Method and apparatus for automatically searching hypertext structure

A computer-readable storage medium on which is embodied a program for executing a function in a web browser, by causing a computer to go through the steps of:

• accessing a URL and initiating a recording process for said URL;
• assigning a unique identifier to each window, which is established by the web browser to display a respective HTML page, during the recording process,
• for each of the windows established during the recording process, generating a data structure representing a hierarchy of nodes in the respective HTML page, the data structure being used for determining a relative address of a particular node within the respective HTML page;
• and
• when an event occurs during the recording process with respect to an HTML node displayed in any of said windows, generating a record of the event identifying:
• a corresponding event type,
• the relative address of the HTML node where said event occurred, and
• the unique identifier of the window displaying said HTML node where the event occurred;
• wherein:
• the event records generated during the recording process are stored in a reproduction log in the sequence in which said events occurred,
• the reproduction log is stored in connection with said URL, such that the reproduction log is accessible using the URL as a key, and
• when the URL is reloaded by a web browser, said events occurring during said recording process are reproducible by correlating said unique identifiers and said relative addresses in the event records in the reproduction log to the windows and HTML nodes displayed for said reloaded URL.

An apparatus for use with a web browser, said apparatus comprising:

• a device for accessing a URL and initiating a recording process for said URL;
• a device for assigning a unique identifier to each window, which is established by the web browser to display a respective HTML page, during the recording process,
• a device for generating, for each of the windows established during the recording process, a data structure representing a hierarchy of nodes in the respective HTML page, the data structure being used for determining a relative address of a particular node within the respective HTML page;
• and
• an event recording device configured such that, when an event occurs during the recording process with respect to an HTML node displayed in any of said windows, the event recording device generates a record of the event identifying:
• a corresponding event type,
• the relative address of the HTML node where said event occurred, and
• the unique identifier of the window displaying said HTML node where the event occurred;
• wherein:
• the event records generated during the recording process are stored in a reproduction log in the sequence in which said events occurred,
• the reproduction log is stored in connection with said URL, such that the reproduction log is accessible using the URL as a key, and
• when the URL is reloaded by a web browser, said events occurring during said recording process are reproducible by correlating said unique identifiers and said relative addresses in the event records in the reproduction log to the windows and HTML nodes displayed for said reloaded URL.