US5870546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for redirection of server external hyper-link reference
Assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-23
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Granted: 1999-02-09
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Expires: 2017-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A Web server computer system provides for server based controlled management over a client reference to a resource locator independently selected by a client computer system and referencing a server external Web server. The Web server system provides a client system with a predetermined URL reference to the Web server system encoded with predetermined redirection and accounting data including a reference to a second server system. On receipt by the first Web server system of the predetermined URL reference from said client system, the predetermined redirection and accounting data is decoded from the predetermined URL and processed by the Web server system to provide the client system with a redirection message including the reference to said second server system. The accounting data is processed by the Web server system and resulting data is selectively stored by the Web server system.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven T. Kirsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9566; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/14; H04L12/1453; H04L12/1471; H04L67/50; H04L67/53; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of providing for the server based controlled management and tracking of a client reference to a resource locator independently selected by a client computer system and referencing a server external resource, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing to a client system a predetermined URL referencing a first server system, said predetermined URL being encoded with predetermined redirection and accounting data including a reference to a second server system; b) receiving by said first server system said predetermined URL from said client system; c) decoding by said first server system said predetermined redirection and accounting data from said predetermined URL; and d) processing by said first server system said predetermined redirection and accounting data including providing said client system with a redirection message including said reference to said second server system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of providing for the server based controlled management and tracking of a client reference to a resource locator independently selected by a client computer system and referencing a server external resource, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing to a client system a predetermined URL referencing a first server system, said predetermined URL being encoded with predetermined redirection and accounting data including a reference to a second server system; b) receiving by said first server system said predetermined URL from said client system; c) decoding by said first server system said predetermined redirection and accounting data from said predetermined URL; and d) processing by said first server system said predetermined redirection and accounting data including providing said client system with a redirection message including said reference to said second server system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A server system providing for the serving of data pages, including page elements, in response to hypertext protocol requests received from a network, said server system including a processor for executing a server application to implement a server process comprising the steps of: a) receiving a predetermined request from said network, wherein said predetermined request corresponds to a predetermined page element, and wherein said predetermined request includes predetermined request data; b) processing said predetermined request data to obtain an identification of said predetermined page element; c) preparing a predetermined redirection message corresponding to said identification; and d) issuing said predetermined redirection message to said network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A server system providing for the serving of data pages, including page elements, in response to hypertext protocol requests received from a network, said server system including a processor for executing a server application to implement a server process comprising the steps of: a) receiving a predetermined request from said network, wherein said predetermined request corresponds to a predetermined page element, and wherein said predetermined request includes predetermined request data; b) processing said predetermined request data to obtain an identification of said predetermined page element; c) preparing a predetermined redirection message corresponding to said identification; and d) issuing said predetermined redirection message to said network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The server system of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: a) pre-establishing a correspondence between said predetermined page element and said identification, said correspondence providing redirection information for use in said step of preparing said predetermined redirection message; and b) serving a predetermined data page including said predetermined page element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The server system of claim 3 wherein predetermined redirection information is provided with said predetermined page element, and wherein said predetermined redirection information is included in said predetermined request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The server system of claim 4 wherein said predetermined redirection information includes first data providing said identification and second data providing a redirection reference, wherein said step of processing includes a step of identifying a redirection server from said redirection reference, and wherein said step of preparing provides said predetermined redirection message with an identification of said redirection server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The server system of claim 5 wherein said redirection reference includes a predetermined URL, and wherein said identification of said redirection server is said predetermined URL.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The server system of claim 5 wherein said redirection reference establishes a one-to-one relationship between said predetermined request and said redirection server.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The server system of claim 5 wherein said redirection reference establishes a relationship between said predetermined request and any of a plurality of redirection servers, and wherein said step of preparing said predetermined redirection message selects said redirection server from said plurality of redirection servers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process providing for the collecting information regarding the selection of hyper-text URLs in Web pages served over a network to a client system from a server system, said process comprising the steps of: a) serving a Web page, including a predetermined embedded URL, from a first predetermined server system to a client system, wherein said predetermined embedded URL includes predetermined identification data; b) receiving by said first predetermined server system a predetermined message from said client system in response to the selection of said predetermined URL, said predetermined message including said predetermined identification data; c) recording by said first predetermined server system said predetermined identification data; and d) issuing by said first predetermined server system a temporary redirection message to said client system identifying a second predetermined server system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process providing for the collecting information regarding the selection of hyper-text URLs in Web pages served over a network to a client system from a server system, said process comprising the steps of: a) serving a Web page, including a predetermined embedded URL, from a first predetermined server system to a client system, wherein said predetermined embedded URL includes predetermined identification data; b) receiving by said first predetermined server system a predetermined message from said client system in response to the selection of said predetermined URL, said predetermined message including said predetermined identification data; c) recording by said first predetermined server system said predetermined identification data; and d) issuing by said first predetermined server system a temporary redirection message to said client system identifying a second predetermined server system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said Web page includes a hyper-text object corresponding to said second predetermined server system, and wherein said hyper-text object embeds said predetermined embedded URL.