the communications channel 30.
• the browser 22 may be any type of software
• the server 14 executes any web server
• APACHE WEB SERVER an open-source web server coordinated by The Apache Foundation of Forest Hill, Maryland or INTERNET INFORMATION SERVER,
• the server 14 may retrieve the active
• the server 14 may retrieve the document 10 from memory, such as RAM or ROM,
• This second channel 30b is a communication channel established between a
• the protocol used by the DAM 46 and the DOM Proxy 50 allows the
• the DOM Proxy 50 associates a handler routine with the ticket
• the DAM 46 notifies the DOM Proxy 50.
• the DAM 46 notifies the DOM Proxy 50.
• DAM 46 notifies the DOM Proxy 50 by sending a message to the DOM Proxy indicating the
• Proxy may also indicate that it is no longer interested in an event by sending a message to the
• the DAM 46 including the ticket identifying the event.
• the DAM 46 responds to such a message with an acknowledgement, allowing the DOM Proxy 50 to release
• the binding between the ticket and the handler for the event e.g., the DOM Proxy 50 can remove
• FIGs. 6 and 7 depict state machines describing one embodiment of DAM behavior
• the DAM 46 is in an Initial
• the DAM 46 initiates a connection with
• initiation of the connection yarrow 62) is accomplished by sending a
• the connect message may include information relaxing to the requested connection, such as the active document 10 to which the connection request relates, a maximum number of content components
• the DAM 46 receives one or more
• the DAM 46 transitions to a Connected state 68 and the DOM Proxy transitions to a Connected state 84.
• Proxy 50 may include application initialization results, including one or more commands
• the DAM 46 returns to the Initial state 60.
• Synchronous messages require acknowledgement of completion, while asynchronous messages do not require any
• Table 1 lists a number of exemplary messages that may be generated by a server.
• the DOM Proxy 50 may generate a number of asynchronous commands that may be sent to the
• Proxy 50 remains in the Connected state 85 (arrow 86), as does the DAM 46 (arrow 70).
• the DOM Proxy 50 transmits a synchronous event to the DAM 46, the DOM Proxy enters a
• Client Busy state 90 (arrow 88). In this state, the DOM Proxy 50 waits for the DAM 46 to
• the DAM 46 transmits a
• Event Received state 96 (arrow 94). While in Event Sent state 76, the DAM 46
• DOM Proxy 50 transitions to an Event Received state 96 (arrow 94). In this state, the DOM
• Proxy 50 interacts with the executable portion of the active document 10 to update the active
• Fig. 8 shows an active document 10 that is a real estate
• This web page 100.
• One feature of this web page is to create a table 120 within the active document
• This web a ⁇ e 100 displays several components 104,
• One component is an ima e map of the United Kingdom 104. This is used to select a
• check box component 108 for the user to
• the picture component 124 is not initially sent to the client 18 as part of the contents
• the executable portion 34 may also add or remove components from the contents portion 38.
• picture component 124 is an example of a component that is not sent to the client 18 until there is
• the executable portion 34 of the web page 100 remains on the server 14.
• portion 34 monitors the user inputs (i.e., monitors the components 104, 108, 1 12, 1 16 of the
• the database of available real estate that is used to select from may be part of the executable
• portion 34 or it may be part of the other applications 58.
• the executable portion also alters the other components of the contents portion 38. For example,
• the client 18 establishes initial communication with the server 14 over communication
• the browser 22 sends the web server software 54 the URL
• the web server software retrieves the web page
• the web page 100 (i.e., active document 10) from its storage location.
• the web page 100 is defined in accordance with the DOM Level 1 specification.
• the server 14 transmits the contents portion 38 of the web page 100 to the client 18.
• the browser 22 accesses the contents portion 38 of the web
• the browser 22 initializes the DAM
• the DAM 46 If the client does not have a DAM 46, then one may be downloaded in several
• the web server software 54 initializes the DOM Proxy 50, if not initialized and establishes a communication channel 30b for data transfer to and from the
• this event is captured by the client-based DOM API 42 and sent to the DAM 46.
• the DAM is captured by the client-based DOM API 42 and sent to the DAM 46.
• the DOM Proxy 50 unpacks the data
• the executable portion 34 creates a command to alter the town selection list
• the executable portion retrieves the list of applicable towns.
• the executable portion 34 issues a
• portion 34 sends this command to the server 14 based DOM API 42.
• the DOM Proxy 50 packs
• the DAM 46 unpacks the data representing this command and transmits it to the DAM 46.
• the DAM 46 unpacks the data representing this command and transmits it to the DAM 46.
• the DAM 46 unpacks the data representing this command and transmits it to the DAM 46.
• the client-based DOM API 42 The client-based DOM API 42
• the client based DOM API 42 then alters the component 112a according to the command and the selection list is updated. As the DOM API is
• the browser modifies the display accordingly.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (2)

• 2000
  • 2000-12-20 JP JP2001547310A patent/JP2003518297A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-12-20 AU AU24480/01A patent/AU2448001A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-12-20 IL IL15010700A patent/IL150107A0/xx unknown
  • 2000-12-20 EP EP00988253A patent/EP1240603A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-12-20 WO PCT/US2000/034848 patent/WO2001046863A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-12-20 CA CA002392799A patent/CA2392799A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-12-20 KR KR1020027008175A patent/KR20020063602A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2002
  • 2002-12-31 HK HK02109430.7A patent/HK1047985A1/zh unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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