GB2395039A

GB2395039A - Modifying a web page to indicate presence of user criteria on a linked web page

Info

Publication number: GB2395039A
Application number: GB0400734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Wayne Brown; Kelvin Roderick Lawrence; Michael A Paolini
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 2000-07-20
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-20
Also published as: GB0400734D0; GB2395039B

Abstract

A user requests a first web page and user preferences 905. The requested web page is retrieved 910 and subsequently parsed for user criteria 920. Pages linked to the requested page are parsed for user criteria 930 and user configured preferences are applied 940. The appearance of the requested web page is modified to indicate the presence or absence of user criteria on the linked pages 950 and subsequently sent to the user 960.

Description

GB 2395039 A continuation (74) Agent and/or Address for Service: IBM

United Kingdom Limited Mail Point 110, Intellectual Property Law, Hursley Park, WINCHESTER, Hampshire, SO21 2JN, United Kingdom

i 2395039 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING INFORMATION FROM A DATABASE

The "resent neon. on relates to methods and apparatus for presen_-ng information from a database.

Bile.l,r.let" is 'v2a='2-y =ess-'e.l=''G, 3- Cry co..,_es -2-c" collectively prov_ce a large amount and variety of information to users.

From services of the:nternet such as the World Wide Web (or simply, the web"), users may retrieve or "download" data from Internet network sites 0 an, hi splay the data that nodes inf^mzi^n rresen.te as text in v-. rio7ls fonts, graphics, images, and the like having an appearance intended by the publisher. As the information revolution has exploded, more and more information is available through the interned. However, finding particular pieces of information out of the millions of owed sitesN available can be 15 daunting. One way of sorting through this mass of information to find what is of interest for a particular user is through the use of "search enginesN.

Search engines are software written to search, among the millions of web 20 sites, for certain key words or criteria entered by a user, and to return to the user a list of links (references to other HTML pages) to the sites that the search engine determines to be most relevant to the criteria entered by the user. Different search engines use different methods of determining the relevance of web sites, but most use some sort of 25 quantitative method that determines the relevance of a site based on how many times the key words appear in that particular site.

Search engines typically return only a list of links to relevant sites with perhaps a short verbal description of the site. Often, this

30 list does rot provide sufficient information to enable one to make an intelligent decision as to whether to follow the link. Thus, the user is left with the time consuming task of sorting through the links returned by the search engine to determine which of these as the best match.

Flrthermore, no mechanism is present for a user to determine, based on the 35 search engine results, whether the site is still active or if it has been removed. This problem can be seen by referring to Figure 1, which depicts a screen image of a returned search result from AltaVista. Each link includes only a brief description of the site, but no indication of whether

the link is still good or whether the link contains an excessive quantity 40 of broken links within it.

Similar problems exist with regard to following links from one web page to another (sometimes referred to as 'web surfingN). Often, users find the information they a-e looking for by following links on web pages,

hut the same ptoo ems ex_st here as w_h search erg nest Mary Ames the _ nks w _ have only shot_ descr Scions about the contents of he wed page Go which they link..uthermce, many times a web page will conga n a dean link and there its no way the user can determine En s except By tr a and 5 error. Wherefore, it would be beneficial for Tnternet users to have a tool to enable them to make more informed decisions about which links to follow.

Furthermore, performance of web browsing needs to be dramatically improved.

is ma Is em -..v' he -at aeons it pert=- hosed ha'we and software could be applied to the task of accelerating and enhancing client customers usage of a domain.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for presenting content from a page in a distributed database is provided, comprising the steps of: receiving, at a server, a request from a client for a page from the database, wherein the page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database; retrieving the page; and generating, by the server, a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a computer program product in computer readable media for use in a proxy server for providing content from the page in a distributed database is provided, the computer program product comprising: first instructions for receiving, at a 25 server, a request from a client for a page from the database wherein the page has a plurality of 'inks to linked pages in the database; second instructions for retrieving the page; and third instructions for generating a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database.

30 According to a third aspect of the present invention, a system for providing content from the page in a distributed database comprises: means for receiving, at a server, a request from a client for a page from the database where n the page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database; means for retr eying the page; and means for generating a set of 35 thumbnails of the linked pages in the database.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for providing content from the page in a aiscribuced database, comprises che stems of: providing a page of data from the database to a client, where n 40 the page has a plural ty of links to linked pages in the database; and generating a set of thumbnails for the plurality of links.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a computer network, comprises: a network; a server connected to the network; and a

I cl en.- con-eciec -o the network; wherein the network provides commur.cat ons between the c -en.' and the server; She server provides to the c_ienr a page of data from a database wherein the page has a p2ura' By of links 'o linked pages in the database; and the server generates and S embeds i., the page a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing requests for pages on the Internet, comprises the steps of: receiving, at a server, from a client, user criteria and a request for a is page flora..'e ntei.'e. and; -car evi^y -he page -ad pa-sing t'^.e page fn_ a set of links to a set of linked web pages; retrieving the set of linked pages; parsing the set of linked pages for user criteria; responsive to finding the user criteria on a linked page within the set of linked pages, modifying the page to indicate the presence of the user criteria on the 15 linked page; and sending a modified page to the client.

