Pre-loading of web pages corresponding to designated links in HTML
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMichael John Allen, Michael Sloan Bomar, William Francis Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A web browser loads and displays a web page and reads the html of the web page to identify an entry for a link which is marked for pre-loading. Then, the web browser automatically pre-loads into memory another html and associated graphics files corresponding to this link. This automatic pre-loading occurs without the link being selected by a user of the web browser. If the user subsequently selects the link, then the corresponding html and associated graphics files will be available from local memory so there is little delay in fetching the html and associated graphics files.
Claims20
A client web browser comprising:
- means for reading an html to identify an entry for a link which is marked for pre-loading;
- and
- means, responsive to identification of said link marked for pre-loading, for automatically loading another html and associated graphics, if any graphics, corresponding to said link into a memory device local to said client web browser, said automatic loading occurring without said link being selected by a user of said client web browser.
A client web browser comprising:
- means for reading a web page descriptor file to identify an entry for a link which is marked for pre-loading;
- and
- means, responsive to identification of said link marked for pre-loading, for automatically loading another web page descriptor file and associated graphics, if any graphics, corresponding to said link into a memory device local to said client web browser, said automatic loading occurring without said link being selected by a user of said client web browser.
A method for operating a client computer coupled to a world wide web (WWW), said method comprising the steps of:
- reading an html to identify an entry for a link which is marked for pre-loading;
- and
- in response to identification of said link marked for pre-loading, automatically loading another html and associated graphics, if any graphics, corresponding to said link from a remote memory device on said WWW into a memory device local to said client computer, said automatic loading occurring without said link being selected by a user of said client computer.
A computer program product for operating a client computer coupled to a world wide web (WWW), said program product comprising:
- a computer readable medium;
- first program instruction means for instructing a processor to read an html to identify an entry for a link which is marked for pre-loading;
- and
- second program instruction means for instructing a processor to respond to identification of said link marked for pre-loading, by automatically loading another html and associated graphics, if any graphics, corresponding to said link from a remote memory device on said WWW into a memory device local to said client computer, said automatic loading occurring without said link being selected by a user of said client computer;
- and wherein
- said first and second program instruction means are recorded on said medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.