Methods and apparatus for integrating services for accessing the world wide web

Abstract

Web pages retrieved by a browser core are translated into user interface component definitions and page information. The definitions and page information are transmitted to a user device which recomposes the definitions and page information into a format for presentation to a user on a user device. Transmitting the definitions and page information includes translation of the definitions and page information into a format appropriate for both the particular communications media on which the information is transmitted, and the device to which the information is transmitted. The device includes a browser client which performs the recomposition. The browser client also receives user input, and may respond by altering the information locally at the user device, and sending information related to the user selection back to the browser core for further processing. The browser core also tracks user sessions, thus allowing a user to access the network from several devices, and capture session information for each access from each device. This allows users to switch devices, and start a new session at the point where a previous session ended.

1 . Apparatus for transmitting network-related information, comprising:
 means for receiving a request for first network information;   means for retrieving first network information having interactive elements;   means for analyzing the first network information and creating second network information comprising definitions based on characteristics of the interactive elements; and   means for transmitting the second network information and the definitions.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for receiving a request includes:
 means for capturing session information related to the request.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for retrieving network information includes:
 means for accessing the Internet.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting includes:
 means for translating the second network information from a first format to a second format.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting includes:
 first path means for transmitting the definitions; and   second path means for transmitting the second network information.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving user requests related to the definitions.   
   
   
       7 . A method for transmitting network-related information, comprising:
 retrieving first network information having interactive elements;   analyzing the first network information and creating second network information and definitions based on characteristics of the interactive elements; and   transmitting the second network information and the definitions.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of receiving a request includes:
 capturing session information related to the request.   
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of retrieving network information includes the substep of:
 accessing the Internet.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of transmitting includes the substep of:
 translating the second network information from a first format to a second format.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of transmitting includes the substeps of:
 transmitting the definitions on a first path; and   transmitting the second network information on a second path.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving user requests related to the definitions.   
   
   
       13 . A system for handling network information transfer between a network and a user device, comprising:
 means for receiving a network request from a user device for first network information;   means for retrieving the first network information;   means for processing the first network information to create second network information comprising a user interface element definition and display information;   means for transmitting the second network information over a communications media; and   means for receiving the second network information and recomposing the second network information to form third network information for the user device.   
   
   
       14 - 45 . (canceled)