The present invention provides a method for presenting content from the page in a distributed database. In a preferred embodiment, a server receives a request from a client for a page from the database wherein the 20 page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database. The server retrieves the page and generates a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database. The server then sends the page and the set of thumbnails to the client.

25 In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of browsing the Internet. A server receives user criteria and a request for a page from the Internet from a client. The server retrieves the page and parses the page for a set of links to a set of linked web pages. The server then retrieves the set of linked pages and parses the 30 set of linked pages for user selected criteria. Responsive to finding the user criteria on a linked page within the set of linked pages, the server modifies the page to indicate the presence of the user criteria on the linked page and sends a modified page to the client.

35 The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 (Prior Art) depicts a screen image of search results

presented using AltaVista without aid of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing system in which the present intention may be implemented;

I a Figure 3 oepic_s a h'OCK diagram c a data processing system Lea- may be Implemented as a serve-; Figure 4 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system that may 5 be used as a client computer; Figure 5 shows a block diagram illustat ng the flow of information between a client and a server; 10 Figure 6, snows a flow chart i'lui-a:.:lg- an oven- anew Oc a p.e_-e embodiment of the present invention wherein the thumbnails are generated on a serve'; Figure 7 shows a flowchart providing a more detailed understanding of 15 the method illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a screen image of the display of a web page including thumbnails; 20 Figure 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a basic overview for modifying the appearance of a web page in accordance with user selected criteria; Figure 1O illustrates an example of the modification of the web page 25 in a user configured manner to indicate the presence or absence of user selected criteria; Figure 11 shows a more detailed flowchart of the method depicted in Figure 9; Figure 12 shows a flowchart providing a more detailed understanding Of the steps involved in modifying the presentation of the web page (steps 1122 - 1130 and steps 1160 - 1180 of Figure 11); and 35 Figures 13-14 depict the screen images of search results returned by AltaVista with varying modifications to the displayed page.

With reference now to the figures, and in oarticul.ar with reference to Figure 2, a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing 40 system is depicted In which the present invention may be implemented.

Distributed data processing system 200 is a network of computers in which the present invention may be -mplemented. Distributed data

! processing system 200 conga s e._work 202, we ch is the medi-Jm used to provide communications links between var ous devices and computers connected within dies X-rated data processing svetem 200. Network 202 may include permanent connect ons, such as wire or fiber- optic cables, or 5 temporary connections made through te ephone connections.

In the depicted example, server 204 is connected to network 202, along with storage unit 206. In addition, clients 208, 210 and 212 are also connected to network 202. These clients, 208, 210 and 212, may be, 10 for example, personal computers or network computers. For purposes or finis application, a network computer is any computer coupled to a network which receives a program or other application from another computer coupled to the network. In the depicted example, server 204 provides data, such as boot files, operating system images and applications, to clients 208-212.

15 C'ients 208, 210 and 212 are clients to server 204. Distributed data processing system 200 may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown.

In the depicted example, distributed data processing system 200 is 20 the Internet, with network 202 representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers consisting of thousands of commercial, government, education, and other computer 25 systems that route data and messages. Of course, distributed data processing system 200 also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks such as, for example, an intranet or a local area network. 30 Figure 2 is intended as an example and not as an architectural limitation for the processes of the present invention.

In an overview of the present invention, a Domain or Proxy Server can be enhanced to provide automatically generated or manually overridden 35 thumbnails of web pages. This can be done over any suitable Client/Server Internet protocol CGI, HTTP, etc. One preferred embodiment would entai' the use- selecting a web page, while the web page is being sent to the client the server would also build 0 a list of thumbnails for the selected wer page. Building of the thumbnail list would entail checking a cache for existing thumbnails, as wet' as parsing and generating thumbnails on the fly. Then depending on the current options selected between the client and the server and current

oanc.width cons aerations the server would senc _h.e thumbnails along w In the rest of the web page.

