Class of methods for improving perceived efficiency of end-user interactive access of a large database such as the World-Wide Web via a communication network such as "The Internet"

#The instant invention comprises a related class of methods, techniques and system designs for improving at least the perceived, if not the actual, efficiency of and end-user's interactive access of large (perhaps cross-referenced, cross-linked or “hyper-linked”) databases, such as the World Wide Web, via a communications network, such as “The Internet”; and which can also be applied to the computerized access of local databases.

#This document, to some extent, builds on inventive work disclosed by Inventor in earlier patent applications, issued patents, and disclosure documents, as well as during proprietary development. Where that earlier material is relevant it will, generally, be pointed out in the disclosure.

#Generally, the domain of the instant invention is an extant (generally packet-switching) communications network such as “The Internet”. [Alternately, the invention can be adapted, in a straight-forward manner, and applied to a locally accessible database.] Such a network comprises a multiplicity of computers connected via a network over which information is sent: from a first program running on a first computer to a second program running on a second computer; by (if sufficiently large) breaking that information into a multiplicity of packets; and, “wrapping” each packet in addressing information that specifies at least its destination. The specification of how information is parsed, addressed, transmitted, received and reassembled are generally called communication protocols and include, on the internet, TCP/IP, UDP, FTP and HTTP; as well as protocols that permit an end user to dial-up a service provider's computer on the internet including SILP, CSLIP and PPP.

#Referring, now, to FIGS. 1 through 6 (reading from top), a six minute interval during an end user's interaction with the WWW is depicted, in a schematic fashion, under various conditions. These figures are simplifications and exemplary in nature. They are being presented to better explain how several of the inventive elements, introduced above, can be applied to increase the efficiency of end user interaction with the network.

#FIG. 1 (top) shows the standard situation where, in response to an end user action (e.g., specifying the designation for a WWW site home page) the system requests (R, at time zero) a first page (1). About ten seconds elapse before the network begins to deliver page 1, which delivery (D/1) continues for another 50 seconds being complete at 1 minute. The user has waited for a full minute of “thumb-twiddling” and, at that point, takes three minutes to examine (E) the information on that first page (1) and decides to link (by clicking on a highlighted word or icon, denoting hyperlinks to additional pages elsewhere on the network) to a second WWW page (2). In this case this choice of a second page was made from among six possible (a, b, c, d, e or f) secondary pages. The system then requests (R, at time 4 min.) the second selected page (2). About ten seconds elapse before the network begins to deliver page 2, which delivery continues for another 50 seconds being complete at 5 minutes. End user then examines (E) the second page (2).

#FIG. 2 (second from top) shows that, in response to an end user action (e.g., specifying the designation for a WWW site home page) the system requests (R, at time zero) a first page (1). About ten seconds elapse before the network begins to deliver page 1, which delivery (D/1) continues for another 50 seconds being complete at 1 minute. The user has waited for a full minute of “thumb-twiddling” and, at that point, takes three minutes to examine (E) the information on that first page (1). However, during the three minutes that end user is examining page one, the system notes that page one has six potential hyperlinks to pages A, B, C, D, E and F and, in a serial fashion, begins to request those pages from the network. Each request takes one full minute (10 seconds to request (R) and 50 seconds to deliver(D)) and by the time end user has made a decision, three minutes later, the first three of those pages (A, B & C) have been requested and delivered. Thus, when end user “clicks” on the hyper link to page C, the network's response is apparently instantaneous—a vast (100%) improvement over the situation shown in FIG. 1.

#The enhanced communication protocol technology disclosed herein will, to a great extent, be made useful by an “Intelligent Assistant” program that will anticipate a user's potential needs for information. That assistant will search ahead looking for potential information resources to download. It will then make probability assessments based on the document in question, what is currently being looked at, the stated and “inferred” goals of the current work session, the stated and “inferred” general goals and work style of the user, etc. Next the assistant will initiate parallel requests for multiple information resources and will weight the amount of available bandwidth that should be applied to each request based on the probabilistic assessment made previously.

#In this way the access to the fallow communication link capacity which is made available through the novel (parallel and weighted) communication protocols can be put to optimal use by the intelligent assistant program while the user is otherwise engaged.

#Further, by analyzing its performance, and tracking the user's habits, the intelligent assistant will continually increase its performance and keep from becoming outdated.