GB2338384A

GB2338384A - Network proxy servers

Info

Publication number: GB2338384A
Application number: GB9907509A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iii Robert F Cruickshank
Original assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Inc
Priority date: 1998-05-04
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Also published as: CA2269312A1; GB9907509D0; AU2258099A

Abstract

A network proxy server that stores frequently requested web pages/sites in a storage area. When a user requests a new web page, the network proxy server gets the new web page from storage local to the server or from remote sources, such as the Internet, and scans the new web page data for any HTML or other links contained within the requested new web page. The network proxy server searches to determine if any of the pages accessible from the links on the new web page are already in local storage. If so, the network proxy server alters the links on the user's screen, either visually, audibly, or both, when the requested new web page is displayed. Thus, the user can visually see and/or hear which web pages are quickly accessible from the requested new web page that are already stored locally on the network proxy server.

Description

2338384 Network Erpxy Server That Alters Links This invention relates to

network proxy servers. Even more particularly, the invention relates to network proxy servers that can indicate to a network user what links on a web page are stored locally on the network proxy server.

Many Internet access providers now have computer servers which act as local storage for Internet sites frequently requested by their customers. Similarly, many intranet systems and-other types of network systems also have network proxy servers which act as local storage for frequently requested sites that are available from within the intranet or other network system, or from outside is the intranet or other network system through the Internet. When a user requests a new web page from a World Wide Web site or other 1 site on the Internet, or from a site not local to the usercs network, if the user's Internet access provider's computer server, intranet computer server, or other network proxy server has that particular web page stored, the stored page can be delivered to the user at speeds in the megabit per second range, as opposed to speeds in the tens of kilobits per second range if the server has to go outside the local network or onto the Internet and get the page from a web page server to deliver to the user.

The new web page delivered to the user may have HTML or other types of links to additional pages associated with the requested new web page, related web sites, and other related subject matter sites. Some of these pages/sites referenced by links may also be stored locally on the network proxy server. If so, and if the user selects one of these stored pages/sites referenced by a link, the network proxy server can deliver the stored page at the faster speeds mentioned above. The increased delivery speed for pages that are locally stored can reduce Internet/ intranet/ other network costs and fees to the user, as well as costs incurred by the Internet/intranetlother network provider, and enhance user experience.

However, under the current state of the art, theuser has no way of knowing the contents of the network proxy server---that is, the content which is locally stored and, hence, can be quickly and inexpensively delivered. If the user knew what content was locally stored, the user could choose not to surf on other network servers that are available having similarly interesting content, but 2 instead choose the locally stored content.

There is thus a need in the art to be able to let a network user know what content is stored locally on the user's network proxy server. There is also a need in the art to be able to deliver new web pages to the user at a faster rate and lower cost, saving both the user and the Internet/ intranet/ other network provider time and money and enhancing user experience. There is a further need in the art to reduce the communications backbone infrastructure and usage for accessing Internet/ intranet/ other network information. It is thus apparent that there is a need in the art for an improved method or apparatus which solves the problems discussed in the art above. The present invention meets these and other needs in the art.

3 It is an aspect of the present invention to store frequently requested web pages on a network proxy server.

It is another aspect of the invention to receive requests f or new web pages f rom network users on a network proxy server.

Yet another aspect of the invention is to scan a new web page requested by a network user for links contained in the new web page to pages located on the same.or other sites.

Still another aspect of the invention is to compare the pages referenced by the links in a new web page to the pages stored on a network proxy server.

A further aspect of the invention is to alter the links on a new web page if the pages referenced by the links are stored on a network proxy server.

A still further aspect of the invention is to deliver requested new web pages to network users with the links altered so users will know what sites refrenced by the links are stored on the network proxy server.

The above and other aspects of the invention are accomplished in a network proxy server that stores pages from frequently requested web sites on a storage device. When a user cQnnects with the Internet/intranetlother network and requests a new web page, the network proxy server receives the address of the requested new web page and searches to see if it already has the requested new web page in storage. One skilled in the art will recognize that for the Internet and intranets, the address is a Universal Resource 4 1 Locator (URL). For other types of computer networks, the address may be a machine identifier or some other sort of location identifier germane to the computer network.