The Doma n Server can choose Lo individually generate a thumbnail to 5 He delivered to each client, or it can generate a "default user" 'humbnail per each web page requested and cache it using existing means for subsequent client recontests. In either case, it is advantageous to Fancier the thumbnail on a server to -educe Interned and/or int-anet bandwidth requirements. The manual override capability referenced above gives web content companies the ability to continue using their selected Banner(s) in cases where that would be advantageous. Also they may choose to manually fine time the automatically generated thumbnail of any or all of their web 15 pages. Additionally, a Proxy Server can automatically, or by client request, generate thumbnails for its clients. In this fashion an ISP or Intranet IS shop, can distinguish itself by providing this enhanced browsing 20 capability, for all the domains its clients choose to browse.

Turning now to Figure 3, a block diagram of a data processing system which may be implemented as a server, such as server 204 in Figure 2, is depicted in accordance with the present invention. Data processing system 25 300 may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors 302 and 304 connected to system bus 306. Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Data processing system 300 is suitable as a domain host or other server connected to the Internet. Also connected to system bus 306 is memory controller/cache 308, which provides 30 an interface to local memory 309. I/O bus bridge 310 is connected to system bus 306 and provides an interface to I/O bus 312. Memory controller/cache 308 and I/O bus bridge 310 may be integrated as depicted.

Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge 314 connected to So I, /O bus 312 provides an interface to PCI local bus 316. Typical PCI bus implementations will support four ?CI expansion slots or add-in connectors.

Communications 1 -ks to netwck computers 208-22 Figure 2 may be provided through modem 318 and network adapter 320 connected to PCI local bus 316 through add-in boards.

Additional PCI bus bridges 322 and 324 provide interfaces for addit onal PCI buses 326 and 328, from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. IN -his manner, server 300 allows connections

l r O ml_iole network computers. memory mappec Graphics adapte' 330 anc hard disk 332 may also be conquered Lo TO bus 312 as depicted, e-_2-.er -ecu ' Or end ci->i.

5 Those or ordinary ski 1 in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in Figure 3 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the 'ike, also may be used in admit on to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural 1 mutations with respect to the present invention.

The data processing system depicted in Figure 3 may be, for example, an IBM RlSC/System 6000, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, New York, running the Advanced -nteractive Executive (AIX) operating system.

With reference now to Figure 4, a block diagram of a data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented is illustrated.

Data processing system 400 is an example of a client computer. Data processing system 400 is suitable from running web browsing programs such 20 as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, suck programs being compatible with the present invention. Data processing system 400 employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures, such as Micro Channel and ISA, may be used. Processor 402 and main memory 404 are 25 connected to PCI local bus 406 through PCI bridge 408. ?CI bridge 408 may also include an integrated memory controller and cache memory.or processor 402. Additional connections to PCI local bus 406 may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LION) adapter 410, SCSI host bus adapter 412, 30 and expansion bus interface 414 are connected to PCI local bus 406 by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter 416, graphics adapter 418, and audio/video adapter (A/V) 419 are connected to pCT local bus 406 by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface 414 provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter 420, 35 modem 422, and additional memory 424. In the depicted example, SCSI host bus adapter 412 provides a connection for hard disk drive 426, tape drive 428, CD-ROM drive 430, and digital video disc read only memory drive (DVD-ROM) 432. Typical PCI local bus implemental one will support three or four ?CI expansion slots or add-in connectors.

An operating system runs on processor 402 and is used to coordinate and province control or various components within data processing system 400 in Figure 4. The operating system may be a commercially available

opera._-g system, such as OS/'2, which is ava-_ace -tom ncernz.ion=2 Business Mac;._nes Corporat on. "OS/ N is a trademark o_ nternat ona2 3_s Tess Mach:,es Ccrortion. In ob-ec- orienecd prog-amm ng system, such as Java, may run in conjunction with the operating system, providing calls 5 to the operating system from Java programs or app; cat ons executing on data processing system 400. Instructions for the operating system, one object-or_ened operating system, and applications or programs are located on a storage device, such as hard disk drive 426, and may be loaded into main memory 404 for execution by processor 402.

:0 Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in Figure 4 may vary depending on the implementation. For example, other peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in Figure 4. The 15 depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. For example, the processes of the present ir,vention may be applied to multiprocessor data processing systems.

Turning now to Figure 5, there is shown a block diagram illustrating 20 the flow of information between a client and a server. Proxy server 502, which may be implemented as server 200, receives requests for web content from browser 504 within client 506. Server 502 retrieves the requested information from the web 508. Server 502 retrieves the web pages associated with the links in the requested web page from the web 508 and 25 generates thumbnails, icons, or other information desired by the user.

Server 502 may modify the requested web page and send the user the modified web page containing thumbnails, icons, or some other modification.

