Abstract:
A novel method of virtual application enabling of a web site at least includes: a) via a end-user device, connecting to a website targeted for application enabling; b) generating end-user device compliant code for rendering of a web page on the end-user device; c) rendering a web page on the end-user device; d) providing locations on a rendered web page designated for virtual website application enabling; e) automatically mapping locations selected in element d) into corresponding locations in the end-user or website source code; f) providing application enabling code to be inserted at the locations identified in element e) or other general website code locations; g) generating and managing a virtual application enabling setup package adapted to store application enabling information generated in elements d), e), and f); and h) virtually (i.e., just in time) generating the application enabled end-user code in accordance with the information and directions contained in the application enabling setup package.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to schemes for modifying and expanding the functionality of websites. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Third party software applications or add-ons have been developed to enhance website functionality and enhance website management. To deploy such third party applications it is necessary to integrate the website with the applications by placing additional lines of code into the website source code. The process of integrating (or linking) third party software applications with a website may be thought of as “application enabling” of the website. 
         [0005]    In today&#39;s online commerce and technology environments, there is a great need for application enabling of websites in a non-programming manner, to enable the reuse of third party developed, specialized components that will increase the capabilities and efficiencies of websites, while at the same time reducing the development cost and time needed for implementation. 
         [0006]    Some examples of third party web applications include website optimization solutions, web analytics, advertisement, and web content management solutions that enable more effective website management. Similarly, there are reusable components that enable shopping cart functionality, news section management, and other website functionalities that may be handled by third party web applications. 
         [0007]    Prior art approaches to application enabling of websites include manual source code changes in conjunction with third party software installation, proxy server based enabling, and automated source code changes as further described below. 
         [0008]    Application enabling by manual source code change involves inserting additional lines of code into website source code, which additional lines initialize the execution of the third party applications. This requires a breadth of technical and programming language knowledge, thereby limiting the distribution and use of third party developed web applications to a relatively small number of organizations that have know-how and operational setup needed to effectively carry out such projects. The main difficulties of this approach stem form website source code being often poorly documented, as well as poorly structured, so that even seasoned website programmers may have difficulty creating modifications. Even where appropriately qualified individuals are involved in the website modification process, the tedious nature of the exercise can lead to errors and mistakes, and is also time-consuming. 
         [0009]    Application enabling by proxy server for the website optimization and visitor tracking is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 20060271671A1, for example. In that reference, the website optimization application is executed through a modification module that changes website content and tracks website visitors&#39; behavior. This method replaces the complexity of the website source code manipulation in the manual approach with another complicated task of creating (“wiring”) the modification module. Further, the method also requires the involvement of skilled technical resources, creating another impediment to mass adoption. 
         [0010]    Another approach for website application enabling is discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,569 filed Mar. 29, 2007 by Buchs, et al., and assigned to Hiconversion, Inc., the assignee of the present letters patent, for “Method and Apparatus for Application Enabling of Websites.” This approach automates the process of source code changes through the use of visual tools that have the ability to acquire end-user input about location on the live web page, and the type of functionality that will be added to that location. It further has the ability to merge that input with the third party installation code that will be inserted into the website source code for application enabling. Also, this approach eliminates technical complexity, and makes it possible for a great number of organizations to take the advantage of third party web applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention is a new method and system that enables web operators to application enable their website without the need to perform website source code manipulation. The key aspect of the present-inventive approach is the ability to completely abstract or virtualize the website application enabling data set with the associated capability to perform “just in time” website application enabling when a web page is requested by an end-user device. This general virtual application enabling approach is very flexible, as it supports simultaneous enabling of multiple applications with the freedom to perform the just in time application enabling action either on the end user side (end-user device) or on the server side (such as web server, proxy server, etc.). 
         [0012]    A method and system are provided for using live website pages in combination with a graphical user interface (GUI) during the application enabling setup process. This enables a non-technical user to define the particular locations on the website where the application enabling will occur, and also to specify the enabling functionality to be performed in accordance with the third party application characteristics and specifications. An application enabling setup package is generated at the end of the setup phase. 
         [0013]    The website application enabling is performed by an enabling module in combination with application specific enabling agents and an enabling setup package file. The enabling agents can execute-either on the end-user side or on the server side (web server, proxy server, etc.). The actual enabling can be performed virtually without changes in the website source code, or alternatively in “real” manner through automatic manipulations of the website source code. 
         [0014]    The innovative method and system leverages visual input information provided by the user, and maps that information to the end user or website source code elements and locations. As result, the present-inventive method and system enable virtual (i.e., just in time) code manipulation in accordance with end-user input and specific application requirements. Once implemented, the present invention provides web operators with the ability to add, change, or remove web applications without the need to disturb the existing website setup or source code. 
