US6085226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for utility-directed prefetching of web pages into local cache using continual computation and user models
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1998-01-15
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2018-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A technique that, through continual computation, harnesses available computer resources during periods of low processing activity and low network activity, such as idle time, for prefetching, e.g., web pages, or pre-selected portions thereof, into local cache of a client computer. This technique utilizes a probabilistic user model to specify, at any one time, those pages or portions of pages that are likely to be prefetched given, e.g., a web page currently being rendered to a user, which promise to provide the largest benefit (expected utility) to the user. Specifically, once a user, at a client computer, enters an address of a desired web page, a set containing web addresses of web pages, that based on the user model are each likely to be accessed next by that user, are determined, with corresponding files therefor prefetched, in order of their expected utility to the user, by the client computer during intervals of low processing activity and low network activity. Expected utility of a page or portion is assessed as a product of rate of refinement in utility of that page or portion to the user multiplied by its transition probability. Once prefetched, these pages or portions are stored in local cache at the client computer for ready access should the user next select any such page or portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Horvitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06F16/9574
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 206
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
In a client computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a server, wherein the client computer or a connection between the client computer exhibits a first period of high utilization followed by a second period of low utilization, a method of obtaining the items of information comprising: (A) accessing, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the server and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (B) while the first item is being so rendered: (B1) determining, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from corresponding servers, wherein the determining step comprises: (B1a) generating a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (B1b) ascertaining a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (B1c) producing, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (B2) prefetching ones of the items in said set from the corresponding servers and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (B3) storing, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
In a client computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a server, wherein the client computer or a connection between the client computer exhibits a first period of high utilization followed by a second period of low utilization, a method of obtaining the items of information comprising: (A) accessing, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the server and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (B) while the first item is being so rendered: (B1) determining, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from corresponding servers, wherein the determining step comprises: (B1a) generating a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (B1b) ascertaining a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (B1c) producing, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (B2) prefetching ones of the items in said set from the corresponding servers and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (B3) storing, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of performing, at the onset of the second period, the determining step followed by the prefetching step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method in claim 2 wherein the first item is a first predetermined quantity of first information, the second item comprises a second predetermined quantity of second information or a pre-defined portion thereof, said first and second informations being different, and the predefined aspect is an address associated with the first quantity of information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 3 wherein the server comprises a web server accessible over the connection, wherein the connection comprises either an Internet or an intra-net connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 4 wherein the first and second items are first and second web pages having first and second corresponding addresses, and said predefined aspect is the address of the first web page.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in claim 5 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method in claim 6 wherein the user model resides on the web server, further comprising the step of providing, through the user model and in response to statistically analyzed server-based log data and the first web page or a succession of web pages, including the first web page, downloaded from the web server to a client computer, a corresponding transition probability for each individual one of the items in the set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in claim 8 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first page, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in claim 7 wherein the probability providing step comprises the step of determining the transition probability in response to a profile stored on either the client computer or the web server.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method in claim 11 wherein the transition probability determining step of ascertaining the transition probability in response to user activity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 13 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 15 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 7 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 17 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in claim 6 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in claim 19 wherein said flux value ascertaining step comprises the step of generating the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said one each item is downloaded from the server, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in claim 19 wherein said each one in said set is a web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in claim 19 wherein each one in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method in claim 19 wherein each one in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
151 words
The method in claim 19 wherein each of said individual ones of said items in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: (a) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and (b) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 6 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with a client computer, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in claim 25 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 6 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 5 wherein the user model comprises at least one function that provides a transition probability for a hypertext link on the first page in response to user activity, a user profile, structure or content of text or graphics associated with the first web page.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in claim 28 wherein the user model is further responsive to statistical data obtained on a client computer or the web server.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 29 wherein the user model further comprises a Bayesian model having a Bayesian network, a Hidden Markov model or a decision tree.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in claim 5 wherein each individual item in said set is a different web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in claim 5 wherein each individual item in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method in claim 5 wherein each individual item in said set is either as textual or graphical portion of a common web page so a to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of textual portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions, and selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of graphical portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
145 words
The method in claim 5 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: (a) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; (b) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in claim 3 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 36 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 37 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 38 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with the computer system, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in claim 40 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in claim 42 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 44 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first item, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 35 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in claim 35 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in claim 35 wherein said flux value ascertaining step comprises the step of generating the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the server, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in claim 3 wherein the first and second predetermined quantities are separate components of the first and second informations, respectively.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of claim 1.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
283 words