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of processing said predetermined identification data to obtain first and second data, said first data identifying said hyper-text object and said second data identifying said second predetermined server system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said step of issuing includes the steps of forming a predetermined redirection URL based on said second data, and incorporating said predetermined redirection URL in said temporary redirection message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said second data includes a portion of said predetermined redirection URL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said second data includes a path portion of said predetermined redirection URL and an identification of a Web page available to be served by said second predetermined server system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of determining from said predetermined identification data a URL reference to said second predetermined server system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process permitting the accounting by a server system of hyper-text selection of Web page elements by client systems, said process comprising the steps of: a) identifying a Web page element with a first predetermined server system so that the identification is visually effective to a user of a predetermined client system; b) providing a redirection URL as an embedded URL included with said Web page element, said redirection URL including a server URL and data, said direct server URL specifying a second predetermined server system, said data including an identification of said Web page element and a reference to said first predetermined server system; and c) serving a Web page including said Web page element to said predetermined client system, whereby hyper-text selection of said Web page element will provide said data to said second predetermined server system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process permitting the accounting by a server system of hyper-text selection of Web page elements by client systems, said process comprising the steps of: a) identifying a Web page element with a first predetermined server system so that the identification is visually effective to a user of a predetermined client system; b) providing a redirection URL as an embedded URL included with said Web page element, said redirection URL including a server URL and data, said direct server URL specifying a second predetermined server system, said data including an identification of said Web page element and a reference to said first predetermined server system; and c) serving a Web page including said Web page element to said predetermined client system, whereby hyper-text selection of said Web page element will provide said data to said second predetermined server system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 16 further comprising the steps of: a) receiving, by said second server system, said data; b) processing said data to obtain said identification and said reference; c) storing accounting data corresponding to said identification; and d) providing a redirection message to said predetermined client system including a URL specifying said first predetermined server system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said URL specifying said first predetermined server system corresponds to said reference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 18 wherein said reference includes said URL specifying said first predetermined server system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said redirection URL includes validation data provided to support validation of said redirection URL by said second server system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for tracking client selections of hyper-link references comprising the steps of: a) providing a client computer system with a selectable hyper-link reference to a first server system, wherein selection of said hyper-link reference by said client computer system provides a portion of said hyper-link reference to said first server system; and b) providing, by said first server system, a redirection reference to said client computer system, wherein said redirection reference is determined by said first server system from said portion of said hyper-link reference and wherein said redirection reference includes an identification of a second server system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process for tracking client selections of hyper-link references comprising the steps of: a) providing a client computer system with a selectable hyper-link reference to a first server system, wherein selection of said hyper-link reference by said client computer system provides a portion of said hyper-link reference to said first server system; and b) providing, by said first server system, a redirection reference to said client computer system, wherein said redirection reference is determined by said first server system from said portion of said hyper-link reference and wherein said redirection reference includes an identification of a second server system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said redirection reference is determined from a correspondence between said portion of said hyper-link reference and said identification.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 22 wherein said first server system processes said portion of said hyper-link reference to provide said identification.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said portion of said hyper-link reference includes said identification.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said portion of said hyper-link reference includes validation information, said process further comprising the step of processing said validation information by said first server system in determining said redirection reference and wherein said redirection reference is conditionally provided to said client computer system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 25 wherein said portion of said hyper-link reference includes account information, said process further comprising the step of processing said account information to obtain accounting or auditing data and recording said accounting or auditing data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said hyper-link reference is selectively constructed by said first server system to have a predetermined correspondence between said portion of said hyper-link reference and said identification and wherein said predetermined correspondence is determined by said first server system upon receipt of said portion of said hyper-link reference.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
126 words
A process for providing notification of the selection of a hyper-link reference to a first server system in response to selection of a Web page element by a client system where the Web page element corresponds to a second server system, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing for said hyper-link reference to include a direct server URL reference to said first server system, a redirection directive, and an identification of a second server system, wherein said client system utilizes said direct server URL to provide said redirection directive and said identification to said first server system; b) processing said redirection directive and said identification to prepare a redirection message including a redirect server URL; and c) providing said redirection message to said client system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
126 words
A process for providing notification of the selection of a hyper-link reference to a first server system in response to selection of a Web page element by a client system where the Web page element corresponds to a second server system, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing for said hyper-link reference to include a direct server URL reference to said first server system, a redirection directive, and an identification of a second server system, wherein said client system utilizes said direct server URL to provide said redirection directive and said identification to said first server system; b) processing said redirection directive and said identification to prepare a redirection message including a redirect server URL; and c) providing said redirection message to said client system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said identification includes said redirect server URL.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 29 wherein processing of said identification determines said redirection URL having a predetermined correspondence with said second server system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said predetermined correspondence is a one-to-one correspondence.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said predetermined correspondence is a one-to-many correspondence.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said identification includes said redirect server URL.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 31, 32, or 33 wherein said hyper-link reference further includes data having a predetermined correspondence with said Web page element and wherein said first server system processes said data to account for notification of the selection of said hyper-link reference.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process of providing advertisement selection information to a web server in response to client selections of advertisements provided in web pages, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing an embedded URL in a web page coupled to an advertisement selectable by a client, said advertisement having a correspondence with a first server and said embedded URL including a URL corresponding to a second server and data including an identification of said first server; b) providing a redirection message including a redirection URL corresponding to said first server where said redirection message is prepared by said second server based on said identification of said first server; and c) recording advertisement selection information derived from said data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process of providing advertisement selection information to a web server in response to client selections of advertisements provided in web pages, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing an embedded URL in a web page coupled to an advertisement selectable by a client, said advertisement having a correspondence with a first server and said embedded URL including a URL corresponding to a second server and data including an identification of said first server; b) providing a redirection message including a redirection URL corresponding to said first server where said redirection message is prepared by said second server based on said identification of said first server; and c) recording advertisement selection information derived from said data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 35 wherein said web page served to said client by a third server.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 36 wherein said data is processed by said second server to obtain said redirection URL.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 37 wherein said identification of said first server establishes a predetermined correspondence between said embedded URL and said first server.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 38 wherein said predetermined correspondence is one-to-one.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4825354A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-08 | 2002-08-10 | 2003-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-08 | 2006-08-10 | 2007-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-08 | 2010-08-10 | 2011-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |