Method and system for managing preferred web site links

Abstract

A method and system for identifying, categorizing, and sharing web site links over a communications network via a web key tool includes receiving a request, including a website link, to incorporate information relating to the website into the web key tool. The method also includes associating the information and the link with a category, which includes viewing a list of categories and selecting the category from the list or defining a new category, as well as manually entering a uniform resource locator and description of the information or importing the information during a search from an active web site. The method also includes transmitting the information and link to a central storage location associated with the web key tool and processing the information, which includes approving the information and link for storage or either aborting the process or returning to the category selection option and repeating the selection process if the information is not approved.

1 . A method for identifying, categorizing, and sharing web site links over a communications network via a web key tool, comprising: 
 receiving a request at a first user client system to incorporate information relating to a web site into the web key tool, wherein the request includes a link to the web site;    launching the web key tool at a second user client system in response to the second user client system receiving the request from the first user client system;    selecting an option on a menu screen's list of options provided by the web key tool, wherein the option relates to the request to incorporate the information;    associating the information and the link with a category, comprising:    viewing a list of categories provided by a drown down menu of a user interface of the web key tool;    performing one of:    selecting the category from the list; and    defining a new category; and    performing one of:    manually entering a uniform resource locator and description of the information; and    importing the information during a search from a currently active web site;    transmitting the information and the link to a central storage location associated with the web key tool;    processing the information and the link the processing determining whether or not the information and the link are approved for storage in the central storage location;    if the information and the link are approved as determined by the processing, then saving the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location;    updating related database files with respect to the approved information and the approved link; and providing authorized system users with access to the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location via an input option at the first user client system; and    if approval is not granted, the user either aborts the process or returns to the category selection option and repeats the selection process.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the link to the web site includes: 
 a universal resource locator for the web site;    a web address of the web site; and    a hypertext transfer protocol link.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the information includes: 
 checking to ensure that the information and the link are complete;    checking to ensure that the information and the link are not a duplicate of information submitted by authorized system users; and    verifying that a user at the first user client system is authorized to submit the request.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the approved information is accessible to the authorized system users via a web page.  
   
   
       5 . A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program code for identifying, categorizing, and sharing web site links over a communications network via a web key tool, the storage medium including instructions for causing the a computer to implement a method, comprising: 
 receiving a request at a first user client system to incorporate information relating to a web site into the web key tool, wherein the request includes a link to the web site;    launching the web key tool at a second user client system in response to the second user client system receiving the request from the first user client system;    selecting an option on a menu screen's list of options provided by the web key tool, wherein the option relates to the request to incorporate the information;    associating the information and the link with a category, comprising:    viewing a list of categories provided by a drown down menu of a user interface of the web key tool;    performing one of:    selecting the category from the list; and    defining a new category; and    performing one of:    manually entering a uniform resource locator and description of the information; and    importing the information during a search from a currently active web site;    transmitting the information and the link to a central storage location associated with the web key tool;    processing the information and the link, the processing determining whether or not the information and the link are approved for storage in the central storage location;    if the information and the link are approved as determined by the processing, then saving the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location;    updating related database files with respect to the approved information and the approved link; and providing authorized system users with access to the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location via an input option at the first user client system; and    if approval is not granted, the user either aborts the process or returns to the category selection option and repeats the selection process.    
   
   
       6 . The storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein the link to the web site includes: 
 a universal resource locator for the web site;    a web address of the web site; and    a hypertext transfer protocol link.    
   
   
       7 . The storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein processing the information includes: 
 checking to ensure that the information and the link are complete;    checking to ensure that the information and the link are not a duplicate of information submitted by authorized system users; and    verifying that a user at the first user client system is authorized to submit the request.    
   
   
       8 . The storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein the approved information is accessible to the authorized system users via a web page.  
   
   
       9 . A system for identifying, categorizing, and sharing web site links over a communications network via a web key tool, comprising: 
 an organization, comprising: 
 a first user client system capable of receiving a request for incorporating information relating to a web site into the web key tool, wherein the request includes a link to the web site;  
 a data storage device for providing a centralized storage location for the link;  
 a second user client system for controlling access to the data storage device and managing operations provided by the web key tool;  
 a network link for allowing the first user client system, the second user client system, and the data storage device to communicate with each other; and  
   wherein the web key tool is launched at the second user client system in response to the second user client system receiving a request for incorporating information relating to the web site from the first user client system, the web key tool performing: 
 receiving a request at a first user client system to incorporate information relating to a web site into the web key tool, wherein the request includes a link to the web site;  
   launching the web key tool at a second user client system in response to the second user client system receiving the request from the first user client system;    selecting an option on a menu screen's list of options provided by the web key tool, wherein the option relates to the request to incorporate the information;    associating the information and the link with a category, comprising:    viewing a list of categories provided by a drown down menu of a user interface of the web key tool;    performing one of:    selecting the category from the list; and    defining a new category; and    performing one of:    manually entering a uniform resource locator and description of the information; and    importing the information during a search from a currently active web site;    transmitting the information and the link to a central storage location associated with the web key tool;    processing the information and the link the processing determining whether or not the information and the link are approved for storage in the central storage location;    if the information and the link are approved as determined by the processing, then saving the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location;    updating related database files with respect to the approved information and the approved link; and providing authorized system users with access to the approved information and the approved link in the central storage location via an input option at the first user client system; and    if approval is not granted, the user either aborts the process or returns to the category selection option and repeats the selection process.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the link to the web site includes: 
 a universal resource locator for the web site;    a web address of the web site; and    a hypertext transfer protocol link.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein processing the information includes: 
 checking to ensure that the information and the link are complete;    checking to ensure that the information and the link are not a duplicate of information submitted by authorized system users; and    verifying that a user at the first user client system is authorized to submit the request.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the approved information is accessible to the authorized system users via a web page.