If the requested new web page is stored in the web page storage area of the network proxy server, then the requested new web page can be sent to the user at much higher speeds than if the network proxy server has to go outside the local network or onto the Internet to get the requested new web page f rom a web page server. In addition, before the network proxy server sends the requested new web page to the user, the network proxy server scans the new web page data for any HTML links or other links to the same or to other subsequent web page sites offered from the requested new web page. The network proxy server searches to see if any of the pages referenced by the links on the requested new web page are already stored locally in the network proxy server. If so, the network proxy server alters how the links will appear on the user's screen when the requested new web page is delivered to the user. Thus, the user can know which pages referenced by the links on the requested web site are already stored locally on the network proxy server, and thus can be delivered faster and cheaper than pages referenced by links that are not stored locally on the network proxy server.

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reading the following more particular description of the invention, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network proxy server incorporating the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a typical environment in which the present invention may operate; FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the overall flow of operation of the present invention; and FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the streaming search and replace function of the present invention.

6 is The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network proxy server incorporating the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 1, network proxy server 100 contains a processing element 102.

Processing element 102 communicates to other elements of network proxy server 100 over a system bus 104. A keyboard 106 allows input of information into network proxy server 100 and a graphics display 110 allows network proxy server 100 to output information. A mouse 108 is also used to input information and a storage device 112 is used to store data and programs within network proxy server 100. Low speed communications interface 114 and high speed communications interface 122, which are both connected to system bus 104, receive and send information to and from external devices connected to network proxy server 100. A memory 116, also attached to system bus 104, contains an operating system 118--and server software 120.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a typical environment in which the present invention may operate. Referring now to FIG. 2, operating environment 200 has computer users 202, 204, and 206. Many more computer users are possible, but only three are shown for 7 illu.stration purposes. Each computer user 202, 204, and 206 has a computer connected to network proxy server 100by electronic connection 210, which may be any suitable electronic connection, such as telephone wire, TV cable, fiber optic cable, wireless, etc., or a combination of one or more of the above. Also, there may be more than one network proxy server 100 connected together, but only one is shown for illustration purposes.

Boundary line 212 demarcates between local and remote access, with local access being in the direction of arrow 222 from boundary line 212 and remote access being in the direction of arrow 224 from boundary line 212.

Network proxy server 100 is connected by electronic connection 210 to the Internet 214. Web page servers 216, 218, and 220 are connected to the Internet 214 by electronic connection 210. Many more web page servers are possible, but only three are shown for illustration purposes.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the overall flow of operation of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 3, in block 300 a computer user 202, 204, or 206 (FIG. 2) requests a new web page by inputting a URL address, or some other location identifier for the page/site, into his computer by typing on a keyboard, double clicking with a mouse on an address already displayed on a screen display, double clicking with a mouse on a hyperlink or bookmark displayed on a screen display, or by any other suitable means. The address inputted is sent over electronic connection 210 (FIG. 2) to network proxy server 100 (FIG. 2). One skilled in the art will 8 recognize that as long as computer user 202, 204, or 206 has an electronic connection 210 to network proxy server loo (FIG. 1), he/she may be operating within an intranet, some other type of network, or on a stand alone computer.

In block 302, network proxy server 100 receives the address of the requested new web page/site inputted from computer user 202, 204, or 206. In block 304, network proxy server 100 compares the address inputted with the addresses of pages/sites that network proxy server 100 already has stored in storage device 112 (FIG. 1).

When there is a match, control passes to block 308. If the answer in block 304 is no match, then in block 306 network proxy server goes out over electronic connection 210 to retrieve the requested new web page/site from the appropriate web page server, which may be web page server 216, 218, or 220 (FIG. 2) connected to the Internet, or some other web page server accessible through electronic connection 210 (FIG. 2).

