Multiple device co-browsing of a single website instance
Embodiments described herein provide systems and method for allowing multiple devices to browse the same instance of a website. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving an instruction in the co-browsing system to initiate a co-browsing session for a website with a first client and a second client. The method further provides acquiring the website from a server that hosts the website and rendering the website in the co-browsing system to generate a rendered image of the website. The method further provides transferring a first copy of the rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the rendered image to the second client.
1. A method of operating a co-browsing system, comprising:
receiving an instruction in the co-browsing system to initiate a co-browsing session for a website with a first client and a second client;
acquiring the website from a server that hosts the website;
rendering the website in the co-browsing system to generate a rendered image of the website, wherein the rendered image comprises output of a browser engine in the co-browsing system, prior to display, that allows for a user to interact with the website by one or more of selecting a link in the website or entering information into an information entry field of the website;
before transferring a second copy of the rendered image to the second client, applying a filter to the second copy of the rendered image that prevents at least one link of the website from being selected at the second client; and
transferring, using a remote image buffer protocol, a first copy of the rendered image to the first client and the second copy of the rendered image to the second client.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote image buffer protocol comprises remote framebuffer (RFB), and the method further comprising:
displaying the first copy of the rendered image at the first client; and
displaying the second copy of the rendered image at the second client.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first client and the second client each comprises a first co-browsing client executing within a web browser on a first device and the second client comprises a co-browsing client executing within a web browser on a second device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter also masks portions of the second copy of the rendered image so that the portions cannot be viewed at the second client.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one link includes a link that submits a form for a user at the first client.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
at the first client, receiving user input into the first copy of the rendered image and transferring the user input to the co-browsing server;
rendering the website in the co-browsing server to generate a second rendered image of the website that accounts for the user input;
transferring a first copy of the second rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the second rendered image to the second client.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
at the second client, receiving user input into the second copy of the rendered image and transferring the user input to the co-browsing server;
in the co-browsing server, filtering the user input to determine whether the user input is allowed to be entered from the second client;
if the user input is allowed, rendering the website in the co-browsing server to generate a second rendered image of the website that accounts for the user input;
transferring a first copy of the second rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the second rendered image to the second client.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an instruction from the second client to transfer the co-browsing session to a third client;
transferring the second copy of the rendered image to the third client.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first client is executing within a web browsing application on a first device and the second client is executing within a web browsing application on a second device.
10. A co-browsing system, comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive an instruction initiate a co-browsing session for a website with a first client and a second client and acquire the website from a server that hosts the website;
a processing system configured to render the website to generate a rendered image of the website, wherein the rendered image comprises output of a browser engine in the co-browsing system, prior to display, that allows for a user to interact with the website by one or more of selecting a link in the website or entering information into an information entry field of the website, and, before a second copy of the rendered image is transferred to the second client, apply a filter to the second copy of the rendered image that prevents at least one link of the website from being selected at the second client; and
the communication interface further configured to transfer, using a remote image buffer protocol, a first copy of the rendered image to the first client and the second copy of the rendered image to the second client.
11. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , wherein the remote image buffer protocol comprises remote framebuffer (RFB), the first client is configured to display the first copy of the rendered image, and the second client is configured to display the second copy of the rendered image.
12. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , wherein the first client and the second client each comprises a first co-browsing client executing within a web browser on a first device and the second client comprises a co-browsing client executing within a web browser on a second device.
13. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , wherein the filter also masks portions of the second copy of the rendered image so that the portions cannot be viewed at the second client.
14. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one link includes a link that submits a form for a user at the first client.
15. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
the communication interface configured to receive, from the first client, user input into the first copy of the rendered image;
the processing system configured to render the website to generate a second rendered image of the website that accounts for the user input;
the communication interface further configured to transfer a first copy of the second rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the second rendered image to the second client.
16. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
the communication interface configured to receive, from the second client, user input into the second copy of the rendered image;
the processing system configured to filter the user input to determine whether the user input is allowed to be entered from the second client and, if the user input is allowed, render the website to generate a second rendered image of the website that accounts for the user input;
the communication interface further configured to transfer a first copy of the second rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the second rendered image to the second client.
17. The co-browsing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
the communication interface configured to receive an instruction from the second client to transfer the co-browsing session to a third client and transfer the second copy of the rendered image to the third client.
18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating a co-browsing server, wherein the instructions, when executed by the co-browsing server, direct the co-browsing server to:
receive an instruction in the co-browsing system to initiate a co-browsing session for a website with a first client and a second client;
acquire the website from a server that hosts the website;
render the website in the co-browsing system to generate a rendered image of the website, wherein the rendered image comprises output of a browser engine in the co-browsing system, prior to display, that allows for a user to interact with the website by one or more of selecting a link in the website or entering information into an information entry field of the website;
before a second copy of the rendered image is transferred to the second client, apply a filter to the second copy of the rendered image that prevents at least one link of the website from being selected at the second client; and
transfer, using a remote image buffer protocol, a first copy of the rendered image to the first client and a second copy of the rendered image to the second client.