Alternatively, server 502 may send the user the unmodified web page and the thumbnails, icons, etc. as extra data wherein browser 504 determines how to 30 use this extra data.

Turning now to Figure 6, a flow chart illustrating an over view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the thumbnails are generated on a server, such as server 204 in Figure 2. As a 35 user selects a web page for owing (step 605), a Domain or Proxy server (hereinafter referred to simply as server) parses the user se' ected web page for links to other web pages (step 610). 'Chile one web page is be ng sent to the user, the server checks a cache for existing thumbnails (step 615) and prefetches linked pages not cached (step 620). The server then to generates thumbnails of:linked pages that do not have an existing thumbnail at?. the cache (step 625). Next, Ate server sends the thumbnails along with the rest of the web page to the user (step 630).

'-.e server can choose to -=d_; _-_lv ener.-te a =hmmbna'_ to be delivered Lo each user, or - can generate a defaul. users thumbr.ai2 per each wed page requested; and cache it Sing exist ng means for subsequent user requests. That -.s Lo say, a preferred embodiment of the present 5 invent on enables customized _hurna l generation on a user-by-,aser basis.

For example, perhaps a user chooses to receive black and while _hunna.: images, or perhaps a 'arger (or smaller) than average thumbnail. It would also be possible to replace the image entirely, or just certain pieces of it. Tn any case, it is advantageous to render thumbnails on a server to O reduce nternet and/or intrane-. bandwidth!.equief,e;s.

A manual override capability gives web content companies the ability to continue -sing the r selected banner(s) in cases where that would be advantageous. In this manner, the web content company could choose the 15 thumbnail image to be displayed next to links linking to one of their web pages. Furthermore, the web content company could choose to send an icon that represents that company to the user to be displayed next to the link rather than an image of the linked page itself. The icon could be any image they choose, for example, it could be the Coca-Cola logo if the 20 linked page belongs to Coca-Co' a also, the web content company may choose to manually fine tune the automatically generated thumbnail of any or all of their web pages. Furthermore, the server can automatically, or by client request, generate thumbnails for its users. Tn this fashion, an interned service provider ("ISP") or Intranet information services shop can 25 distinguish itself by providing th s enhanced browsing capability for all the domains its clients choose to browse. This method can be done over any suitable client/server Internet protocol such as CGI, HTTP, etc. A more detailed understanding of a preferred embodiment of the 30 present invention is disclosed with reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figure 7. As a server, such as server 200, receives a request for web content from a user (step 710), the server determines from the request whether the user has selected the thumbnail option (step 715). If the thurntnail option has not been selected, then the server sends the web page 35 without thumbnails in the customary fashion (step 720).

If the thumbnail option has been selected, then the server parses the web page for links to other web paces (step 725). The server then checks the cache for linked pages and prefetches the linked pages that. are not in 40 the cache (step 730) using the servers preietch mechanism. The server then generates thumbnails of each 'inked page that does not a1 reedy have a thumbnail in the cache (seep 735) and then stores the newly generated thumbnails in the cache (step 740).

Next, the serve' sends the _humona-2s to the user (step 750J.:- One embodiment, the web page s rege'.eat.ed w -h The thumbnai s inc_aea and the moo ' ec wed page is sen' lo the ser. En another embed men I.. -:-Ze web page sends the thumbnails along with the unmocif ed web page so the user.

One method of modifying the web page prior co sending the web page with thumbnails is generating the web page such chat, when the web page 15 viewed by the user, the thumbnails are displayed in-line (that is each thumbnail is placed below the preceding thumbnai' in a vertical line) rear the corresponding link on the currently displayed web page as illustrated iO in Figure 8.

Preferably, the thumbnails are automatically placed in-line by the server near the corresponding l nk on the selected web page. However, in alternate embodiments, the user might be queried for placement preferences, such as maximum distance from the link or preferred placement in terms of top, right, left, below, above, separate, etc. [Also illustrated n Figure 8 is a pointer 800 that allows a user to select various areas of a display. Pointer 800 may be manipulated, for 20 example, by means of a mouse, a stylus pen, a joystick, or arrow keys.