Block 308 calls the streaming search and replace function of FIG. 4. Upon return from FIG. 4, in block 310 network proxy server sends the modified requested new web page to whichever computer user 202, 204, or 206 requested the page. Computer user 202, 204, or 206 now has the requested new web page displayed--on his/her screen. The links on the displayed modified requested new web page that reference pages/sites that are stored locally on network proxy server 100 appear differently on the screen from those links to pages/sites that are not stored locally. Alternatively, the links that reference pages/sites stored locally on network proxy server 9 may emit a sound when computer user 202, 204, or 206 highlights the link, when the cursor is moved within the link, or the mouse pointer is moved over the link. Or, the altered links may both visually appear different and emit sound when highlighted, cursored, or pointed to with the mouse. Computer user 202, 204, or 206 can now easily see andlor hear which pages/sites referenced by links are stored locally and can be accessed at a high speed, and which pages/sites referenced by links are not stored locally and have to be accessed at a slower speed.

Block 312 determines if computer user 202, 204, or 206 is requesting another page/site. If yes, then control passes to block 300. If the answer in block 312 is no, the method returns to its caller to await the next request.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the streaming search and replace function of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 4, in block 400 network proxy server 100 (FIG. 2) scans the data within the requested new web page, whether retrieved from the Internet, some other remote site, or from storage within network proxy server 100, to find any links, such as HTML links, that are contained in the requested new web page. These links may be to subsequent web pages within the same site, or links tQ.:subsequent web pages at different sites.

In block 402 the address referenced by the first link found is compared to those held in the web page storage area by network proxy server 100. If there is no match, then control passes to block 408. If in block 404 there is a match, indicating that network proxy server 100 has the page in storage, then in block 406 network proxy server 100 through server software 120 (FIG. 1) modifies how the link will appear on the screen, modifies the link to emit sound when highlighted, cursored, or pointed to with a mouse, or modifies the link in both ways, once the requested new web page is delivered to computer user 202, 204, or 206. The appearance of the link may be altered in any of several different ways, including changing the color of the link, causing the link to blink, displaying the link in an inverse video font, putting a block around the link, or any other noticeable means. The link may also be altered to emit any number of different sounds when highlighted, cursored, or pointed to with a mouse, or altered by a combination of both appearance and sound.

Block 408 determines if there are more HTML links in the data within the requested new web page. If no, control returns to FIG. 3. If there are more links, then control passes to block 400 to get the next link in the data within the requested new web page.

Having described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and circuitry and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the claims. The disclosures and the description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, defined in scope by the following claims.

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Claims

2 4 6 8 1 2 14 16 18 2 1. A method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server comprising the steps of:

(a) storing on a network proxy server at least one web page and a network address of the at least one web page in a new web page storage area; (b) receiving in the network proxy server a request by a network user for a new web page at a specified network address; (c) retrieving the new web page having the specified network address; (d) scanning the new web page for a link to a subsequent web page wherein the link contains a network address of the subsequent web page; comparing the link network address to each of the network addresses in the web page storage area; (f) when there is a match in step (e), altering the link to indicate that the subsequent web page is stored in the web page storage area; and (g) delivering the new web page with the altered link to the user.
2. The method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server 12 4 6 2 4 6 8 12 14 according to claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises the following step (fl):

(fl) repeating steps (d) through (f) for each additional link on the new web page.
3. The by links according following (Cl) method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced on the web page are stored on a network proxy server to claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises the steps (cl) through (c4); comparing the new web page having the specified network address to the network address of the at least one web page stored in the web page storage area; (c2) when there is a match in step (cl), performing step (c3) and not step (c4), and when there is no match in step (cl), performing sttep (c4) and not step (c3); (c3) retrieving the at least one web page from the web page storage area; and (c4) retrieving into the network proxy server the new web page having the specified network address f rom a web page server connected to the network proxy server.
4. The method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced 2 -by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server according to claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises altering a 4 color of the link in the new web page.

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5.. The method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced 2 by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server according to claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises displaying 4 the link in the new web page in an inverse video font.

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6. The method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server according to claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises causing the link in the new web page to blink.
7. The method for indicating on a web page which sites referenced by links on the web page are stored on a network proxy server according to claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises causing the link in the new web page to emit sound when the link is highlighted, cursored, or pointed to with a mouse.
8. A method of indicating, on a web page, which reference 2 link sites are stored on a network proxy server substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. A network proxy server that alters links subtantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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