US6597377B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Web links objects
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-02-25
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Granted: 2003-07-22
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Expires: 2017-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of providing information about a set of interrelated objects or files on one or more servers in a computer network, such as pages on the Internet's world wide web. The method involves construction of a web links object that contains information regarding the links between the various web pages. When a user at a workstation sends a request for a specific web page (designating a particular universal resource locator), the server instead transmits the web links object to allow the user to see the hierarchy of the web site before downloading the contents of the web pages. The server can store the links object (such as one created by the web site designer), or can dynamically create a web links object upon request by analyzing the links in the various web pages. Alternatively, the workstation can perform the analysis and construct the web links object.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret Gardner MacPhail
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of examining interrelated objects residing on one or more servers on a computer network, comprising the steps of: creating a links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects; requesting one of the interrelated objects by a client workstation; and in response to said requesting of one of the interrelated objects, loading the links object on the client workstation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of examining interrelated objects residing on one or more servers on a computer network, comprising the steps of: creating a links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects; requesting one of the interrelated objects by a client workstation; and in response to said requesting of one of the interrelated objects, loading the links object on the client workstation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the links object information establishes a relationship of the interrelated objects.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the links object information further establishes a main object associated with the relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said creating step occurs prior to said requesting step and the links object is stored on one of the servers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said creating step occurs after said requesting step and is accomplished by dynamically analyzing the interrelated objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said creating step is performed by the client workstation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said creating step is performed by one of the servers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the links object information includes a second, nested links object having further information on links between another set of interrelated objects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the links object further provides links to access the interrelated objects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the links object information is limited to information regarding links to objects of a predetermined type.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for providing information to a workstation connected to a network, the apparatus comprising: means for communicating with the network; a memory device having a plurality of objects interrelated by retrieval links; and a processor programmed to transmit a links object having information on said retrieval links between said interrelated objects, in response to a request from the workstation to send one of said interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for providing information to a workstation connected to a network, the apparatus comprising: means for communicating with the network; a memory device having a plurality of objects interrelated by retrieval links; and a processor programmed to transmit a links object having information on said retrieval links between said interrelated objects, in response to a request from the workstation to send one of said interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said processor is programmed to transmit the links object only if said request is made according to a first protocol, and if said request is made according to a second protocol, said processor instead transmits said requested object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said processor is programmed to dynamically analyze said interrelated objects, in response to said request, to create said links object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said links object is stored prior to said request and said processor is programmed to retrieve said stored links object in response to said request.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
A device for retrieving interrelated objects from a computer network, comprising: memory means for storing the objects; a video monitor for displaying the objects; and a processor programmed to send a request, in response to a user command, for one of the objects, said processor being further programmed to load, in response to said request, a links object associated with the requested object, said links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
A device for retrieving interrelated objects from a computer network, comprising: memory means for storing the objects; a video monitor for displaying the objects; and a processor programmed to send a request, in response to a user command, for one of the objects, said processor being further programmed to load, in response to said request, a links object associated with the requested object, said links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said processor is programmed to send said request in either a first protocol or a second protocol, said first protocol designating a preference for any available links object associated with the requested object, and said second protocol designating a request only for the requested object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said processor is programmed to load said links object by receiving said links object from a server connected to said computer network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said processor is programmed to load said links object by first creating said links object by dynamically analyzing said interrelated objects.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for providing information to an end user, comprising: a network with one or more servers having a plurality of objects interrelated by retrieval links; and a workstation, connected to said network, and programmed to send a request, in response to a user command, for one of the objects, said workstation being further programmed to load and display, in response to the request, a links object associated with the requested object, the links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for providing information to an end user, comprising: a network with one or more servers having a plurality of objects interrelated by retrieval links; and a workstation, connected to said network, and programmed to send a request, in response to a user command, for one of the objects, said workstation being further programmed to load and display, in response to the request, a links object associated with the requested object, the links object having information on retrieval links between the interrelated objects, wherein a given one of the retrieval links is embedded within one of the interrelated objects.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
The system of claim 19 wherein: said workstation is programmed to send the request in either a first protocol or a second protocol, said first protocol designating a preference for any available links object associated with the requested object, and said second protocol designating a request only for the requested object; and one of said one or more servers is programmed to transmit the links object only if the request is made according to said first protocol and, if the request is made according to said second protocol, said server instead transmits the requested object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 19 wherein: the links object is stored prior to the request in one of said one or more servers; and said workstation is programmed to load the links object by receiving the links object from said server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 19 wherein: one of said one or more servers is programmed to dynamically analyze the interrelated objects, in response to the request, to create the links object.
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) | 2006-07-21 | 2007-01-20 | 2007-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-21 | 2011-01-20 | 2011-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-21 | 2015-01-20 | 2015-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |