Automatic updates of bookmarks in a client computer

Claim 2

A computer controlled method for automatically indicating when an information file has sufficiently changed; said information file provided to an information access apparatus that includes a client computer executing a browser application, and a bookmark mechanism for storing an information file specification; said method comprising the steps of said information access apparatus: (a) sending a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus that comprises a server computer executing a server application; (b) receiving, from said notification mechanism, a notification message providing notice that said information file has sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and (c) indicating that said information file has sufficiently changed.

Claim 3

The computer controlled method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (d) sending a stop message containing said information file specification to said notification mechanism.

Claim 4

The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein said information file is provided by said information provider apparatus.

Claim 5

The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein said information file is a web page and said information file specification is a universal resource locator.

Claim 6

The computer controlled method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of said information provider apparatus: (d) receiving said subscription message containing said information file specification; (e) adding said information file specification to a database; and (f) sending said notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file.

Claim 7

The computer controlled method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of said information provider apparatus: (g) receiving a stop message containing said information file specification; and (h) deleting said information file specification from said database.

Claim 8

The computer controlled method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of said information provider apparatus: (g) receiving an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and (h) resending said notification message.

Claim 9

The computer controlled method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of said information provider apparatus: (g) receiving an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and (h) deleting said information file specification from said database.

Claim 10

An information access system including a client computer executing a browser application, and a bookmark mechanism for storing an information file specification; said information access system comprising: a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that an information file sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 11

An information access system including a client computer executing a browser application, and a bookmark mechanism for storing an information file specification; said information access system comprising: a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that an information file sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 12

The information access system of claim 9 further comprising a subscription termination mechanism configured to send a stop message containing said information file specification to said notification mechanism.

Claim 13

The information access system of claim 9 wherein said information file is provided by said information provider apparatus.

Claim 14

The information access system of claim 11 wherein said information file is a web page and said information file specification is a universal resource locator.

Claim 15

The information access system of claim 11 further comprising: a first receiving mechanism configured to receive said subscription message containing said information file specification; a first database mechanism configured to add said information file specification to a database; and a sending mechanism configured to send said notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file.

Claim 16

The information access system of claim 13 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive a stop message containing said information file specification; and a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.

Claim 17

The information access system of claim 13 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and a resend mechanism configured to send said notification message.

Claim 18

The information access system of claim 13 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.

Claim 19

An information access apparatus for accessing an information file having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a network interface to provide access to a network, and a display device; said information access apparatus executing a browser application, and utilizing a bookmark mechanism for storing an information file specification identifying said information file; said information access apparatus comprising: a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that said information file sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 20

An information access apparatus for accessing an information file having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a network interface to provide access to a network, and a display device; said information access apparatus executing a browser application, and utilizing a bookmark mechanism for storing an information file specification identifying said information file; said information access apparatus comprising: a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that said information file sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 21

The information access apparatus of claim 17 wherein said information file is a web page and said information file specification is a universal resource locator.

Claim 22

The information access apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a subscription termination mechanism configured to send a stop message containing said information file specification to said notification mechanism.

Claim 23

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to access an information file; said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an information access apparatus configured to use an information file specification to access said information file; said information access apparatus configured to affect a browser mechanism, and a bookmark mechanism for storing said information file specification; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that said information file has sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 24

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to access an information file; said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an information access apparatus configured to use an information file specification to access said information file; said information access apparatus configured to affect a browser mechanism, and a bookmark mechanism for storing said information file specification; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a subscription mechanism configured to send a subscription message containing said information file specification to a notification mechanism included within an information provider apparatus comprising a server computer executing a server application; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a notification message receiver mechanism configured to receive a notification message sent from said notification mechanism; said notification message providing notice that said information file has sufficiently changed; said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect an indication mechanism configured to indicate that said information file has sufficiently changed; said indication mechanism coupled to said subscription mechanism and responsive to said notification message receiver mechanism.

Claim 25

The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said information file is a web page and said information file specification is a universal resource locator.

Claim 26

The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a subscription termination mechanism configured to send a stop message containing said information file specification to said notification mechanism.

Claim 27

An information provider apparatus configured as a world wide web server, for providing an information file identified by an information file specification; said information provider apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a network interface to provide access to a network; said information provider apparatus comprising: a first receiving mechanism configured to receive a subscription message containing said information file specification and an e-mail address; a first database mechanism configured to add said information file specification and said e-mail address to a database responsive to said first receiving mechanism; and a sending mechanism configured to send a notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file to said e-mail address; said sufficient change determined and said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file.

Claim 28

An information provider apparatus configured as a world wide web server, for providing an information file identified by an information file specification; said information provider apparatus having a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a network interface to provide access to a network; said information provider apparatus comprising: a first receiving mechanism configured to receive a subscription message containing said information file specification and an e-mail address; a first database mechanism configured to add said information file specification and said e-mail address to a database responsive to said first receiving mechanism; and a sending mechanism configured to send a notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file to said e-mail address; said sufficient change determined and said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file.

Claim 29

The information provider apparatus of claim 23 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive a stop message containing said information file specification; and a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.

Claim 30

The information provider apparatus of claim 23 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and a resend mechanism configured to send said notification message.

Claim 31

The information provider apparatus of claim 23 further comprising: a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.

Claim 32

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to provide an information file; said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause a server computer to effect an information provider apparatus configured to use an information file specification to provide said information file; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a first receiving mechanism configured to receive a subscription message containing said information file specification and an e-mail address; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a first database mechanism configured to add said information file specification and said e-mail address to a database responsive to said first receiving mechanism; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a sending mechanism configured to send a notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file to said e-mail address; said sufficient change determined and said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file.

Claim 33

A computer program product comprising: a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a computer to provide an information file; said computer readable code comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause a server computer to effect an information provider apparatus configured to use an information file specification to provide said information file; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a first receiving mechanism configured to receive a subscription message containing said information file specification and an e-mail address; computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a first database mechanism configured to add said information file specification and said e-mail address to a database responsive to said first receiving mechanism; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a sending mechanism configured to send a notification message in response to a sufficient change in said information file to said e-mail address; said sufficient change determined and said notification message initiated by one who maintains said information file.

Claim 34

The information provider apparatus of claim 27 further comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a second receiving mechanism configured to receive a stop message containing said information file specification; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.

Claim 35

The information provider apparatus of claim 27 further comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a resend mechanism configured to send said notification message.

Claim 36

The information provider apparatus of claim 27 further comprising: computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a second receiving mechanism configured to receive an error message indicating unsuccessful delivery of said notification message; and computer readable program code devices configured to cause said computer to effect a second database mechanism configured to delete said information file specification from said database.