Abstract:
Provided is a method and a system of browsing using a browser cache involving interacting with a browser and performing a cache associated action performed by a user using a mobile device. The method involves mapping an action performed by the user to a browser event and passing the browser event to the browser for processing and to perform the respective action. The method also involves a receiving user action as a browser event or a browser key event by the browser and processing the events; and displaying the browser cache page to the user by the mobile device.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to applications entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM OF BROWSING USING SMART BROWSER CACHE? filed in the Indian Intellectual Property Office on May 30, 2006 and the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 25, 2007, and assigned India Serial No. 924/CHE/2006 and Korea Serial No. 2007-50738, respectively, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention in general relates to a browser cache concept, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for smart browser caching. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The browser cache concept describes how a user accesses a browser cache page. For the browser cache page to be accessed by the user there is a need of a human interface between the user and a mobile device. The browser cache page concept includes following components—a user, an action, a browser, and mobile devices. A browser cache concept&#39;s mandatory requirement is the physical proximity between the user, the action, the browser, and the mobile devices. The browser cache concept includes storage of browser cache content in a folder and allowing the content in the folder to be used for a future access. The browser cache concept content includes graphic images, for example, buttons, banners, icons, advertisements, graphs, color bars, photographs, entire web pages, etc. The
       a) Check the cache folder for requested content, and if the requested content is already present, the mobile device will not download the requested content again.   b) Check the cache folder for requested content, and if the requested content is not already present, the mobile device will download the requested content again.
 
The browser cache concept loads content faster. The browser cache concept also allows the user to perform operations such as forward (Get a next cache page) and backward (Get a previous cache page) on the stored cache content in the folder. The concept is based on a human interface wherein the user interacts with the browser and gets access to a cache page.
       
 
         [0008]    A concept of how the browser cache concept works to allow a user to access a browser cache page will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1A through 1E . 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  represents steps to allow a user to perform actions to launch browser and home page displayed. User  10  uses a mobile device  13  and performs an action  11  (Press a launch browser soft key or press a launch browser hard key, which in-turn is mapped to a browser event and passed to a browser  12 ) on the mobile device  13  to launch the browser  12 , in step  100 . The action  11 , performed by the user  10 , is mapped to the browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform a respective action, in step  105 . The browser  12  receives the user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and processes those events and displays a home page, in step  110 . The mobile device  13  makes communication possible between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  (Home page displayed) on the mobile device  13 . 
         [0010]      FIG. 1B  represents steps to allow the user  10  to perform actions such as click mail and Yahoo!® (hereinafter “Yahoo!”) Mail page displayed. The user  10  uses the mobile device  13  and performs action  11  (Press a select browser soft key or press a select browser hard key, which in-turn is mapped to a browser key event and passed to the browser  12 ) on the mobile device  13  to click mail, in step  115 . Action  11  performed by the user  10  is mapped to a browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform a respective action, in step  120 . Browser  12  receives the user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and processes those events and Yahoo! Mail page displayed, in step  125 . The mobile device  13  makes communication possible between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  (Yahoo! Mail page displayed) on mobile device  13 . 
         [0011]      FIG. 1C  represents steps to allow a user  10  to perform actions such as sign in to Yahoo! and inbox page displayed. The user  10  uses a mobile device  13  and performs action  11  (Press a browser soft key or press a browser hard key, which in-turn maps to a browser key event and passes to a browser) on the mobile device  13  to sign in to Yahoo!, in step  130 . Action  11  performed by the user  10  is mapped to browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective actions, in step  135 . The browser  12  receives the user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and process those events and inbox page displayed, in step  140 . The mobile device  13  makes communication possible between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  (Inbox page displayed) on the mobile device  13 . 
         [0012]      FIG. 1D  represents steps to allow a user to perform action press back key and the previous cache page is displayed (Yahoo! Mail page displayed as per above example). The user  10  uses a mobile device  13  and performs action  11  on the mobile device  13  to press back key (pressing browser previous soft key, or pressing browser previous hard key, which is in-turn mapped to a browser key event and passed to the browser), in step  145 . Action  11  performed by the user  10  is mapped to a browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective action, in step  150 . The browser  12  receives user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and processes those events, and a previous cache page is displayed Yahoo! Mail page displayed as per above example), in step  155 . The mobile device  13  makes communication possible between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user (Previous cache page is displayed (Yahoo! Mail page displayed as per our example)) on the mobile device  13 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 1E  represents steps to allow a user  10  to perform actions press forward key and next cache page is displayed (where inbox page displayed as per above example). User  10  uses the mobile device  13  and performs action  11  (Press browser next soft key or press browser next hard key which in-turn is mapped to a browser key event and passed to the browser) on the mobile device  10  to press forward key, in step  160 . Action  11 , performed by the user  10 , is mapped to a browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform a respective action, in step  165 . Browser  12  receives user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and processes those events, and a next cache page is displayed (where the inbox page displayed as per above example), in step  170 . The mobile device  13  makes communication possible between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  (Next cache page is displayed (where the inbox page displayed as per our example)) on the mobile device  13 . 
         [0014]    Operation of the related art about how a browser cache concept works will now be explained as follows: 
         [0015]    a) User
       A user uses a mobile device and interacts with a browser and performs actions such as launch browser, click mail, sign in to Yahoo!, press back key, press forward key, etc.       
 
         [0017]    b) Action
       Actions performed by the user are mapped to a browser event or a browser key event and are passed to the browser for processing and to perform respective actions launch browser, click mail, and etc.       
 
         [0019]    c) Browser
       The browser receives user actions as browser events or browser key events and process those events, and based on the browser event home page displayed, Yahoo! Mail page displayed, inbox page is displayed, previous cache page is displayed, next cache page is displayed, etc . . . .       
 
         [0021]    d) Mobile Device
       The mobile device makes communication possible between the user, actions, and the browser. Web content is displayed to the user, such as home page displayed, Yahoo! Mail page displayed, inbox page is displayed, previous cache page is displayed, next cache page is displayed etc on the mobile device.       
 
         [0023]    However, current browser cache page displays are based on some search criteria not supported. For example, a user cannot display selected cache pages based on some search criteria from a set of cache pages. 
         [0024]    Current browser cache page forward traversal and back traversal methods are inefficient, as they require sequential traversal. For example, a user has ten cache pages, and currently on a cache page one, and wants to see web content of a cache page ten. In this case, the user presses a forward key ten times to see web content on the cache page ten. The user has ten cache pages, currently is on cache page ten, wants to see web content on cache page one, so in this case, the user presses a back key ten times to see content on cache page one. 
         [0025]    Current browser cache page display traversal methods do not have a preview concept wherein all cache pages are displayed as thumbnails to the user, wherein the user can simply load specific cache pages directly, instead of loading all cache pages until the user reaches a specific cache page. Current browser cache page display traversal methods do not provide index based cache page display, for example, when a user wants to display a fourth cache page from a set of ten cache pages. 
         [0026]    Current browser cache page display traversal methods do not provide a range base cache page display, for example, when a user wants to display the fourth to seventh cache pages from a set of ten cache pages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    As stated above, there is a limit in effectively retrieving and displaying a desired cache page among various cache pages previously displayed. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a system and method for browsing to effectively display cache pages using a smart browser cache concept. 
         [0029]    The present invention provides a system and method for browsing to search for cache pages wanted by a user, by using a smart browser cache concept framework and a third party vendor browser to support the smart browser cache concept. 
         [0030]    The present invention is directed to a method of browsing using a browser cache, which includes of interacting with the browser and performing a cache associated action using a mobile device performed by a user, and mapping the action performed by user to a browser event and passing the action to the browser, performing a respective action for processing receiving the user action as a browser event or a browser key event by the browser and processing the events and displaying a browser cache page to the user by the mobile device. 
         [0031]    A system for browsing using a browser cache according to the present invention includes a means for interacting with a browser and performing an associated cache; an action performed by a user using a mobile device; a means for mapping the action performed by the user to a browser event and passing the action to the browser for processing and to perform a respective action; a means for receiving the user action as a browser event or a browser key event by the browser and processing the events; and a means for displaying browser cache page to user by the mobile device. 
         [0032]    A method of browsing using a browser cache according to the present invention includes the steps of interacting with a browser and performing a cache associated action using a mobile device by a user; mapping the action performed by the user to a browser event and passing the action to the browser for performing a respective action for processing; displaying web content using a smart browser cache concept framework when the browser receives the user action as a browser event or a browser key event; writing the web content to a cache display buffer and converting the written data into a cache thumbnail image; and displaying, by the mobile device, at least one cache thumbnail image, to the user. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0034]      FIGS. 1A to 1E  illustrate the browser cache concept according to prior art; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a remote mobile device access and control method according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating another remote mobile device access and control method according to the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 4 to 6  are flowcharts illustrating a smart browser cache concept according to the present invention; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7D  illustrate a smart browser cache concept according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. 
         [0040]    A smart browser cache concept according to the present invention removes limitations in present browser cache concepts. The smart browser cache concept according to the current invention consists of a user, an action, a browser and a mobile device. The browser consists of a third party vendor browser and a smart browser cache concept framework. A smart browser cache concept framework allows a browser cache page to be displayed based on a sequential traversal, allows the browser cache page to be displayed based on a search criteria, allows the browser cache page to be displayed based on a random traversal, allows the browser cache page to be displayed based on a preview concept, allows the browser cache page to be displayed based on an index concept, and allows the browser cache page to be displayed based on a range-based concept, etc. The smart browser cache concept is shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  represents a remote mobile device access and control method. The user interacts with his mobile device by means of a keypad interaction, a speech interaction, in step  200 . The user interaction with the mobile device allows interaction with mobile device applications such as a browser, a telephone call, application, etc. The user performs different actions on the mobile device, such as start browser, display previous page, display next page, end browser, call, in step  205 . Actions performed by the user are mapped to events by an event mapping layer, in step  210 . In step  220 , after determining browser event types, browser event types are passed to the browser as browser events, in step  230 , or other key events, in step  250 , to perform respective actions such as display home page, forward key event to display next cache page, back key event to display previous cache page, in step  240 , etc. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  represents another remote mobile device access and control method, following step  250 . Based on the browser event types, a browser display, web content, etc., in step  300 , if the browser is requested to display web content, the browser checks in a browser cache repository for the web content, in step  305 , and based on a search result, the browser either loads the content from a local browser repository like a saved web content folder, in step  310 , or remote downloads the content from a server, in step  315 , based on browser cache settings, such as web content saved as a file in the local browser repository such as in a web content saved as file or web content not saved as a file the in local browser repository. 
