Personalized multi-service computer environment

Abstract

A system and method for tracking a user history, for presentation thereof within a browser display. An executable software construct operates at a client machine to trap object references, which are then transmitted to a server. The server analyzes the object references and organizes them into a display structure. The display structure is then displayed within the browser, including hyperlinks to allow the user to select a prior system state to which he seeks to return. Preferably, the software construct also manages objects associated with the object reference, for example cookies associated with URLs, in order to assure full definition of the desired state. The display structure may also be provided to browsers distinct from the originating browser.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 (a) automatically logging a series of hyperlink-interaction related communications to define a user interface state of a browser;    (b) automatically defining, from the series of hyperlink-interaction related communications, a path dependent endpoint, the path dependent endpoint being inaccessible through communication of a single universal resource locator;    (c) representing the path dependent endpoint as a user interface element in a browser;    (d) selecting, through the browser, the user interface element representing the path dependent endpoint, wherein said selecting automatically triggers a sequence of communications, based at least in part on the automatically logged series of communications, to retrieve the path dependent endpoint.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising representing a plurality of path dependent endpoints as user interface elements in a browser, a selection of a respective user interface element through the browser automatically triggering a sequence of communications based on the automatically logged series of communications for the respective path dependent endpoint, to retrieve the path dependent endpoint associated with the selected user interface element.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selection of the user interface element triggers execution of a script.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of hyperlink-interaction related communications is formulated into a state-independent script for achieving the path dependent endpoint regardless of starting state.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatically logging is conducted local to the browser.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatically logging is conducted remote from the browser.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said logging and automatically defining steps are controlled by an applet supported by the browser.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising representing a plurality of path dependent endpoints as user interface elements in a browser, said plurality of user interface elements being arrayed according to a chronology.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface element comprises a representation of a duration of browsing.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a user interface for editing the sequence of communications.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of persistently storing a data object representing the sequence of communications, for deferred selection and triggering.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of communicating a data object representing the sequence of communications external to the browser, for selection and triggering by a different browser.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface element comprises a hyperlink to a server for controlling the sequence of communications.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining an importance of the path dependent endpoint, and presenting the user interface element through the browser in dependence on the determined importance.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of associating supplemental commercial information with one or more of the user interface element and the path dependent endpoint, and accounting for a commercial subsidy based on one or more of (a) a display of the commercial information; (b) a selection of a user interface element associated with the commercial information; and (c) a transaction conducted relating to the commercial information.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of loading a Web page from a cooperative server in a first browser frame; identifying a desired URL with the browser to request an Internet resource in a second browser frame, providing a script in the first browser frame to capture the identified URL in the second browser frame and transmit it to the cooperative server, and downloading, from the cooperative server to the first browser frame, a sequence of identified URLs.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the cooperative server provides commercial information to the browser distinct from the sequence of identified URLs.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface element comprises commercial advertising information distinct from a browsing path of the user.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of communications traverses states comprising commercial advertising information distinct from a browsing path of the user.  
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable software medium, containing therein a program executable on a general purpose computer for performing the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       21 . A business method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving, by an entity other than a browser user, a commercial subsidy associated with one or more of a presentation of commercial advertising information distinct from a browsing path of the user, and a traversal of a state comprising commercial advertising information distinct from a browsing path of the user upon selection of the user interface element.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 (a) a browser user interface for presenting hyperlink user interface elements and receiving a series of hyperlink-interaction related communications to define a user interface state of the browser; and    (b) a processor for automatically logging the series of hyperlink-interaction related communications, and automatically representing, in the browser, based on the series of hyperlink-interaction related communications, a user interface element representing a path dependent endpoint, the path dependent endpoint being inaccessible through communication of a single universal resource locator, and executing, on a selection, through the browser, of the user interface element representing the path dependent endpoint, a sequence of communications, to retrieve the path dependent endpoint.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the processor automatically represents a plurality of path dependent endpoints as user interface elements in the browser, a selection of a respective user interface element through the browser automatically triggering a sequence of communications based on the automatically logged series of communications for the respective path dependent endpoint, to retrieve the path dependent endpoint associated with the selected user interface element.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the processor executes an applet supported by the browser for logging the series of hyperlink-interaction related communications and executing the series of communications.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the processor executes an editor for editing the sequence of communications.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a memory for persistently storing a data object representing the sequence of communications, for deferred selection and triggering.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the processor receives from an external source a data object representing a sequence of communications, for selection and triggering by the browser.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising an accounting system for financially accounting for one or more of (a) a display of the user interface element; (b) a selection of the user interface element; and (c) a transaction conducted relating to the user interface element.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 (a) a browser user interface;    (b) a communications port;    (c) a memory; and    (d) a processor, the processor:    (i) automatically logging a history of object browsing through the browser in the memory, the processor parsing the history to define path information defining a path dependent object state for at least one object browsed which is inaccessible from an arbitrary starting state through communication of a single universal resource locator;    (ii) representing a path defining said path dependent object state as a display element for display by the browser; and    (iii) automatically communicating through the communications port, upon selection of the display element, a series of communications for defining the path dependent object independent of a starting state.