         [0015]    The present invention provides a novel method of application enabling of a web page that at least includes: a) via a end-user device, connecting to a website targeted for application enabling; b) generating end-user device compliant code for rendering of a web page on the end-user device; c) rendering a web page on the end-user device; d) providing locations on a rendered web page designated for virtual website application enabling; e) automatically mapping locations selected in element d) into corresponding locations in the end-user or website source code; f) providing application enabling code to be inserted at the locations identified in element e) or other general website code locations; g) generating and managing a virtual application enabling setup package adapted to store application enabling information generated in elements d), e), and f); and h) virtually (i.e., just in time) generating the application enabled end-user code in accordance with the information and directions contained in the application enabling setup package. 
         [0016]    The present invention also provides a system for virtual application enabling of a web page that at least includes: an end-user device, adapted to connect to a website targeted for application enabling, and to render a web page associated with the website; a graphical user interface (GUI), adapted to provide visual location or component selection on a rendered web page; a code mapper, adapted to automatically map locations selected by the GUI into corresponding locations in the end-user code or website source code; a setup agent adapted to generate a virtual application enabling setup package, the virtual application enabling setup package at least including application enabling instructions, programming code, and data; and a just-in-time end-user code generator adapted to generate application enabled end-user code. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0017]    Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description below, with reference to the following drawing figures, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a prior art system for web page delivery and rendering on an end-user device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is schematic diagram of an example of browser-compliant end-user code generated in response to an end-user request to view a selected web page; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a general diagram of the present-inventive virtual web application enabling system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment of the present-inventive virtual web application enabling system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating one possible approach to a third party website application enabling setup process; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating one possible process for the virtual application enabling of a website; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a more specific flowchart of a method adapted to carry out the present-inventive website virtual application enabling process; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a general system capable of implementing the present-inventive website virtual application enabling process. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates the general architecture of a system  100  capable of delivering web pages through interaction with an end-user web browser. The website and the associated web pages are formed by executing website source code represented by the number  110 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A web server  120  runs the website code  110  using one or more operating systems, which may include such popular operating systems as Linux®, Unix®, Windows®, Vista®, and others. 
         [0027]    The system includes additional servers necessary for carrying out the website functions, including for example, a database server  140 , an application server  144 , a file server  150 , and other resources and applications symbolically represented by the number  148 . Each one of the servers can use a different operating system. In accordance with World Wide Web protocols, one or more end-user computers or devices  160  are used to access the website via an Internet connection  164 . A web browser which may be installed on the device  160  allows web pages to be viewed by a user upon being rendered by the browser. 
         [0028]    A process of web page rendering for viewing in the end-user web browser is further described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The website server  220  transforms the website source code  110  into a corresponding end-user code  270  which complies with web browser requirements. The source code  110  may comprise several components programmed in different programming languages. Such programming languages include, but are not limited to, JAVA, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JSP, ASP, PHP, PYTHON, and many others. These components provide the desired website functionality through the use of the system described in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    After the transformation by the web server, end user code that complies with World Wide Web conventions might have some components that are exactly the same, while other components may look significantly different than the website source code. For example, the components  2  and  4  ( 214  and  218 ) of the source code which are written in HTML, remain in HTML in the end-user code as the corresponding components  2  and  4  ( 274  and  278 ). However, the browser in the example is incapable of executing code written in PYTHON, which is why the web server will process PYTHON code and transform a component  3  ( 216 ) of the source code to, for example, browser readable content in the end-user code (new component  3 , numbered  276 ). Similarly, the component  5  ( 219 ) written in Server JAVA language is also converted to browser readable HTML content (new component  5 , numbered  279 ). 
         [0030]    The web server can successfully perform transformation of the source code for the purpose of rendering of a web page in the end-user web browser described in  FIG. 2  only in concert with the entire system described in the  FIG. 2 . If any system component is missing, the web page might not render correctly, if at all. Therefore, for any visual application enabling method to work, the access to a correctly rendered web page is essential. The system described in the  FIG. 1  can be replicated on a case by case basis, but this is not practical or economical in any mass web application enabling scenario. 
         [0031]    Any change to the website source code requires republishing of the code on the web server. Since multiple individuals may be involved in the process, and assuming that a particular application such as web analytics requires frequent changes, a complicated operational situation can arise with considerable delays and lost time. 
         [0032]    In accordance with the present-inventive system  300  as illustrated by  FIG. 3 , one or more end-user computers or devices  310  are used to modify the functionality of a website via an Internet connection  311 . 
         [0033]    The present-inventive website application enabling method and system can be carried out via an application enabling solution directly installed on a customer website end-user server  340 , or alternatively, the method and system can be carried out using an application service provider (ASP) approach. The application enabling solution may even be provisioned to use the end-user device in the implementation process. 
         [0034]    The important feature of the present invention is the ability of end-users to perform application enabling setup steps through a visual graphical user interface (GUI) that renders a current live web page which has been delivered via a customer&#39;s website infrastructure  320 . A setup enabling module  360 , which is shown as part of an enabling website  350  in the example, activates a visual editing GUI on the end-user web browser  310 . The GUI allows the end-user to navigate the web page rendered on the end-user computer, and further allows the end-user to perform web application enabling and selections in a “what you see is what you get” fashion, without direct access or knowledge of the programming source code or requirements of a specific application being enabled on the website. In addition the GUI enables the end-user to perform application enabling of specific configuration and provisioning actions. For website optimization applications, as an example, the same GUI interface can be used to create or edit new section variations that will participate in the optimization experiment. 
         [0035]    The present invention also includes a setup agent  361 , which is a computer application containing application-specific setup requirements and information, such as the installation options, and scripts needed for insertion into the website source code (symbolically numbered  330 ) to enable that specific application on the website, etc. 
         [0036]    The selections and actions made by the end-user are automatically recorded and saved in a setup package module  362 , which encapsulates all application enabling settings, and in essence creates a virtual abstraction of the enabling requirements. For example, the end-user can perform application enabling of a web page by highlighting (tagging) in some fashion, the portion of the rendered web page where application enabling will be physically applied. A “mouse” or other pointing device can be used for highlighting, and other highlighting approaches can also be used, such as “pop-up” displays. The term “visual tagging” is used here to denote that the web page locations of interest are “tagged” and made visible to the user and the corresponding locations of the end user code are automatically recorded. 
         [0037]    Another critical feature of the invention is virtual (i.e., just in time) application enabling performed by an enabling module  363 . The enabling module  363  utilizes the functions of one or more enabling agents  364  and a setup package  362  which is performed through an enabling module  363 , which enabling module uses one or more enabling agents  364  and a setup package  362 . The specific details of the virtual enabling process will be further described infra, with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0038]    The enabling agents can be application specific, or a combination that supports enabling of multiple web applications. For example, one can imagine a Google™ AdWords® enabling agent that simultaneously supports enabling of both Website Analytics and Website Optimizer applications. The actual enabling can be executed on either the client side or the server (e.g., enabling web server  365 ) side. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  further describes possible virtual application enabling implementation embodiments. The virtual website application enabling can be performed on the end-user device  410 , a website server  420 , or on the proxy server  430 . The actual application enabling is performed from the enabling website  440  via a communication link  450 . As previously mentioned, there are many possible implementation combinations that might place different enabling elements within the end-user website infrastructure or service provider infrastructure. The communication link is represented by a dotted line in the figure to illustrate the temporary nature of the application enabling procedure. 
         [0040]    If application enabling is performed via the end-user device  410 , then during the preparation for rendering of the end user code  412 , a call to the enabling module  442  is made. Based on the unique web page identification and associated enabling setup package  446  (in case of multiple applications it will be multiple packages) the enabling module activates one or more of the enabling agents  444  that will in turn execute virtual web application enabling. 
         [0041]    Similarly, if the application enabling is performed on the web server side, the web server will, during the website source code processing, make a call to the enabling module that initializes virtual application enabling. In both cases (i.e., end-user device or server side enabling) the link or call to the application enabling module is made possible via a program placed into website source code during the one time setup procedure. It is critical to note that this one time setup provides a generic, non-application specific website application enabling capability. This one time intervention will enable all future virtual application enabling by many different applications performed in many different locations of a website. 
         [0042]    Website application enabling on the proxy server  430  eliminates a need for the initial setup and additional program lines into the website source code. Instead, the proxy module  432  activates the enabling module, and based on the web page identity, activates the appropriate application enabling processes. 
         [0043]    The setup process  500  of the present-inventive website virtual application enabling method is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In the example given, the application enabling setup process is used to create setup information necessary to enable a website optimization solution. Recall that this method is not limited to website optimization solutions, but is also applicable to many other website applications. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the website application enabling process  500  begins with Step  502 , followed by the project setup (Step  504 ). In the latter step, the end-user defines the identity, scope, and participants in the web application enabling project. For example, in a website analytics case, the end-user can name the website optimization experiment, define the pages, sections, variations, and goals associated with the experiment, and define contributors to this project, such as the designer, manager, etc. This step also generically includes security and authorization to ensure that website optimization is performed only by those who have been granted system access. 
