Method and apparatus for efficient data browsing
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorJon Michel Greenwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing improved efficiency in data browsing is disclosed. Automatic continuation of a data browsing session is enabled, while a download of a requested data file, that has been temporarily delayed, is handled separately in a background process. This separate background process generates additional requests for the requested data file as needed, thereby overcoming delays caused by transient network traffic and also enabling automatic downloading of data files that are undeliverable when first requested. When the download of the requested data file is successfully completed, a notification is provided and the requested data file is made observable.
Claims21
In a computer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, a user interface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlled data browsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable of browsing hyperlinked data, a method for data browsing comprising the steps of:
- monitoring data requests generated via the user interface and transmitted via the computer-network interface, said monitoring step performed such that, when a download of a data file, requested by a file request being one of the data requests, is temporarily delayed, the data file is identified as currently unavailable;
- backgrounding the download of the data file identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, said backgrounding step occurring automatically upon the data file being identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, and whereby said backgrounding step enables immediate continued browsing of data already made observable by the data requests;
- and
- making the data file available to the user via the user interface once the download of the data file is completed.
A computer program product for use in a computer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, a user interface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlled data browsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable of browsing hyperlinked data, said computer program product comprising:
- instructions for monitoring data requests generated via the user interface and transmitted via the computer-network interface, said instructions for monitoring including instructions for identifying when a data file, requested by a file request being one of the data requests, is not currently available, thereby delaying a download of the data file;
- instructions for automatically backgrounding the download of the data file identified as currently unavailable by said monitoring instructions, said backgrounding instructions enabling immediate continued viewing of data already made observable by the data requests;
- and
- instructions for making the data file available to the user via the user interface when the data file has successfully downloaded.
A computer controlled data browsing apparatus for use by a user, said computer controlled data browsing apparatus comprising:
- a network interface;
- a central processing unit coupled with said network interface;
- a storage for data coupled with said central processing unit;
- a display coupled with said central processing unit and configured to present hyperlinked data via a user interface comprising at least one window;
- and
- a data request observer designed to monitor data requests generated by the user via the user interface, and designed to automatically background a download of a data file requested by at least one of the data requests when said data request observer identifies the data file as currently, but temporarily, unavailable, whereby data already made observable to the user continues to be observable while the download is processed separately by said central processing unit.
In a computer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, a user interface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlled data browsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable of browsing hyperlinked data, a method for data browsing comprising the steps of:
- monitoring data requests generated via the user interface and transmitted via the computer-network interface, said monitoring step performed such that, when a download of a data file, requested by a file request being one of the data requests, is temporarily delayed from downloading from a location identified in the file request, the data file is identified as currently unavailable from the location identified in the file request;
- backgrounding the download of the data file identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, said backgrounding step occurring automatically upon the data file being identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, and whereby said backgrounding step enables immediate continued browsing of data already made observable by the data requests;
- and
- making the data file available to the user via the user interface once the download of file is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.