Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating and presenting relevant pages to the user at the desktop. A service such as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) receives updates of each web page requested by the user. The ISP provides an Interest Links Program (ILP) that scans the current page for terms contained in a term dictionary, defines interest items when matches are made between terms in the term dictionary and terms in the current page, and scans a content encyclopedia for matches with interest items. When a match is found, the ILP identifies an interest link and sends fast links to the desktop. On the desktop, a program lists and refreshes relevant links to the current page being considered by the user at any given time.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to retrieval and presentation of data from a distributed database such as the Internet. More particularly, it relates to a method of providing users with additional relevant subject matter when viewing web sites by means of links generated by a relevance service.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The distribution of content over the World Wide Web has fundamentally changed the way that people exchange information. Even as the revolution has taken place, companies and organizations have sought new ways to increase the efficiency of their own data transmission. Web pages, particularly those serving as news sources, sometimes list other web pages, which they have previously published on a given subject.  
           [0003]    Additionally, the explosion of business models has led to many new and innovative ways of delivering heightened information to the desktop. U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,059, “Hyperlinked Search Interface for Distributed Database,” discloses real time creation of new hyperlinks in a hyperlinked database based on selected words in a search query. However, opportunities still remain for innovation in the delivery of content through Internet-based services, in a variety of ways. In other ways, additional mechanisms that will speed the delivery and efficiency of information germane to the user&#39;s interest still remain unexplored. Accordingly, new methods which accomplish this goal would be highly desirable.  
           [0004]    Specifically, a need exists in two areas. First, on the server side, a need exists to perform real-time searches across content providers on pages relevant to the page currently loaded for a particular user. Secondly, on the client side, a need exists for a window with continuously updated pages, across content providers, germane to the page currently being viewed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention that meets the needs identified above is an apparatus and method for generating and presenting relevant pages to the user at the desktop. A service such as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) receives updates of each web page requested by the user. The ISP provides an Interest Links Program (ILP) that scans the current page for terms contained in a term dictionary, defines interest items when matches are made between terms in the term dictionary and terms in the current page, and scans a content encyclopedia for matches with interest items. When a match is found, the ILP identifies an interest link and sends fast links to the desktop. On the desktop, a program lists and refreshes relevant links to the current page being considered by the user at any given time. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a distributed data network;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a data processing system;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a data processing system;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 depicts the server memory; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 depicts a flow chart of the Interest Link Program (ILP).  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    As used herein, the term “relevance service” means the entity that provides an Interest Links Program and includes without limitation the Internet Services Provider or any other third party. As used herein, the term “current page” means the last page loaded through the relevance service. As used herein, the term “desktop” shall mean a personal computer or a network computer that is connected to the Internet. As used herein, the term “term dictionary” means the set of words or phrases created and updated by the relevance service for the purpose of matching words or phrases on web pages. As used herein, the term “interest term” means a term from the term dictionary that is present in a given web page. As used herein, the term “content encyclopedia” is the listing of content providers, e.g. cnn.com, msnbc.com, espn.go.com, etc., that will be scanned for matching interest items. As used herein, the term “interest links” are those links from the content encyclopedia containing interest terms. As used herein, “fast link” means a visible link, removed form the clutter of a web page, that contains a direct link to a discovered page containing interest terms. As used herein, the term “contemplation time” is defined as the time spent by the user on a given web page. Contemplation time is the time available for determining and highlighting any interest links from the currently loaded page. Contemplation time is completed, by definition, when the next page is requested by the user.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of a distributed data processing system in which the present invention may be implemented and is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation, for the processes of the present invention. Distributed data processing system  100  is a network of computers which contains a network  102 , which is the medium used to provide communication links between the various devices and computers connected together within distributed data processing system  100 . Network  102  may include permanent connections, such as wire or fiber optic cables, or temporary connections made through telephone connections. In the depicted example, a server  104  is connected to network  102  along with storage unit  106 . In addition, clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  also are connected to a network  102 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers.  
         [0013]    For purposes of this application, a network computer is any computer, coupled to a network, which receives a program or other application from another computer coupled to the network. In the depicted example, server  104  provides Web based applications to clients  108 ,  110 , and  112 . Clients  108 ,  110 , and  112  are clients to server  104 . Distributed data processing system  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. In the depicted example, distributed data processing system  100  is the Internet with network  102  representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. Distributed data processing system  100  may also be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  
         [0014]    Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts a data processing system, which may be implemented as a server, such as server  104  in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention. Data processing system  200  may be a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system including a plurality of processors such as first processor  202  and second processor  204  connected to system bus  206 . Alternatively, a single processor system may be employed. Also connected to system bus  206  is memory controller/cache  208 , which provides an interface to local memory  209 . I/O bus bridge  210  is connected to system bus  206  and provides an interface to I/O bus  212 . Memory controller/cache  208  and I/O bus bridge  210  may be integrated as depicted. Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge  214  connected to I/O bus  212  provides an interface to first PCI local bus  216 . Modem  218  may be connected to first PCI local bus  216 . Typical PCI bus implementations will support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. Communications links to clients  108 ,  110  and  112  in FIG. 1 may be provided through modem  218  and network adapter  220  connected to first PCI local bus  216  through add-in boards. Additional PCI bus bridges such as second PCI bus bridge  222  and third PCI bus bridge  224  provide interfaces for additional PCI local buses such as second PCI local bus  226  and third PCI local bus  228 , from which additional modems or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system  200  allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter  230  and hard disk  232  may also be connected to I/O bus  212  as depicted, either directly or indirectly. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, such as an optical disk drive and the like also may be used in addition or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, an IBM RISC/System 6000 system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.  
         [0015]    With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrates a data processing system in which the invention may be implemented. Data processing system  300  is an example of either a stand-alone computer, if not connected to distributed data processing system  100 , or a client computer, if connected to distributed data processing system  100 . Data processing system  300  employs a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture. Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architectures such as Micro Channel and ISA may be used. Processor  302  and main memory  304  are connected to PCI local bus  306  through PCI bridge  303 . PCI bridge  303  also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory for Processor  302 . Additional connections to PCI local bus  306  may be made through direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  310 , SCSI host bus adapter  312 , and expansion bus interface  314  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by direct component connection. In contrast, audio adapter  316 , graphics adapter  318 , and audio/video adapter (A/V)  319  are connected to PCI local bus  306  by add-in boards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface  314  provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter  320 , modem  322 , and additional memory  324 . SCSI host bus adapter  312  provides a connection for hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM  330  in the depicted example. Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors. An operating system runs on processor  302  and is used to coordinate and provide control of various components within data processing system  300  in FIG. 3. The operating system may be a commercially available operating system such as OS/2, which is available from International Business Machines Corporation. “OS/2” is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. An object oriented programming system, such as Java, may run in conjunction with the operating system and provides calls to the operating system from Java programs or applications executing on data processing system  300 . “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Incorporated. Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented operating system, and applications or programs may be located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  326 , and they may be loaded into main memory  304  for execution by processor  302 .  
         [0016]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware in FIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (or equivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. Also, the processes of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. For example, data processing system  300 , if configured as a network computer, may not include SCSI host bus adapter  312 , hard disk drive  326 , tape drive  328 , and CD-ROM  330 , as noted by the box with the dotted line in FIG. 3 denoting optional inclusion. In that case, the computer, to be properly called a client computer, must include some type of network communication interface, such as LAN adapter  310 , modem  322 , or the like. As another example, data processing system  300  may be a stand-alone system configured to be bootable without relying on some type of network communication interface, whether or not data processing system  300  comprises some type of network communication interface. As a further example, data processing system  300  may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device which is configured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or student-generated data. The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in a form of a computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, such a floppy disc, a hard disk drive, a RAM, and CD-ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications links.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 depicts a representation of a server memory containing Interest Links Program (ILP)  420 , server available memory  450 , term dictionary  430  and content encyclopedia  440 . FIG. 4B depicts a representation of desktop memory  460  containing desktop available memory  480  and a Link Display Program (LDP)  470 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of Interest Links Program (ILP)  500 . ILP  500  begins ( 502 ). A user accesses a current page ( 510 ) through the relevance service providing ILP  500 . ILP  500  scans the current page to find out what words or expressions from the term dictionary are present within the current page ( 520 ). Areas to be scanned in the current page include without limitation the header bar, metatags, text/page content, and hyperlinks. From this scan activity, interest items are defined by matches made between terms from the term dictionary and terms in the current page and a list of interest items is derived ( 530 ). Next, ILP  500  scans the content encyclopedia to determine if the words or expressions in the interest item list are contained in a page from the content encyclopedia ( 540 ). If an interest item is found in the content encyclopedia, then an interest link is created ( 550 ). Next, fast links are created to the interest links ( 550 ) and displayed at the desktop ( 560 ). As fast links are discovered, they are sent to the desktop for receipt either by a browser extension or a receiving application on the user machine such as LDP  470  (See FIG. 4). A determination is made as to whether or not the entire content encyclopedia has been scanned ( 570 ). If the entire content encyclopedia has been scanned, a message is displayed indicating that the entire content encyclopedia has been scanned ( 590 ) and ILP  500  ends ( 598 ). If the entire content encyclopedia has not been scanned, a determination is made as to whether contemplation time has been completed ( 580 ). If contemplation time has not been completed, ILP  500  goes to step  540 . If the contemplation time has been completed, ILP  500  goes to step  520 .  
         [0019]    At the desktop, LDP  470  creates a persistent window with fast links created by ILP  500  displayed as available. When a user loads a current page, the persistent window accompanying the current page would either be blank, or have a display message such as “search underway.” As fast links are determined by ILP  500 , the persistent window displays the fast links, as they are presented to the desktop. The persistent window may see fast links populated for the duration of the contemplation time, or until the server exhausts the content encyclopedia. Alternatively, fast links may be displayed by a pull-down bar.  
         [0020]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.