However, these are just a few methods of manipulating a pointer. Other examples are well known to those skilled in the art.] Turning now ho Figure 9, there is shown a flowchart illustrating a 25 basic overview for modifying the appearance of a web page in accordance with user selected criteria. A server receives a recontest for web content from a user along with user se' ected criteria (step 905) and then retrieves the requested web content (step 9lO). The server then parses the web page for user specified criteria (strep 920). The web pages associated with any 30 links found on the retrieved web page are prefetched and the server then parses the prefetched web pages for user specified criteria (step 930). If the prefetch fetches web pages that are several links removed from the presently viewed web page, the navigation assistant can parse these pages for user specified criteria as well.. If the server finds some or all of 35 the user specified criteria in the current web page or in one of the prefetched web pages, the current web page's appearance is changed in a user corfiguec' ma-ne' (step 950 i Ideally, the change in the appearance would effect the representation Of the link or the data found in a user customizable way. This may be actual modification of the data (in the case 0 of HTML, the HEART. source file wh_h is downloaded to the browser would be mcdif ed to insert such things as tags (<b></b>(bolB) or <_></i>(italics)), new icons, replacement of images, ecc. On the other hand it might also be clone in a way that did not effect the raw data (e.g., the HTIG source), but only the appearance of the unmodified data with regard to the

v ewer/_rowser. _-her way this may mean nse__ng an icon a the presence of the data e.s., an. icon o- a seal_ eye as the character before a cork o ?c_-re we ch ha_ "e p-- er-e_ a-.- AS. 1 Serrate rere-ence). or it may mean chancing text co or, text size, changing the font (e.g., making it 5 bold or italic or both) or adding a:anslucent shading over an image or text, causing the text or Wage to appear selected (e.g., the same snacking that occurs when you use a "fend in document command'' - typically inverting the r ext) or even adding a border or colored border around a word or image.

It may also mean replacing or overlaying the data with something the user 10 configured such as a "Do Not Enter Signs or drawing a box around i Figure 10 illustrates an example of the modification of the web page in a user configured manner to inc care the presence or absence of user selected criteria. As illustrated in Figure 10, the filtering program has 15 detected undesirable content on the first linked page displayed in the search results. Thus, the thumbnail has been modified to have a diamond with ' do not enter" written on it placed over the thumbnail image.

The above-described variations are but a few examples of 20 modifications that can be made to the thumbnails and are not meant to be exhaustive. Other modifications to the thumbnail images, such as to indicate the presence of a dead link, will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

25 A more detailed flowchart of the method depicted in Figure 9 is depicted in Figure 11. A user configures display and content preferences for the navigation assistant (step 1110). The user accesses a web page using a web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer (step 11201. While the web page is being loaded and presented to 30 the user, the web page is parsed for user specified criteria (step 1121).

If user specified criteria are present on the web page (step 1122), then the web page appearance is modified in accordance with user configured display preferences to indicate the presence of user specified criteria (step 1124). If no user specified criteria are present on the web page 35 (step 1122), then the navigation assistant determines if the user has conf Cured a display setting when criteria not found (seep 1126). If display settings nave been set or when criteria.o' 'ound (step 1126), then the web page appearance is modified to indicate that no user specified criteriaare present on the web page (step 1128). A determination is made 40 as to whether display setting have been set for indicating the lack of criteria (step 1126). of no display settlings have been set for indicating the lack of crite- a, then -he web page appearance is not altered (step 1130).

_2 After parsing the web page and con' our no d-s'ay se-_--,gs response to the presence or absence of use' spec iec crie--a, the -av yc-_O' 55' start Parses the web page to, determine r _ contains - nKS (universal resource locators "Walsh') to other web pages (step 1135) _f 5 the web page does contain links to other web pages (step 1135j, then the server prefetched these other l nks (step 1150) If no the web page does not contain links to other web pages (step 1135), then the web page (with modificat ons, if any) is sent to the user (step 1193) and then the server waits until the user requests a new web page (step 1195) If linked web pages have been prefetched, then the first prefetched page is scarred for matches to user configured document preferences (step 1150) Steps 1150 and 1160 correspond to step 930 in Figure 9 The server then determines whether user specified criteria are present in this first prefetched page (step 1160) If user's specified criteria are present within this first prefetched page, then the appearance of the currently displayed web page is modified in accordance with user display configurations to indicate the presence of 20 user specified criteria (step 1165) However, if none of the user's specified criteria are present, then the server determines whether the user has configured Display settings for links that lack specified criteria (step 1170) If the user has configured display settings for links corresponding to web pages that lack specified criteria specified by the 25 user, then the web page appearance is modified in accordance with these display preferences (step 1175) If no display settings have been configured for web pages not containing any user specified criteria, then the web page appearance is not altered (step 1180) 30 After the web page has been modified or left unaltered, depending on the results of scanning the first prefetched page, the server determines whether another linked page has been prefetched (step 1190) If another prefetched page exists, then this prefetched page is scanned for content preferences (step 1192) and the process of steps 1160 through 1190 are 35 repeated until there are no prefetched pages that have not been scanned for user configured specified criteria Steps 1160 through ll9S correspond to the processes of steps 940 and 950 shown in Figure 9 At such porn., the server will send the web page (in its modif ed form if it was modified) to the user (step 1193) and then waits for a new web page to be requested -ram 40 the user (step 1195) A more detailed understanding of the steps involved in modiyirg the presentation of the web page (steps 1122 - 1130 and steps 1160 - 1180 of

Figure 11) is given with reference to Figure 12. The server must f rs.

determine whether the user has cor.f Lured the preferences for a _ayeed referee. 'step 1205). n 2 'ayered preCeroh, the navigator r,oc on v prefetches the web pages associated with the links or the currently 5 displayed web page (first layers, But also prefetches the web pages associated with links on the web pages associated with the links on cue currently displayed web page (second layer). This layered prefetch can be carried out to multiple layers (greater than two) as far as the user wishes, consistent with hardware and software constraints such as available 10 memory and download speed.

If the user has configured the preferences for a layered prefetch, the server determines whether each linked web page contains an excessive number of broken links (step 1210). What constitutes an excessive number 15 is determined by the user or plugin maker and can be given in terms of absolute numbers or in percentage of broken links to good links. A broken link is a link that, if followed, does not retrieve a web page or retrieves a web page containing a message indicating that the subject matter has moved, been removed, etc. If the navigator determines that the linked web 20 page contains an excessive number of, broken links, then the display is altered in some manner to indicate that the web page associated with that particular link contains an excessive number of broken links (step 1215).

As an example, this could be accomplished by modifying the color of the link to perhaps gray where gray would be an indication to the user that the 25 link contains an excessive number of broken links. Another example would be to display an image next to the link where the image would indicate that che web page associated with the link contains an excessive number of broken links. However, each of these is merely an example of a method of indicating the information to the user and, therefore, do not limit the 30 scope of the present invention. Additionally, the server could parse second, third, etc. level pages for excessive broken links, etc. If the user has not configured for a layered prefetch (step 1205) or f the web page associated with the link does not contain an excessive 35 number of broken links (step 1210), then the navigator parses the present web page or prefeched web page, as the case may be, to determine whether it contains user configured negative preferences (step 1220). Negative preferences may be content related where the user has indicated key words a' subject matter which is not wanted such as adult oriented material kZ0 Other examples of negative preferences include or relate to the size o the web page; avis; music; number of links; number of images; total size of images; JavaScript presence; Java Applet presence; domain name suffix; author; and date of information, i.e. less than seven days old. If such unwanted material or characteristics are present on the web page, then the

( 1a appearance or t'ne currently viewed web page is a'-eed To he 'ec_ such nformat-on (step 1225). Examples of such moci cation include presen, _ng ar -=,age c- a c rcle w th a 2 He through next -o the...k to idia,e that the associated web page contains unwanted characteristics.

I' the web page does not contain negative preferences, men the web page its parsed to determine if it contains more than a threshold amount of positive preferences (step 1230). Positive preferences (or criteria) are preferences that the user desires in a web page. The positive preferences 10 may relate to content and key words or it can reface JO characerisc cs about the web page itself such as date of creation, author, etc. Thus, the same kinds of information can be searched For whether desired (positive preferences) or unwanted (negative preferences). Other examples of user specified criteria or preferences include determining the speed of the 15 download for a particular linked page or whether a web page is secure (these could also be included as negative criteria as well). If the amount of positive preferences exceeds a threshold (step 1230), then the appearance of the current web page is modified to indicate such information (step 1235).

If the web page does not contain more tnan a threshold of preferred user criteria (step 1230), but does contain some of the preferred user criteria (step 1240), then the appearance of the web page is altered to indicate the presence of some of the user's criteria (step 1245).

However, if the web page does not contain any of the user's criteria (step 1240), then the server determines whether the user has chosen a configuration which alters the display if a web page contains no matches to the users criteria (step 1250). If the loser has configured the server to 30 alter the appearance of the web page, then the server changes the appearance of the web page to indicate that that particular link does not contain any matches to the users specified criteria (step 1255). Examples of changes to appearance include changing the color of the link to gray or to displaying an image next to the link indicating that none of the user's 35 criteria were matched by the link.

Tf the Riser has not chosen a configuration in which the server alters the appearance of the web page, then -he web page appearance is left as t is (step 1260). The server, after modifying (as in steps 1225, 1235, 1245, 40 or 1255) or leaving display unaltered (as in step 1260), continues processing the web page and other web pages in the same fashion for other user specified criteria until all of r.he user specified criteria have been

! searched for in the viewed web page as well as -. any enc. a22 pre-erch. ed web pages (seep 1270).

