12) United States Patent
`Maddalozzo, Jr. et al.
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEARCHING
`WEB BROWSER HISTORY
`
`(75) Inventors: John Maddalozzo, Jr; Gerald Francis
`McBrearty; Johnny Meng-Han Shieh,
`all of Austin, TX (US)
`(73) Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/237,448
`1-1.
`(22) Filed:
`Jan. 26, 1999
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................ G06F 17/21
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................
`... 707/513; 707/526
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 707/513,500
`707513 526
`s
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`:
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6009,429 A - 12/1999 Greer et al. .................. 707 to
`Bertram et al. ......
`... 707/516
`6,049,812 A * 4/2000
`Helfman .............. ... 707/513
`6,119,135 A * 9/2000
`Nakamura et al. .......... 707/513
`6,178.433 B1 * 1/2001
`Himmel et al. ............. 707/104
`6,208.995 B1 * 3/2001
`
`USOO6460060B1
`10) Patent No.:
`US 6,460,060 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`9
`
`9
`
`6,243,700 B1 * 6/2001 Zellweger ...................... 707/3
`6,311,216 B1 10/2001 Smith et al. ................ 709/226
`* cited b
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Joseph H. Feild
`Assistant Examiner Maikhanh Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Volel Emile; Bracewell &
`Patterson, L.L.P.
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A Web browser having Search capabilities, automatically
`generates a search list from URLs in the browser's book
`mark and/or history files and automatically accesses and
`searches each URL on the Internet or cache on the browser's
`computer. Each bookmark or each web page generated for
`the list, when accessed, may be searched for Selected key
`words. URL Search parameters are entered into the Search
`function, a list of URLs is automatically created from the
`bookmark file and/or the history file. A new browser is
`opened and the new browser, in background, accesses the
`Web or cache, connects when prompted, with each web page
`listed. Each web page is then Searched for keywords pro
`Vided by a user. Web pages containing the target keywords
`are then displayed in a format Selected by the user on the
`data processing System display. Individual web pages may
`be accessed and displayed in Successive order by utilizing
`the graphical “next/previous' buttons present in the web
`browser window.
`
`16 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`354
`
`
`
`
`
`350
`
`
`
`Search function of
`browser receives
`input from operation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Operator
`has selected both
`files
`
`Both files are
`parsed for
`matching parameters
`
`Search function
`Creates list of
`pertinent URLs
`
`Operator has
`selected bookmark
`file
`
`Search function
`accesses browser
`bookmark file
`
`File is parsed for
`URLs matching
`search parameters
`
`Operator has
`selected history
`file
`
`Search function
`accesses browser
`history file
`
`
`
`Error; operator
`must select
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 6,460,060 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 6,460,060 B1
`
`Activate
`Browser
`
`302
`Select display
`method
`
`304
`
`306
`
`YeS
`
`Enter keyword(s)
`to Search on
`
`Select Search
`Criteria
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3 O 8
`
`
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`31 O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`Browser Creates
`URL search list
`
`
`
`
`
`ls
`Web page
`associated with
`URL cached
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Download associated
`web page
`
`Search web page
`for keyword(s)
`
`3.18
`
`Keyword(s)
`found
`
`
`
`
`
`Save web page to
`disk cache
`
`No-340
`
`Deactivate
`History browser
`
`342
`
`
`
`Display a
`list of web page
`identifiers
`2
`
`Syst,
`window
`
`
`
`
`
`Display
`new browser
`windows
`
`Show each web page
`in Seperate
`window
`
`Display new
`browser w/linked
`history
`
`Show first web page in
`new window w/pointer
`to next Web page
`
`
`
`Display Error
`Message
`
`338
`
`Are there
`any web pages
`left to Search
`p
`
`
`
`Any web
`pages to display
`p
`
`Tig. 34
`
`(Amended)
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 6,460,060 B1
`
`350
`
`352
`
`354
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Search function of
`browser receives
`input from operation
`
`
`
`Operator
`has selected both
`files
`
`Both files are
`parsed for
`matching parameters
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`Search function
`Creates list of
`pertinent URLs
`
`Operator has
`Selected bookmark
`fife
`
`Search function
`accesses browser
`bookmark file
`
`
`
`File is parsed for
`URLs matching
`search parameters
`
`Search function
`accesses browser
`history file
`
`Operator has
`selected history
`file
`p
`
`
`
`
`
`Error; operator
`must Select
`
`Tig. 3(B
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 6,460,060 B1
`
`400
`S.
`File:///C:Program Files/Browser/bookmark.html
`
`402
`
`INFORMATION
`interquotel Real time market Data
`LocalView
`Welcome to InternetWeek
`Communications companies/market guide
`WebStreet
`TECH
`IBM
`TechWeb
`Oil Well Services & Equipment
`
`404 S
`
`Tig. 44
`
`(410
`Information about the browser history
`URL: http://us.yimg.com/a/ca/
`Date: Tue Dec 01 08:34:55 1998
`URL: http://ads. fourplus.net/part.html
`Date: Tue Dec O1 O8:37:34 1998
`URL: http://patents.uspto.gov/cgi-bin/ifetch4?
`Date: Wed DeC O3 13:24:47 1998
`URL: http://www.ibm.com
`Date: Tue DeC 9 O9:45:35 1998
`
`Tig. 4GB
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 0f 6
`
`US 6,460,060 B1
`US 6,460,060 B1
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`

`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEARCHING
`WEB BROWSER HISTORY
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Technical Field
`The present invention relates in general to data processing
`Systems capable of operating on the Internet and in particu
`lar to browser applications for operating on the World Wide
`Web (Internet). More particularly, the present invention
`relates to multiple browser applications operating Simulta
`neously and accessing the Internet. Still more particularly,
`the present invention relates to a browser application oper
`ating in the background and accessing Universal Resource
`Locators (URLS) on the Internet.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The World Wide Web (Web) is a graphic, interactive
`interface for the Internet (Internet is often used interchange
`ably with Web and that will be done here). There are
`different programs (web browser clients, referred hereinafter
`as web browser) on a data processing System (also referred
`to as a computer) connected to the web that are utilized to
`access servers (a program on another data processing
`system) connected to the Web. The program on the server is
`generally termed a “website.” Websites are a collection of
`“web pages,' where web pages are graphic displays which
`are usually linked together and may be downloaded to a data
`processing System utilizing a browser client. Each web page
`has a unique address, or Universal Resource Locator (URL)
`within the Web that is accessible by utilizing Transfer
`Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) transactions via
`telecommunication networks and a modem. The address
`allows Internet "browser clients (computer program
`applications) to connect and communicate with a HyperText
`Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server over the Web.
`Generally, each browser client permits multiple windows
`in operation at the same time. Each browser window may
`operate independently and connect with Separate web pages.
`Each web page visited is usually logged in a history file or
`object. If a user, utilizing a web browser, desires to revisit a
`particular web page, the user may “bookmark' the page.
`Bookmarking the page enters the URL into a descriptive list
`that may be easily accessed for multiple repeat Visits by
`utilizing a mouse and clicking on the displayed URL (as
`used herein, refers to the unique address of HTTP resources
`as well as the content retrieved by an HTTP request includ
`ing that unique address).
`Many times, users have visited useful web sites and
`retained useful bookmarks. Quite often, however, the user
`forgets to make the positive action of adding the web page
`to the bookmark list or, adds the bookmark but forgets the
`title of the site. The browser client history file (or object)
`automatically records each web page Visited and retains it
`for a period of time specified by the browser developer or
`user. Most users don't know about the history record that is
`automatically Stored and even if they did, the record is
`entered in no particular order, thus making it very hard to
`search. Additionally, URLs may not be descriptive and if a
`user knew there was a Subject that the user wanted to re-visit,
`it would be difficult to impossible to find that address in the
`history record. Even though an ASCII search may be made
`of both the bookmark and history records, the URLs (not
`necessarily descriptive) included may not provide any clues
`as to the link between the desired Subject and a web page.
`Additionally, there are “off-line” browsers that utilize the
`browser client to Search Specified sites for key parameters,
`but the user must enter an identification of the pages to be
`
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`US 6,460,060 B1
`
`2
`Searched. Also, there are Stand-alone off-line browsers that
`automatically access Specified web pages unattended or in
`the background and download the web pages. Some param
`eters may be entered that are restricted to specific addresses,
`Such as whether or not the page has changed as compared to
`a cached page from a previous Visit. Generally, the Search
`programs are unable to Search a list that refers to the last n
`pages visited, where n is an arbitrary number, nor are the
`Search programs able to automatically generate a list to
`Search for web pages Visited during a given time frame.
`It would be desirable therefore to provide a method and
`System for automatically providing a pertinent list to Search
`previously visited web pages based on Specific parameters
`defined by a user. It would further be desirable to search, in
`the background while browsing the web or working on other
`projects in the foreground. Also, it would be desirable to at
`least Search according to: Specified keywords, the last n
`number of pages Visited and a date Specific time frame in
`conjunction with keyword Searches.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore one object of the present invention to
`provide a method for automatic keyword Searching, in the
`background, on the Internet or in a cache of web pages
`Stored on a data processing System.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`method for automatically Searching previously visited web
`pages, not bookmarked, for Specified keywords or for mul
`tiple pages visited during a specified period whether Stored
`in a cache on the data processing System or accessible only
`on the Internet.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
`a method for displaying web pages that contain a Specified
`keyword(s) at the conclusion of an automatic Search.
`The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described.
`A Web browser having Search capabilities, automatically
`generates a Search list of websites to be searched, from
`URLs in the browser's bookmark and/or history files, then
`automatically accesses and Searches each URL on the Inter
`net or cache on the browser's computer. Each bookmark or
`each web page generated for the list, when accessed, may be
`Searched for Selected keywords. URL Search parameters are
`entered into the search function. A list of URLs is automati
`cally created from the bookmark file and/or the history file.
`A new browser is opened and the new browser, in the
`background, accesses the Web or cache, connects when
`prompted, with each web page listed. Each web page is then
`searched for keywords provided by a user. Web pages
`containing the target keywords are then displayed in a
`format Selected by the user on the data processing System
`display. Individual web pages may be accessed and dis
`played in Successive order by utilizing the graphical “next/
`previous” buttons present in the web browser window.
`The above as well as additional objects, features, and
`advantages of the present invention will become apparent in
`the following detailed written description.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
`are Set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself
`however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects
`and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference
`to the following detailed description of an illustrative
`embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompa
`nying drawings, wherein:
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`US 6,460,060 B1
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`3
`FIG. 1 depicts a typical data processing System, in which
`a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be
`implemented;
`FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram of a data processing
`System network utilized within the Internet, in accordance
`with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3A depicts a high-level flow diagram of a process for
`utilizing a web browser having Search capability to auto
`matically access and Search remote web pages, or web pages
`Stored in cache, for keywords, in accordance with a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3B, illustrates a process for creating a list for
`searching URLs retrieved from a bookmark file or history
`file associated with an Internet browser in accordance with
`the present invention;
`FIG. 4A depicts a portion of a bookmark file for a
`browser, in accordance with a preferred implementation of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 4B is a portion of the history file for a browser, in
`accordance with a preferred implementation of the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 5 depicts a browser window in accordance with a
`preferred implementation of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`With reference to the figures and in particular with
`reference to FIG. 1, a typical data processing System, in
`which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may
`be implemented, is depicted. A central processing unit
`(CPU) 102, such as one of the PC microprocessors available
`from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), is
`provided and interconnected to various other components by
`system bus 101. An operating system 128 runs on CPU 102,
`provides control and is used to coordinate the function of
`various components of FIG.1. Operating system 128 may be
`one of the commercially available operating Systems. Such as
`OS/2TM operating system available from IBM. A program,
`application 130, runs in conjunction with operating System
`128 and provides output calls to operating system 128 which
`implement the various functions to be performed by appli
`cation 130.
`Read only memory (ROM) 104 is connected to CPU 102,
`via bus 101 and includes the basic input/output system
`(BIOS) that controls basic computer functions. Random
`access memory (RAM) 106, I/O adapter 108 and commu
`nications adapter 122 are also interconnected to System bus
`101. It should be noted that software components, including
`operating System 128 and application 130, are loaded into
`RAM 106, which is data processing system's 100 main
`memory. I/O adapter 108 may be a small computer system
`interface (SCSI) adapter that communicates with disk stor
`age device 110. Communications adapter 122 interconnects
`buS 101 with an outside network enabling data processing
`system 100 to communicate with other such systems over a
`local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN),
`which includes the Internet. I/O devices are also connected
`to system bus 101 via user interface adapter 112 and display
`adapter 124 utilizing various components Such as a digital to
`analog converter (not shown) and the like. By using the
`aforementioned I/O devices, a user is capable of inputting
`information to the system through keyboard 114, trackball
`120 or mouse 116, and receiving output information from
`the system via speaker 118 and display 126.
`The architecture depicted in FIG. 1 is provided solely for
`the purpose of illustrating and explaining the present
`
`45
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`invention, and is not meant to imply any architectural
`limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many
`variations are possible. Processor 100 may include, for
`example, multiple integer and floating point execution units
`to increase processing throughput. All Such variations are
`within the Spirit and Scope of the present invention.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, a high-level block diagram of a
`data processing System network in accordance with a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated.
`System 200, is comprised of a web browser search client 202
`(the present invention) that is usually included in System
`memory and utilizes System processors on a user's data
`processing system. System 202 connected to Internet (Web)
`204 and servers 206, 208 and 210. To those skilled in the art,
`it is well known that the Internet, or Web, has millions of
`connections of users and Servers.
`Server 206 is shown having URL212 of www.austin.com.
`The URL, as discussed previously, is a unique address on the
`Web assigned to only one web page and is capable of being
`Stored on the hard drive of any data processing System hard
`drive. Search client 202 (a browser application on a data
`processing System) is seeking a particular address, in this
`case www.phoenix.com, and may access World Wide Web
`204 which provides a connection to server 208. The user
`utilizing Search client 202 may or may not bookmark the
`address, but the browser will likely store the address in a
`history record for a specific period of time (usually the
`history record is set to delete URLs that are beyond a certain
`date to prevent overloading the data processing System
`Storage).
`Search client 202 may be utilized to link to other web
`pages on Servers throughout the Internet before shutting
`down, thereby adding confusion as to which page a desired
`Subject may be located. If a particular Subject was found on
`server 208 and a bookmark was added to the browser client
`bookmark list, it is probable the user will not remember the
`web page URL that contained the Subject matter. The present
`invention permits the user to Search for the Subject matter in
`the background while operating on the Web. Even though
`the user may not remember which web page contains the
`Subject matter in question, a Search utilizing addresses
`contained in the history record/log may be made of each web
`page Visited.
`Referring now to FIG. 3A, a high-level flow diagram of
`a process for utilizing a web browser to automatically acceSS
`and Search remote web pages, or web pages Stored in cache,
`for keyword(s) in which a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention may be implemented, is depicted. The
`process begins with Step 302, which depicts a user activating
`the browser to begin a keyword Search. The process con
`tinues to step 304, which illustrates the user selecting a
`display method. The process then proceeds to step 306,
`which depicts the user entering keyword(s) for the browser
`to utilize in the Search effort. The Step next passes to Step
`308, which illustrates the user selecting search criteria for
`the URLS (time period, only in cache, only on the Internet,
`last visited, etc.) and whether the browser utilizes the
`bookmark file, the history file or both, to construct a URL list
`to Search.
`The process then proceeds to step 310, which depicts the
`browser constructing the URL search list. Next the process
`passes to Step 312, which illustrates a determination of
`whether or not the web page associated with a URL in the
`URL search list is cached on the hard drive of the user's data
`processing System. If the associated web page is cached on
`the hard drive of the user's data processing System, the
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`S
`browser may search the web page without the need to acceSS
`the Internet. If the web page is not cached on the hard drive,
`the process proceeds to Step 314, which depicts the browser
`accessing the associated web page on the Internet/Web and
`downloading the web page to a cache on the hard drive. The
`process then proceeds to Step 316, which illustrates the
`browser Searching the downloaded associated web page, or
`the web page from the cache, for the keyword(s).
`Returning to Step 312, if the determination is made that
`the web page is cached, the process instead proceeds to Step
`316 and searches for the keyword(s). The process then
`passes to step 318, which depicts a determination of whether
`the keyword(s) is located within the web page. If the
`keyword(s) is located, the process then passes to step 322,
`which illustrates the browser Saving the web page to disk
`cache. The process then continues to Step 320. Returning to
`step 318, if the determination is made that no keyword(s)
`was found, the proceSS instead proceeds to Step 320, which
`depicts a determination of whether there are any more web
`page associated with URLs in the URL search list, left to
`Search. If So the process returns to Step 316 and the cycle
`repeats until there are no associated web pages to Search. If
`there are no more web pages to Search, the proceSS next
`proceeds from step 320 to step 324, which illustrates a
`determination of whether there are any web pages to display.
`If there are no web pages to display, the process then
`passes to Step 338, which depicts the browser displaying an
`error message. If the determination is made that there are
`web pages to display, the proceSS instead proceeds from Step
`324 to step 326, which illustrates a determination of whether
`or not to display a list or web page identifiers (URLs for
`example) for each of the retrieved web pages. If So, the
`process passes to step 328, which depicts the process dis
`playing a listing of retrieved web pages in a new browser
`window. If the determination was made not to display a list
`of web page identifiers, the process continues to Step 330,
`which illustrates a determination of whether or not to display
`the retrieved web pages utilizing newly originated browser
`windows. If So, the proceSS proceeds to Step 332, which
`depicts the process displaying the retrieved web pages in
`Separate browser windows.
`If the determination is not to display in Separate browser
`windows, the process instead passes from Step 330 to Step
`334, which illustrates a determination of whether to display
`the retrieved web pages in a new browser window and
`including link history. If the determination is made not to
`display the retrieved web pages in a new browser window
`including linked history, the process passes to Step 338 and
`an error message is displayed. If So, the process next passes
`to step 336, which depicts the browser displaying the first
`retrieved web pages in a new window with a pointer to the
`next retrieved web pages.
`The process then proceeds to step 340, which is a deter
`mination of whether or not to mount a new Search. If yes, the
`proceSS continues to Step 304 and the Search cycle repeats.
`If it is determined that there will be no new search, the
`process then passes to Step 342, which depicts the user
`deactivating the Search window.
`To conduct a Search of the previous web pages visited, a
`user will provide specific parameters for the Search. The
`Search client automatically generates a Search list of URLS
`from the history log, the bookmark list or both. The user may
`Specify the period of time to Search (i.e., within the last 3
`days) and Specify keyword(s) for Searching within the
`Internet accessed, or cached URLS. Additionally, the Search
`client may Search only cached, only non-cached URLS or
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`both cached and non-cached URLs. Further, the user may
`restrict a Search to URLS that match or do not match any
`URL address or URL title (i.e., it is known that the subject
`is not located on this URL), in the generated list, prior to
`Searching within a URL for a specified keyword(s).
`Referring to FIG. 3B, a process for creating a list for
`searching URLs retrieved from a bookmark file or history
`file associated with an Internet browser in accordance with
`the present invention, is illustrated. The process begins with
`step 350, which depicts the search function of the web
`browser receiving input from the web browser operator
`consisting of keywords, dates, pages visited, which files to
`create a list from, etc. The proceSS proceeds to Step 352,
`which illustrates a determination of whether the operator has
`selected the web browser bookmark file and the history file
`from which to create a Search list. If the operator has Selected
`both, the process passes to Step 354, which depicts the Search
`function accessing and parsing both files comparing input
`parameters for matching parameters. The process then pro
`ceeds to step 356, which illustrates the search function
`creating a list of URLS that match the parameters input by
`the operator.
`If the determination in step 352 is that the operator has not
`selected the both files, the process instead passes to step 358,
`which illustrates a determination of whether or not the
`operator has chosen the web browser bookmark file. If so,
`the proceSS proceeds to Step 360, which depicts the Search
`function accessing the bookmark file. The process then
`proceeds to Step 362, which illustrates the Search function
`parsing the bookmark file attempting to match input param
`eters to URLs. Next, the process continues to step 356,
`which illustrates the Search function creating a Search list of
`URLs that match the parameters input by the operator.
`Returning to step 358, if the determination is made that
`the operator has not Selected the bookmark file, the process
`proceeds instead to Step 364, which depicts a determination
`of whether the operator selected the history file to search. If
`the history file is Selected, the process then proceeds to Step
`366, which illustrates the Search function accessing the
`browser history file. The process next passes to Step 362,
`which depicts the Search function parsing the history file and
`attempting to match Search parameters to URLS. The process
`then passes to Step 356, which illustrates creating the Search
`list of matching URLs. Returning to step 364, if the deter
`mination is made that the operator has not Selected both files,
`the proceSS instead proceeds to Step 368, which depicts the
`Search function returning an error message instructing the
`operator to Select one or both files. The process then returns
`to step 350 and awaits input from the operator.
`Referring now to FIG. 4A, a portion of a bookmark file for
`a browser, in accordance with a preferred implementation of
`the present invention, is depicted. Names of bookmarked
`URLS are shown, with each name in the list being uniquely
`associated with a specific URL (not shown). AS discussed
`previously, the present invention requires no entry of URLS
`to search as required by offline browsers. The browser
`automatically Searches all browser bookmark and/or history
`entries. File designation 400 is acquired by the browser and
`Searched, in this instance utilizing American Standard Code
`for Information Interchange (ASCII) as a search method for
`key words, or parameters, that have been input by the user.
`The browser searches URLs associated with categories 402
`and web page titles 404 applying Search parameters.
`Referring to FIG. 4B, a portion of the history file for a
`browser, in accordance with a preferred implementation of
`the present invention, is illustrated. File name 410 is the title
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`of the history file and may be searched by the present
`invention, utilizing ASCII search methods. Even though the
`Search is conducted utilizing ASCII, the Search mechanism
`may not be limited to ASCII. URL 412 is an address of a
`Specific web page on the internet and Date 414 is the date a
`specific URL was visited. Both the history and bookmark
`files may be Searched Separately or combined; in cache or
`on the Internet.
`Referring to FIG. 5, a browser window in accordance with
`a preferred implementation of the present invention is
`depicted. Browser window 500 graphic is displayed on a
`data processing System terminal and includes: next/previous
`buttons 502 that may be used to Switch between URLs that
`have been retrieved; bookmark button 504 may be clicked to
`include a bookmark file in the initial search; history button
`506 which may be clicked to include the history file in the
`initial search; date button and box 508 which may be clicked
`to provide a time period in which to Search, cache button
`510, which may be clicked to include the onboard browser
`cache for searching URLs that may be stored in the browser
`cache, pages box 511, which provides for receiving a Set
`number of web pages to Search; Search parameter box 512,
`which allows for entry of keywords that the browser may
`utilize to search when a URL is found and downloaded and
`search button 514, which is clicked to start the search
`procedure. The user has a choice to display the results in one
`of three ways. The choice may be window 516, which
`provides that the results be displayed, individually in a new
`browser window (i.e., 5 results, 5 browser windows). If the
`choice is multiple 518, multiple windows display an indi
`vidual web page in each window and each window is
`accessed by next/previous button 502. If the user selects
`linked 520, a list of downloaded URLS is displayed in the
`browser window, with each URL linked to the downloaded
`or cached web pages.
`The browser search window requires no entry of URLs to
`Search, as required by offline browsers. Also, the browser:
`permits a Search of URLS whether the web pages are cached
`on the local hard drive or available only on the Web; permits
`basing a search on time periods (i.e., date last or first
`Visited); permits basing a search on the last URL Search
`(Search for new keywords on a previous Search) and permits
`searches of the last n number of URLs visited, with n being
`an arbitrary number entered by the user.
`It is important to note that while the present invention has
`been described in the context of a fully functional data
`processing System, those skilled in the art will appreciate
`that the mechanism of the present invention is capable of
`being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium
`of instructions in a variety of forms, and that the present
`invention applies equally, regardless of the particular type of
`Signal bearing media utilized to actually carry out the
`distribution. Examples of computer readable media include:
`nonvolatile, hard-coded type media Such as read only
`memories (ROMS) or erasable, electrically programmable
`read only memories (EEPROMs), recordable type media
`such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and CD-ROMs, and
`transmission type media Such as digital and analog commu
`nication linkS.
`While the invention has been particularly shown and
`described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will
`be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
`in form and detail may be made therein without departing
`from the Spirit and Scope of the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for utilizing web browser history to enhance
`web browsing, comprising the Steps of
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`Searching a URL histor