In a computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a source accessible by the system, a method, performed by the processor, of obtaining the items of information comprising: (A) accessing, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the source and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (B) while the first item is being so rendered: (B1) determining, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from the source, wherein the determining step comprises: (B1a) generating a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (B1b) ascertaining a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (B1c) producing, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (B2) prefetching ones of the items in said set from the source and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (B3) storing, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
283 words
In a computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a source accessible by the system, a method, performed by the processor, of obtaining the items of information comprising: (A) accessing, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the source and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (B) while the first item is being so rendered: (B1) determining, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from the source, wherein the determining step comprises: (B1a) generating a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (B1b) ascertaining a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (B1c) producing, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (B2) prefetching ones of the items in said set from the source and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (B3) storing, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 52 wherein the source comprises a remote computer.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in claim 53 wherein the source comprises a web server accessible over a networked connection, wherein the networked connection comprises either an Internet connection or an intra-net connection.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 54 wherein the first and second items are first and second web pages having first and second corresponding addresses, and said predefined aspect is the address of the first web page.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in claim 55 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method in claim 56 wherein the user model resides on the web server, further comprising the step of providing, through the user model and in response to statistically analyzed server-based log data and the first web page or a succession of web pages, including the first web page, downloaded from the web server to a client computer, a corresponding transition probability for each individual one of the items in the set.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in claim 57 wherein the probability providing step comprises the step of determining the transition probability in response to a profile stored on either the client computer or the web server.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method in claim 58 wherein the transition probability determining step of ascertaining the transition probability in response to user activity.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 57 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 60 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first page, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 57 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 62 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 57 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in claim 64 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 57 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 66 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 57 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first page, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 56 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with a client computer, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in claim 69 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first page as rendered.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in claim 56 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in claim 71 wherein said flux value ascertaining step comprises the step of generating the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the source, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in claim 71 wherein said each one in said set is a web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in claim 71 wherein each one in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method in claim 71 wherein each one in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
151 words
The method in claim 71 wherein each of said individual ones of said items in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: (a) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and (b) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 56 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 55 wherein the user model comprises at least one function that provides a transition probability for a hypertext link on the first page in response to user activity, a user profile, structure or content of text or graphics associated with the first web page.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in claim 78 wherein the user model is further responsive to statistical data obtained on a client computer or the web server.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 79 wherein the user model further comprises a Bayesian model having a Bayesian network, a Hidden Markov model or a decision tree.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in claim 55 wherein each individual item in said set is a different web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in claim 55 wherein each individual item in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the step of selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method in claim 55 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of textual portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions, and selecting and prefetching individual ones of the plurality of graphical portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
145 words
The method in claim 55 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and said selecting and prefetching step comprises the steps of: (a) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; (b) selecting and prefetching individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method in claim 52 wherein the first item is a first predetermined quantity of first information, the second item comprises a second predetermined quantity of second information or a pre-defined portion thereof, said first and second informations being different, and the predefined aspect is an address associated with the first quantity of information.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with the computer system, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in claim 87 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 89 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 91 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in claim 93 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 95 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in claim 86 further comprising the step of generating, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first item, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 86 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in claim 86 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in claim 86 wherein said flux value ascertaining step comprises the step of generating the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the source, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the first and second predetermined quantities are separate components of the first and second informations, respectively.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of claim 52.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
291 words
Apparatus for that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a source accessible by the system, the apparatus comprising: (A) a processor; and (B) a memory, connected to the processor, having a computer executable program stored therein; (C) wherein, in response to the stored instructions, the processor: (C1) accesses, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the source and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (C2) while the first item is being so rendered: (C2a) determines, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from the source, wherein the processor: (C2a1) generates a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (C2a2) ascertains a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (C2a3) produces, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (C2b) prefetches ones of the items in said set from the source and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (C2c) stores, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
291 words