         [0045]    The setup module is initialized and the setup agent is acquired in Step  506 . The setup module is generic and applicable to every setup project, but the agents are application specific. Each agent contains the application specific setup information, requirements, and application enabling code that will be used in the visual setup step ( 508 ). For example, in the case of the setup agent that supports Google&#39;s Website Optimizer, the agent requires the end user to define sections, enter variations, and define conversion goals. 
         [0046]    Beginning with Step  508 , the visual setup steps of the application enabling process are performed, as more fully illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0047]    Turning to  FIG. 6 , the first step in the visual setup process after the start ( 602 ) is to prepare the end-user code (Step  604 ). In this step the program launches an end-user device browser session with the rendered web page in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) application. 
         [0048]    Visual interaction between the end-user and the rendered web page is performed in Step  606  via the GUI. The use of the GUI facilitates the user&#39;s visual identification of the areas or aspects of the web page that will participate in the web application enabling, together with application enabling functionality that will be placed in that area of the rendered web page. 
         [0049]    The mapping step ( 608 ) acquires end-user visual GUI input and automatically identifies corresponding locations or areas of the end-user code that are selected for participation in the application enabling. If necessary, the mapping process will expand into identifying locations and areas in the website source code that are selected to participate in the application enabling. The mapping between end-user code and website source code, as described in  FIG. 2 , is a non-trivial exercise which can be accomplished via specialized algorithms that are not part of the description of this Letters Patent. Also, the mapping results can be further processed by the GUI interface to identify areas of the web page that can be application enabled or areas of the web page that might have some application enabling issues, or not capable of being enabled. 
         [0050]    In Step  610  the web page location information along with associated application enabling code and functions are packaged into a setup package designed to support the virtual enabling process. The setup package that supports the virtual application enabling process may be in the form of an accessible and modifiable stored file. 
         [0051]    After the last step ( 612 ) of visual set up, the virtual application enabling process returns to the steps illustrated in  FIG. 5 , beginning with Step  510 . Step  512  activates a setup package. If this is the first time that a virtualized application enabling process is used there might be a need for insertion of additional program code into website source code as described in connection with  FIG. 4 . Step  514  performs on-going maintenance of the setup package in accordance with requirements dictated by the web application provider. Programs and third party applications that are no longer relevant or needed are uninstalled in Step  516 . The process ends at Step  518 . 
         [0052]    The algorithm  700  in  FIG. 7  summarizes the virtual application enabling process. After the beginning (Step  702 ) of the virtual application enabling process, the enabling module is started in Step  704 . The enabling module assigns enabling agents and setup packages to a uniquely identified web page. Step  706  loads the enabling agents and setup package to a component that will actually execute the enabling action, as it was further described in connection with  FIG. 4 . In step  708  the enabling agent(s) perform virtual application enabling functionality and dynamically alter the end-user code. This modified code will be made available to the end-user device in the step  710 . The virtual enabling process ends in step  712 . 
         [0053]    One embodiment  800  of a system capable of implementing the present-inventive website application enabling process is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The system components may be in modular software form, with the exception of components such as an Internet connection labeled  810 . These components may also be primarily included as part of a toolkit installed on the end-user computer or the end-user web server system. Alternatively, the primary components of the present-inventive website application enabling process can reside on third party owned computing infrastructure designed to provide on-demand web application enabling services through remote access for authorized end-users. 
         [0054]    An end-user device  820  renders a web page based upon the information received from the website targeted by the web application enabling solution via the connection  810 . A graphical user interface (GUI)  830  enables visual application enabling setup and maintenance. A setup agent  840  provides application specific setup actions and is designed to generate a setup package  844 . The setup package is managed through its lifecycle via a setup package manager  846 . 
         [0055]    The application enabling is managed through an enabling module  850 , which uses application specific enabling agents  852  and a setup package to virtually application enable a website. As result of the application enabling, a just-in-time code generator  860  generates a real-time version of the application enabled end-user code. Code generation is carried out via a code mapper  862 . 
         [0056]    A website source provider  870  is optionally employed if a user desires to make permanent application enabling changes in the website source code. This module enables import and code processing capabilities. Additionally, a new code publisher  872  and code remover  874  are used to perform automated publishing of the new source code, or removal of the application enabling code from the source code. 
         [0057]    Variations and modifications of the present invention are possible, given the above description. However, all variations and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are considered to be within the scope of the protection granted by this Letters Patent.