Although the present invention has been described primarily w th 5 reference to modifying the appearance of the web page to inclicae the presence or absence of user preferences, this is not the only option for conveying this information to the user. Other options exist as will be obvious to one skilled in the art. Other examples include, but are not limited to, opening another window on the users computer and displaying 10 the desired or undesired nformatlon wltnln One new window, having the appropriate information "pop-up" as the user's pointer passes over a link, or indicating to the user through sounds as the Laser passes over a link whether that link matches some or more of the user's preferred criteria.

Furthermore, combinations of options could be provided as well. For 15 example, a general indication of desired or undesired material may change the appearance of the link. However, when the pointer is proximate to a particular link, details as to which criteria are present can then be l shed in a popup.

20 Another possibility for indicating to the use- the presence or absence of preferred criteria is in combination with thumbnail images of the linked pages. As the linked pages are prefetched, a thumbnail image of the linked page is generated and presented to the user to aid the user in navigating the web. For example, Figure 13 depicts the screen image of 25 search results returned by AltaVista. The thumbnail image of each linked page is displayed in line next to the link. In one embodiment of the present invention, a dark border is placed around the thumbnail of links that contain matches to the users undesirable criteria. Thus enabling the user to avoid wasting time with those pages. In the example depicted in 30 Figure 13, the first link having no title has a dark border indicating it is a page containing features the user does not desire. The fourth link entitled Lisa by Garv Paolini has a gray border placed around the thumbnail image of the finked page to indicate that some of the users criteria were found in this page.

Another example of methods of indicating the presence or absence of user preferences in linked pages is depicted in Figure 14. Figure 14 contains the same search results as in Figure 13. However, the first 2ir.ks thumbnail image has been replaced by a "Do Not Enters icon 40 indicating to the user that this linked page contains uncesirab2e or objectionable features to 'she user. However, replacing a thumbnail image with another graphic is not limited to cases where objectionable material is found.. For example, a green and red graphic might be replaced with a graphic or thumbnail using other colors for someone who is color blind.

! A so, m g:.' He -ha- a_l or some c_ [he graphics are -ep2ced -b e bank mage to mainta n ormatting, but reduce renaerng flame.

In another example of conveying information to the user, suppose that 5 the user had indicated a preference for pages contar.ins words Java Programmlngn. An icon representation of JavaScripc, or a Java Amp ec mign: be placed next to the tr.umbnail of the link if that link contained the chosen criteria. Information on the age of the web page (i. it was present, and the user had selected it as a preference) might also be placed 1U there In another example of the presentation of the information provided by the server, any, and all of the information that might be displayed in a preview windows could also be placed in flyover help for the link.

Examples of methods of indicating the presence of user specified criteria on a presently viewed web page include highlighting the matching text in bold or blocking the matching text in a background color different

from the rest of the text. Other examples include replacing obscene words 20 with stars. Other devices for indicating the presence or absence of desired criteria or undesired cr-teria will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

It is important to note that although searched criteria has been 25 described as being selected by a user, it could also be selected by the maker of the plugin and could include a default setting if the user chooses not to select a criteria. It should also be noted that while the present invention has been described in terms of parsing the linked pages for specified criteria, other methods of determining the content of a linked 30 page may be utilized as well. For example, the information on a linked page may be maintained in the form of an appendix or index page. Another example is to maintain such information in a database where the database might be created by the maker of the data expressly for this purpose or to a-d search engines. However, the preferred method remains to actually 35 parse the data in a linked page since that is the only true way to know the content of the data in a linked page since indexes become stale and the words that the author of a l nked page might choose to put in a database to describe the content of the linked page might be different than the words chosen by a user.

In another modif-cation to the present nvention, the analysis of -he prefetched pages is stored in a cache and if 'he browser recognized a URL, it need not prefetch and rcana2yze, but rather may retrieve the information from the cache. However, this assumes that the content of a JRL has not

/ - l changed and ha- the configure--on chosen by the user has not changed.

Furthermore, th-s assumes i,;-'at the i,.forma,-on was of a type that could be cached (e.g., no: a secure connection ype of wnich no care Is cached/stored). Fur_henore, it assumes that caching was enabled (e.g., 5 not everyone has caching turned on n their browser).

it should be noted than, while the present invention has been described primarily with reference to browsing the Internee and the World Wide Web, it is equaiTy applicable to any navigation format where one is is as ng a v ewe1. For exmp'e it:,,ay-'w app' ed to navga_'ng.,ots Notes Databases, to personal records navigation, and to map navigation. In the case of map navigation, areas of the map may be highlighted. Th s would be useful in a case of zooming in for greater detailed resolution.

Information which is not visible (e.g., because it is so small it cannot be 15 drawn with the scale used) could be considered and treated like a link.