         [0043]    Following  FIG. 3 ,  FIGS. 4 to 6  represents a browsing procedure using the browser cache, in accordance with the present invention. First, in step  400 , a web content mode is confirmed in order to display the web content. The smart browser cache concept will support two display modes, i.e., a default display mode (a Current browser content display mode) and a thumbnail display mode (a Smart browser cache concept content display mode). The default display mode of the browser writes the display content to a display buffer, in step  405 , the display buffer is refreshed, and the web content is displayed to user, in step  410 . During the thumbnail display mode of the browser, in step  415 , the web content is displayed under a smart browser cache concept framework. The thumbnail display mode of browser allows communication between the third party browser and the smart browser cache concept framework. The smart browser cache concept framework allows display of web content in different display modes (an Auto display mode of the web content and a manual display mode of the web content), a browser cache content access mode (With running the browser and without running the browser), a browser history content access mode (With running the browser and without running the browser), a browser content display based on search criteria (a Sequential traversal, a random traversal, a search criteria, a preview criteria, a preview concept, index-based, range-based, etc.). 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the smart browser cache concept will write display content to the cache display buffer, in step  500 , and convert cache display buffer data to cache thumbnail images, in step  505 . Then display cache thumbnail images corresponding to presses of a back key or a forward key. The cache thumbnail images are displayed based on search criteria, such as index-based, range-based, etc., in step  510 . The cache thumbnail images allow operations like thumbnail image selected (Thumbnail selected cache page is displayed) and thumbnail image not selected (Current cache page selected), in step  515 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the smart browser cache concept framework will change the display web content mode to the default mode, in step  600 . The smart browser cache concept framework will write to the display buffer, in step  605 , and the web content is displayed to the user on the mobile device, in step  610 . 
         [0046]    The method of the smart browser cache concept working to allow user access to the browser cache page, according to the present invention, will now be explained in reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7D . 
         [0047]      FIG. 7A  represents steps for allowing a user  10  to access a press back key. The user  10  uses a mobile device  13 , interacts with a browser  12 , and performs actions like pressing a back key, in step  700 . An action  11  performed by the user  10  is mapped to a browser event and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective actions, in step  705 . The browser  12  receives the user action  11  as a browser event or a browser key event and process those events. The browser  12 , based on the browser event, enables previous cache pages to be displayed as thumbnails, in step  710 . The mobile device  13  enables communication between the user  10 , the action  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  on the mobile device  13 . On the mobile device  13 , as indicated in a figure mark “A”, thumbnail images of previous page caches can be displayed in order to show a plurality of cache pages simultaneously. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7B  represents steps to allow a user  10  to access to select cache pages displayed as thumbnails and press an “K” key. The user  10  uses a mobile device  13 , interacts with browser  12 , and performs actions like selecting a cache page as a thumbnail to be displayed, in step  715 , and pressing the “OK” key. Actions  11  performed by the user  10  are mapped to browser events and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective actions, in step  720 . The browser  12  receives user actions  11  as browser events or browser key events and processes those events. The browser, based on the browser events, enables selected cache page to be displayed, in step  725 . The mobile device  13  enables communication between the user  10 , actions  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user on the mobile device  13 . A cache page selected as a figure mark “B” is displayed. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7C  represents steps to allow a user  10  to access a press forward key. The user  10  uses a mobile device  13 , interacts with a browser  12 , and performs actions like pressing a forward key, in step  730 . Actions  11  performed by the user  10  are mapped to browser events and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective actions, in step  735 . The browser  12  receives user actions  11  as browser events or browser key events and processes those events. The browser  12 , based on browser events, enables a next cache page to be displayed as a thumbnail, in step  740 . The mobile device  13  enables communication between the user  10 , actions  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  on the mobile device  13 . Such as in a figure mark “C”, thumbnail images are displayed after being able to show a plurality of cache pages simultaneously. 
         [0050]      FIG. 7D  represents steps to allow a user access to select a cache page to be displayed as a thumbnail and press an “OK” key. 
         [0051]    User  10  use mobile device  13  and interact with browser  12  and perform action like selecting cache page as thumbnail to be displayed and pressing “OK” key, in step  745 . Actions  11  performed by the user  10  are mapped to browser events and passed to the browser  12  for processing and to perform respective actions, in step  750 . The browser  12  receives user actions  11  as browser events or browser key events and processes those events. The browser  12 , based on browser events, enables a page cache, which is displayed for selection, in step  755 . The mobile device  13  enables communication between the user  10 , actions  11 , and the browser  12 . Web content is displayed to the user  10  on the mobile device  13 . A cache page selected as a figure mark “D” is displayed. 
         [0052]    The steps involved in the method of the present invention are as follows: 
         [0053]    a) User
       A user uses a mobile device and interacts with a browser and performs actions, such as launch browser, click mail, sign in to Yahoo!, press back key, select cache page as thumbnail displayed and press “OK” key, press forward key, and select cache page as thumbnail displayed and press “OK” key.       
 
