| Method and system for managing preferred web site links -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and system for managing preferred web site linksRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Distributed Data Processing, Client/serverMethod and system for managing preferred web site links description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080028025, Method and system for managing preferred web site links. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/879,270, filed on Jun. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] This invention relates generally to information processing in a network environment, and more particularly, this invention relates to an improved web browser method and system for identifying, categorizing, and displaying preferred web site links over a network. [0003] The World Wide Web (WWW), or "web", has become a well-known and versatile feature of the Internet. The web comprises many files or pages of information, distributed across many different servers. Each page is identified by an individual address or "Universal Resource Locator (URL)" which, in turn, denotes both a server machine and a particular file or page on that machine. There may be many pages or URLs resident on a single server. [0004] Typically, to utilize the web, a user runs a computer program called a web browser on a client computer system such as a personal computer. Examples of browser programs on the market include Microsoft Internet Explorer.TM. and Netscape Navigator.TM.. The user interacts with the web browser to select a particular URL. The interaction causes the browser to send a request for the URL-identified page or file to the URL-identified server. Typically, the server responds to the request by retrieving the requested page and transmitting the data back to the requesting client utilizing hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), a well known protocol in the art. The page received by the client is displayed to the user on the client machine. The client may also cause the server to launch an application, such as a search engine, to search for web pages relating to particular topics. [0005] Web pages are typically formatted in accordance with a computer programming language known as hypertext markup language (HTML). Thus, a typical web page includes text together with embedded formatting commands, referred to as tags, that can be employed to control font style, font size, layout features, etc. The web browser parses the HTML script in order to display the text in accordance with the specified format. In addition, an HTML page may also contain a reference, in terms of another URL, to a portion of multimedia data such as an image, video segment, or audio file. The web browser responds to such a reference by retrieving and displaying or playing the multimedia data. Alternatively, the multimedia data may reside on its own web page, without surround HTML text. [0006] Most web pages also contain one or more references to other web pages, which need not reside on the same server as the original page. Such references may be activated by the user selecting particular locations on the screen, typically by clicking a mouse control button. These references or locations are known as hyperlinks, and are typically flagged by the web browser in a particular manner such as through the use of color coding the text link. If a user selects the hyperlinked text, then the referenced page is retrieved and replaces the currently displayed page. [0007] Newer browser technology has extended the traditional client/server technology of requesting and receiving web pages to now include more advanced features. Information previously incapable of being displayed via a browser can now usually be presented with the assistance of a plug in application that runs on top of the browser program. Other recent developments in web technology include packaged suites of well-known applications software and groupware tools which provide "full service" web computing capabilities. These enhancements have already proven themselves in the business community where business enterprises and their trading partners enjoy extensive collaboration and communication capabilities. [0008] One drawback to web technology, however, relates to the growing number of web sites and the correlated searching difficulties encountered by web users. To access a desired web site, a user must remember either the web site name as it is registered in the domain name registry (i.e., exact spelling and punctuation), or remember the URL address to which the name belongs. [0009] Another major drawback is the sometimes overwhelming sea of information which an ill-planned web search can return. Conducting carefully executed searches requires some boolean-based search knowledge, particularly for time-pressured web users, before meaningful and substantive information can be found. Search engines with their limited "keyword" and boolean operator approach can further aggravate an inexperienced web surfer. Thousands of documents and links containing a selected key word are flagged and displayed by the search engine, often resulting in slow information retrieval, too much information, or the wrong information. In fact, savvy web site proprietors have been known to strategically and purposefully interpose popular keywords into their web pages in order to increase their site's visibility and web presence by ensuring that their web sites will be picked up during a search. Thus, many searches lead to information which has no actual or logical connection to the keyword searched. [0010] Because of the difficulties in web searching recited above, it is no wonder that commercial software developers incorporate `booklmarking` and `favorites` tools into their products to assist the user in saving, and later retrieving, useful web sites. Bookmarks or favorites are shortcuts to pages found on the Internet. While surfing, a user can instantly bookmark a site, linking its corresponding URL to a specified location on the user's PC. [0011] A growing number of businesses today are setting up shop online and opting for the convenience that e-commerce and online business-to-business (B2B) activities offer. Traditional communications channels such as telephone, facsimile, mail, and person-to-person are quickly being replaced by e-commerce and the corporate web site. As the number of web sites and online B2B transactions increase, it logically follows that web searching activities will continue to increase as well. As indicated above, searching the web can result in employees having to sift through vast numbers of web sites. Larger companies with geographically scattered offices may be especially affected where redundancies in searches are likely, resulting in wasted time and human resources. Bookmarking a useful web site may be beneficial to one employee who saves this web site link in a personalized file storage location. However, other employees who may have an interest in this web site will have no knowledge of it and thus, will not benefit from it. Employees may forward or email these links back and forth to other employees, but this haphazard approach to sharing information is inefficient, as the data has no central storage location and is not organized in any useful fashion. [0012] A process is therefore required that improves access to useful web sites by allowing users to share the information quickly via a desktop icon or simple keyboard selection. BRIEF SUMMARY [0013] A method and system for identifying, categorizing, and sharing web site links over a communications network via a web key tool includes receiving a request, including a website link, to incorporate information relating to the website into the web key tool. The method also includes associating the information and the link with a category, which includes viewing a list of categories and selecting the category from the list or defining a new category, as well as manually entering a uniform resource locator and description of the information or importing the information during a search from an active web site. The method also includes transmitting the information and link to a central storage location associated with the web key tool and processing the information, which includes approving the information and link for storage or either aborting the process or returning to the category selection option and repeating the selection process if the information is not approved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of the system that includes a plurality of client systems and servers on which the web key tool is implemented; [0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the process of establishing a new web link in the web key web page; and [0017] FIG. 3 is a sample menu screen of the web key tool illustrating the various functions which can be performed utilizing the tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the web key application is implemented through a networked system such as that shown in FIG. 1. Although not necessary to realize the advantages of the present invention, system 100 may be part of a wide area network in which different geographical locations are interconnected, either by high-speed data lines or by radio links, interconnecting hundreds of workstations at widely disparate locations. In the simplified diagram of FIG. 1, system 100 includes an organization 102 comprising a server 104 and data storage device 118 connected through a network 112 to client systems 114. Also included in system 100 is client system 116 which represents a workstation operated by a system administrator for the web key tool. The system administrator or web key administrator controls the content and access to the web key database. The term "organization" refers to the system implementing the web key application of the present invention. Network 112 may comprise a LAN, a WAN, a MAN, or other network configuration known in the art. Further, network connections may include wireless technology, radio-based communications, telephony-based communications, or a combination of the above. For purposes of illustration, network 112 is an Intranet. Access restriction is controlled via firewall 122 which protects organization 102 and its internal devices and applications from unauthorized network access. [0019] Organization 102 is running suitable multi-platform supported server software for creating secure, interactive Internet and Intranet applications, and which allows information in data storage device 118 to be presented to end users or client systems. Organization 102 executes the Web key tool, among other applications via server 104, client systems 114, or a combination of the above. Organization 102 is also running a groupware application such as Lotus Notes.TM. which allows client systems to access information through its replication capabilities, provides e-mail services, and supports a secure Intranet/Extranet architecture. Continue reading about Method and system for managing preferred web site links... Full patent description for Method and system for managing preferred web site links Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for managing preferred web site links patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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