Although the present invention has been described primarily with reference to HTML documents, the present invention applies to other document formats and markup languages as well. For example, such other 20 markup languages include, but are not limited to, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Vector Markup Language (VML), Virtual Reality Markup Language (Vend), Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DOTTY), and Extended Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML). An example of other document formats includes, but is not limited, to a Postscript Document Format (PDF).

It is important to note chat while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of a 30 computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media such a floppy disc, a hard disk drive, a RAM, and CD-ROMs and transmission-type media 35 such as digital and analog communications links.

The description of the present invention has been presented for

purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be

exhaustive or lim-.ted to the invention in the form disclosed. Many 40 modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary sk l:l in the art. Although the browser has been illustrated in the form of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, it could be applied to any 5eh of applications to send requests and retr:.eve documents from the Interned or any similar distributed data processing system such as a local area network

or -craned The embodiment was chosen and descr wed n order to best exp_= n the Or ncip es of the nvention, the prachica' appica.-on, and to encage others of Are nary skil: n the art to understand the invention -or various embodiments w-th various modi'icat ons as are suited to the 5 pa. icu-ar use contemplated

Claims

CAInS A methcc of --ccess-g re=esr.s Sr paces on tine =-.cerne,.

comprising the steps of: receiving, at a server, from a client, user criteria anc, a -ec,uest for a page from the Tnternet and; retrieving the page and parsing the page for a set of links to a set 10 of linked web pages; retrieving the set of linked pages; parsing the set of linked pages for user craters responsive to finding the user criteria on a linked page within the set of linked pages, modifying the page.o indicate the presence of the user criteria on the linked page; and 20 sending a modified page Lo the client.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two different user criteria are present and the page is modified in different manners responsive to finding the different criteria on respective linked pages.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of placing an indicator in page proximate to each link to an inactive site prior to sending the page to the client; wherein the indicator indicates that the link is inactive.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: parsing the linked pages for a second set of links to a second set of 2 inked web pages; parsing the second set of linked pages for a second user criteria; and responsive to finding the second criteria on a linked page within the :0 second set of linked pages, modifying the page to indicate the presence of the second crireria on the linked page within the second set of linked pages.

The method as recited in chat.. _, =rner cot.pr s_nq the steps or generating a thumbnail or each of the linked pages.

6. The method as recited in c aim 5, further comer sing providing an.
5 indicator over a respective thumbnail co indicate the presence of -he se' criteria on a respective l. nked page.

7. The method as recited n claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is modified to indicate the presence of the criteria on a respective linked page.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is modified to indicate the absence of the criteria on a respective linked page.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a different image to indicate the presence of the criteria on a respective linked page.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a different image.

<1 u ll. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a blank image.

12. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is presented 25 proximate to a respective link to a linked page.

! Amended claims have been filed as follows, CLAIMS

1. A method of processing requests for pages from a database, comprising the steps of: receiving, at a server, from a client, user criteria and a request for a page from a database; retrieving the page and parsing the page for a set of links to a set of linked pages; retrieving the set of linked pages; parsing the set of linked pages for user criteria; responsive to finding the user criteria on a linked page within the set of linked pages, modifying the page to indicate the presence of the user criteria on the linked page; and sending a modified page to the client.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two different user criteria are present and the page is modified in different manners responsive to finding the different criteria on respective linked pages.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of placing an indicator in page proximate to each link to an inactive site prior to sending the page to the client; wherein the indicator indicates that the link is inactive.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: parsing the linked pages for a second set of links to a second set of linked pages; parsing the second set of linked pages for a second user criteria; and responsive to finding the second criteria on a linked page within the second set of linked pages, modifying the page to indicate the presence of the second criteria on the linked page within the second set of linked pages.

()- 5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of generating a thumbnail of each of the linked pages.
6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising providing an indicator over a respective thumbnail to indicate the presence of the user criteria on a respective linked page.
7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is modified to indicate the presence of the criteria on a respective linked page.
8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is modified A_ Gate the absence of the criteria on a respective linked page.
9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a different image to indicate the presence of the criteria on a I respective 1 inked page.
10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a different image.
11. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the thumbnail is replaced with a blank image.
12. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the thumbnail is presented proximate to a respective link to a linked page.
13. A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform all the steps of any of claims I to 12.
14. A system for processing requests for pages from a database, comprising: means for receiving, at a server, from a client, user criteria and a request for a page from a database; means for retrieving the page and parsing the page for a set of links to a set of linked pages; means for retrieving the set of linked pages; means for parsing the set of linked pages for user criteria;

means, responsive to finding the user criteria on a linked page within the set of linked pages, for modifying the page to indicate the presence of the user criteria on the linked page; and means for sending a modified page to the client.