Apparatus for that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a source accessible by the system, the apparatus comprising: (A) a processor; and (B) a memory, connected to the processor, having a computer executable program stored therein; (C) wherein, in response to the stored instructions, the processor: (C1) accesses, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the source and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (C2) while the first item is being so rendered: (C2a) determines, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from the source, wherein the processor: (C2a1) generates a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (C2a2) ascertains a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (C2a3) produces, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (C2b) prefetches ones of the items in said set from the source and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (C2c) stores, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus in claim 103 wherein the source is a remote computer.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 104 wherein the source is a web server accessible over a networked connection, wherein the networked connection comprises either an Internet connection or an intra-net connection.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 105 wherein the first and second items are first and second web pages having first and second corresponding addresses, and said predefined aspect is the address of the first web page.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 106 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus in claim 107 wherein the user model resides on the web server and the processor, in response to the stored instructions, provides, through the user model and in response to statistically analyzed server-based log data and the first web page or a succession of web pages, including the first web page, downloaded from the web server to a client computer, a corresponding transition probability for each individual one of the items in the set.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, determines the transition probability in response to a profile stored on either the client computer or the web server.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in claim 109 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, ascertains the transition probability in response to user activity.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 111 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first page, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus in claim 113 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in claim 115 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 117 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 108 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first page, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 107 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 120 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the source, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus in claim 120 wherein said each one in said set is a web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus in claim 120 wherein each one in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
120 words
The apparatus in claim 120 wherein each one in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
152 words
The apparatus in claim 120 wherein each of said individual ones of said items in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: (a) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and (b) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of the said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeats operations (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 107 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with a client computer, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 126 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 107 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus in claim 106 wherein the user model comprises at least one function that provides a transition probability for a hypertext link on the first page in response to user activity, a user profile, structure or content of text or graphics associated with the first web page.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in claim 129 wherein the user model is further responsive to statistical data obtained on a client computer or the web server.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in claim 130 wherein the user model further comprises a Bayesian model having a Bayesian network, a Hidden Markov model or a decision tree.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus in claim 106 wherein each individual item in said set is a different web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus in claim 132 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of textual portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions, and selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of graphical portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus in claim 132 wherein each individual item in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
145 words
The apparatus in claim 132 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: (a) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; (b) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeats operations (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 103 wherein the first item is a first predetermined quantity of first information, the second item comprises a second predetermined quantity of second information or a pre-defined portion thereof, said first and second informations being different, and the predefined aspect is an address associated with the first quantity of information.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 136 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with the computer system, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 138 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 140 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus in claim 142 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in claim 144 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 149
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 150
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 146 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first item, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 137 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the source, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 155
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus in claim 136 wherein the first and second predetermined quantities are separate components of the first and second informations, respectively.
Claim 156
Dependent Claim
325 words
Apparatus for a client computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a server, wherein the client computer or a connection between the client computer exhibits a first period of high utilization followed by a second period of low utilization, the client computer comprising: (A) a processor; and (B) a memory, connected to the processor, having a computer executable program stored therein; (C) wherein, in response to the stored instructions, the processor: (C1) accesses, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the server and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (C2) while the first item is being so rendered: (c2a) determines, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from corresponding servers, wherein the processor: (C2a1) generates a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (C2a2) ascertains a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (C2a3) produces, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (C2b) prefetches ones of the items in said set from the corresponding servers and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (C2c) stores, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
325 words
Apparatus for a client computer system, having a processor and a memory, that, in response to user interaction with the system, requests items of information, as desired by a user, from a server, wherein the client computer or a connection between the client computer exhibits a first period of high utilization followed by a second period of low utilization, the client computer comprising: (A) a processor; and (B) a memory, connected to the processor, having a computer executable program stored therein; (C) wherein, in response to the stored instructions, the processor: (C1) accesses, in response to a request from the user, a first item of information from the server and rendering the first item so accessed to the user; and (C2) while the first item is being so rendered: (c2a) determines, in response to both a predefined aspect of the first item and a predefined user model, a set of items of information which the user is likely to request next from corresponding servers, wherein the processor: (C2a1) generates a corresponding transition probability estimate for each one of a plurality of items in said set; (C2a2) ascertains a corresponding flux value, representing a rate of refinement in utility to the user with increased time, for each one of the items in said set; and (C2a3) produces, in response said corresponding probability estimate and said corresponding flux value, a value for a flux-product for said each one of the items in said set so as to form a plurality of flux-product values; (C2b) prefetches ones of the items in said set from the corresponding servers and in descending order of their corresponding flux-product values, wherein the order reflects decreasing expected utility to the user of said ones of the items in the set; and (C2c) stores, in the memory, each of said ones of the items, so prefetched, for subsequent access in the event the user were to request any of said ones of the items.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 153 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, performs, at the onset of the second period, the determining operation followed by the prefetching operation.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 154 wherein the server comprises a web server accessible over the connection, wherein the connection comprises either an Internet or an intra-net connection.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 155 wherein the first and second items are first and second web pages having first and second corresponding addresses, and said predefined aspect is the address of the first web page.
Claim 161
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 156 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 162
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus in claim 157 wherein the user model resides on the web server and the processor, in response to the stored instructions, provides, through the user model and in response to statistically analyzed server-based log data and the first web page or a succession of web pages, including the first web page, downloaded from the web server to a client computer, a corresponding transition probability for each individual one of the items in the set.
Claim 163
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first page, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 164
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 165
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 166
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 161 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 167
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 168
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus in claim 163 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 169
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 170
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in claim 165 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 171
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 160 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 172
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus in claim 158 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, determines the transition probability in response to a profile stored on either the client computer or the web server.
Claim 173
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in claim 168 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, ascertains the transition probability in response to user activity.
Claim 174
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 157 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 175
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 170 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the server, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 176
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus in claim 170 wherein said each one in said set is a web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 177
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus in claim 170 wherein each one in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each one of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 178
Dependent Claim
120 words
The apparatus in claim 170 wherein each one in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 179
Dependent Claim
151 words
The apparatus in claim 170 wherein each of said individual ones of said items in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: (a) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; and (b) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeats operations (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 180
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 157 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with a client computer, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 181
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 176 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 182
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 157 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 183
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus in claim 156 wherein the user model comprises at least one function that provides a transition probability for a hypertext link on the first page in response to user activity, a user profile, structure or content of text or graphics associated with the first web page.
Claim 184
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in claim 179 wherein the user model is further responsive to statistical data obtained on a client computer or the web server.
Claim 185
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in claim 180 wherein the user model further comprises a Bayesian model having a Bayesian network, a Hidden Markov model or a decision tree.
Claim 186
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus in claim 156 wherein each individual item in said set is a different web page so as to form a plurality of web pages, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of web pages in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of web pages.
Claim 187
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus in claim 182 wherein each individual item in said set is a screenful of content of an associated web page so as to form a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of screenfuls.
Claim 188
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus in claim 182 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of a common web page so as to form respective pluralities of textual and graphical portions of the common web page, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of textual portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions, and selects and prefetches individual ones of the plurality of graphical portions of said common web page in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions.
Claim 189
Dependent Claim
145 words
The apparatus in claim 182 wherein each individual item in said set is either a textual or graphical portion of an associated screenful of a web page, said set containing textual and graphical portions for each of a plurality of screenfuls, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: (a) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of textual portions in the set and for a common one of said screenfuls in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of textual portions; (b) selects and prefetches individual ones of a plurality of graphical portions in the set and for said common one screenful in descending order of a flux-product associated with each of said plurality of graphical portions; and (c) repeats operations (a) and (b) in succession for each remaining individual one of the screenfuls in the set.
Claim 190
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 154 wherein the first item is a first predetermined quantity of first information, the second item comprises a second predetermined quantity of second information or a pre-defined portion thereof, said first and second informations being different, and the predefined aspect is an address associated with the first quantity of information.
Claim 191
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in claim 186 wherein the user model comprises a model of transition probabilities based on pre-defined data.
Claim 192
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to user interactivity with the computer system, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 193
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 188 wherein the interactivity comprises measurements of user scroll, user dwell, or position or user movement of a mouse pointer on the first item as rendered.
Claim 194
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to a pre-defined attribute of the first item, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 195
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 190 wherein the predefined attribute comprises class, structure or layout of the first item, or content or context of text, graphics or hypertext links on the first item.
Claim 196
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to results returned by a search engine, a transition probability for each one of the items in the set.
Claim 197
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus in claim 192 wherein the results comprise a similarity measure, a keyword in either a returned web page from the search engine or a predefined field associated therewith, or content of the returned web page.
Claim 198
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to content in a given item in the set or within a predefined field associated with the given item, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 199
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in claim 194 wherein the predefined field comprises a description, summary or tag field.
Claim 200
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to characteristics of user eye movement, a corresponding transition probability for the given item in the set.
Claim 201
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 196 wherein the user eye movement characteristics comprise real-time measurements of actual eye movement of an individual user or a statistical model of user gaze patterns across a plurality of users.
Claim 202
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the user model, having statistically analyzed log usage data, generates, in response to the predefined aspect of the first item, each of said items, in the set, ordered by likelihood of being accessed next.
Claim 203
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 198 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates the corresponding flux value for said one item as a predetermined function of a speed at which said each one item is downloaded from the server, a size of said each one item and utility associated with the one item.
Claim 204
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, generates, through the user model and in response to collaborative filtering of the first item, a corresponding transition probability for an item in the set.
Claim 205
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in claim 187 wherein the user model further comprises a decision tree derived from a Bayesian network, a Bayesian model or a Hidden Markov model.
Claim 206
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus in claim 186 wherein the first and second predetermined quantities are separate components of the first and second informations, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |