Managing transfers of information in a communications network
The invention features various techniques for managing transfers of information in public packet switched communications networks. In one aspect, the invention provides a system for identifying updated items of network-based information, such as pages, to users in a network. A master server receives the data from each of a plurality of network servers and merges them into one or more master logs. The logs have entries that pertaining to creation of or changing of pages of information. Another aspect of the invention features a system for implementing security protocols. A proxy server translates links from a protocol incompatible with the network tool to a protocol compatible with the network tool and back-translates the link. Another aspect of the invention features a system for managing authenticating credentials of a user. A proxy server manages a user's authenticating credentials automatically on behalf of the user. Another aspect of the invention features a system for inducing advertisers to target advertisements to consumers. An advertising broker receives advertisements and messages indicating that users have read the advertisements, and causes an offer having monetary value to be executed. Another aspect of the invention features a system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network. An object embedding-program locates a script program and causes the script program to extract data from a page of information.
1. A system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network comprising a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising:
a script program, implemented on a computer in said communications network, structured to extract data from network-based information provided by one of said network servers; and
an object embedding program, implemented on the computer in said communications network, comprising a link to said network-based information provided by said one of said network servers and a link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program, said object embedding program being structured to apply said script program to said network-based information so as to cause said data to be extracted from said network-based information, and to embed said data within a compound document implemented on a computer in said communications network, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program is said link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information in turn comprises a link to said script program.
2. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said link comprises a universal resource locator.
3. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said computer on which said object embedding program is implemented comprises said computer on which said compound document is implemented.
4. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said network-based information is a page of information.
5. A method of extracting data from network-based information in a communication network comprising a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising the steps of:
executing an object embedding program implemented on a computer in said communications network to locate a script program from a link in said object embedding program, to apply said script program to network-based information, provided by said one of said network servers, to which said object embedding program is linked by a link in said object embedding program, and to apply said script program to said network-based information;
executing said script program, implemented on a computer in said communications network, to extract data from said network-based information provided by said one of said network servers, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program is a link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information in turn comprises a link to said script program; and
continuing to execute said object embedding program to embed said data within a compound document implemented on a computer in said communications network.
6. A system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network having a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising:
a computer, coupled to said communications network;
a compound document, implemented on said computer;
a script program, implemented on said computer, wherein said script program extracts data from network-based information provided by one of said network servers; and
an object embedding program, implemented said computer, wherein said object embedding program comprises a link to said network-based information, and a link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program, said object embedding program further applying said script program to said network-based information to extract data from said network-based information, and to embed said data within the compound document, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program is said link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information in turn comprises a link to said script program.
7. A system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network comprising a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising:
a script program, implemented on a computer in said communications network, structured to extract data from network-based information provided by one of said network servers; and
an object embedding program, implemented on a computer in said communications network, comprising a link to said network-based information provided by said one of said network servers and a link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program, said object embedding program being structured to apply said script program to said network-based information so as to cause said data to be extracted from said network-based information, and to embed said data within a compound document implemented on a computer in said communications network, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program comprises said link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information comprises an identification of a table comprising a link to said script program.
8. A method of extracting data from network-based information in a communication network comprising a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising the steps of:
executing an object embedding program implemented on a computer in said communications network to locate a script program from a link in said object embedding program, to apply said script program to network-based information, provided by said one of said network servers, to which said object embedding program is linked by a link in said object embedding program, and to apply said script program to said network-based information;
executing said script program, implemented on a computer in said communications network, to extract data from said network-based information provided by said one of said network servers, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program comprises a link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information comprises an identification of a table comprising a link to said script program; and
continuing to execute said object embedding program to embed said data within a compound document implemented on a computer in said communications network.
9. A system for extracting data from sources of network-based information in a communications network having a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over said network, comprising:
a computer, coupled to said communications network;
a compound document, implemented on said computer;
a script program, implemented on said computer, wherein said script program extracts data from network-based information provided by one of said network servers; and
an object embedding program, implemented said computer, wherein said object embedding program comprises a link to said network-based information, and a link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program, said object embedding program further applying said script program to said network-based information to extract data from said network-based information, and to embed said data within the compound document, wherein said link from which said object embedding program can locate said script program comprises said link to said network-based information, and wherein said network-based information comprises an identification of a table comprising a link to said script program.