         [0055]    b) Action
       Actions performed by the user are mapped to browser events and passed to the browser for processing and to perform respective action browser events (Launch browser) and browser key event (Click mail), etc.       
 
         [0057]    c) Browser
       The browser receives the user actions as browser events or browser key events and processes those events, such as home page displayed, Yahoo! Mail page displayed, inbox page is displayed, previous cache page as thumbnail displayed, select cache page displayed, next cache page as thumbnail displayed, select cache page displayed, etc.       
 
         [0059]    d) Mobile Device
       The mobile device enables communication between the user, the actions, and the browser. Web content is displayed to the user, such as home page displayed, Yahoo! Mail page displayed, inbox page is displayed, previous cache page as thumbnail displayed, select cache page displayed, next cache page as thumbnail displayed, select cache page displayed, etc. on the mobile device.       
 
         [0061]    It will also be clear to those skilled in the art that other control methods and apparatuses can be derived from the combinations of the various methods and apparatuses of the present invention as taught by the description and the accompanying drawings and these shall also be considered within the scope of the present invention. Further, description of such combinations and variations is therefore omitted above. It should also be noted that the host for storing the applications includes but is not limited to a microchip, microprocessor, handheld communication device, computer, rendering device or a multi function device. 
         [0062]    In regard to devices of the present invention, a smart browser cache concept obviates the limitations in present browser cache concept described above. The smart browser cache concept allows for browser cache page displays based on search criteria. The smart browser cache concept allows for browser cache page displays based on preview concepts, index-based, range-based, etc. 
         [0063]    Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are possible and are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.