Managing transfers of information in a communications network
The invention features various techniques for managing transfers of information in public packet switched communications networks. One 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 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 the network, comprising:
causing an object embedding program, executed by a computer in the communication network, to locate a script program from a link associated with the object embedding program, and to apply the script program to network-based information provided by one of the network servers, and to which the object embedding program is linked by a link associated with the object embedding program;
causing the object embedding program to execute the script program to extract data from the network-based information provided by one of the network servers, wherein the link from which the object embedding program can locate the script program is a link to the network-based information, and the network-based information in turn comprises a link to the script program; and
causing the object embedding program to continue executing the script program to embed the data in a compound document displayed on the computer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the script program is configured to remove content from the network-based information when extracting the data from the network-based information.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the script program is configured to convert the extracted data from a first format into a second format.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first format is an HTML format and the second format is a word processor format.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object embedding program includes links to a plurality of different pages of network-based information and each of the different pages of network-based information includes a link to a different script program.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to stock market information.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to mortgage rate information.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to weather report information.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the script program is encoded into the network-based information in HTML comments.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the HTML comments are not displayed to a user of the object embedding program.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-based information and the script program are both provided by the same entity.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the script program is digitally signed by a trusted third party.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the script program is configured to automatically detect a change in the network-based information and, in response, re-apply the script program to the network-based information.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the script program automatically detects a change in the network-based information by polling the network-based information at regular intervals.
15. 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 the network, comprising:
executing an object embedding program at a computer in the communication network, to locate a script program from a link associated with the object embedding program, and to apply the script program to network-based information provided by one of the network servers, and to which the object embedding program is linked by a link associated with the object embedding program;
executing the script program to extract data from the network-based information provided by one of the network servers, wherein the link from which the object embedding program can locate the script program is a link to the network-based information, and the network-based information in turn comprises a link to the script program; and
embedding the data in a compound document and displaying the compound document at the computer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the script program is configured to remove content from the network-based information when extracting the data from the network-based information.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the script program is configured to convert the extracted data from a first format into a second format.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first format is an HTML format and the second format is a word processor format.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the object embedding program includes links to a plurality of different pages of network-based information and each of the different pages of network-based information includes a link to a different script program.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to stock market information.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to mortgage rate information.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to weather report information.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the script program is encoded into the network-based information in HTML comments.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the HTML comments are not displayed to a user of the object embedding program.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the network-based information and the script program are both provided by the same entity.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the script program is digitally signed by a trusted third party.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the script program is configured to automatically detect a change in the network-based information and, in response, re-apply the script program to the network-based information.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the script program automatically detects a change in the network-based information by polling the network-based information at regular intervals.
29. A system for extracting data from network-based information in a communication network having a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over the network, comprising:
a computer, coupled to said communication network;
an object embedding program, executed by the computer in the communication network, structured to locate a script program from a link associated with the object embedding program, and to apply the script program to network-based information provided by one of the network servers, the object embedding program being linked to the script program by a link associated with the object embedding program, wherein the object embedding program is structured to execute the script program to extract data from the network-based information provided by one of the network servers, wherein the link from which the object embedding program can locate the script program is a link to the network-based information, and the network-based information in turn comprises a link to the script program; and wherein the object embedding program is structured to continue executing the script program to embed the data in a compound document displayed on the computer.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is configured to remove content from the network-based information when extracting the data from the network-based information.
31. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is configured to convert the extracted data from a first format into a second format.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the first format is an HTML format and the second format is a word processor format.
33. The system of claim 29 , wherein the object embedding program includes links to a plurality of different pages of network-based information and each of the different pages of network-based information includes a link to a different script program.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to stock market information.
35. The system of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to mortgage rate information.
36. The system of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to weather report information.
37. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is encoded into the network-based information in HTML comments.
38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the HTML comments are not displayed to a user of the object embedding program.
39. The system of claim 29 , wherein the network-based information and the script program are both provided by the same entity.
40. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is digitally signed by a trusted third party.
41. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is configured to automatically detect a change in the network-based information and, in response, re-apply the script program to the network-based information.
42. The system of claim 41 , wherein the script program automatically detects a change in the network-based information by polling the network-based information at regular intervals.
43. A system for extracting data from network-based information in a communication network having a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over the network, comprising:
a computer, coupled to said communication network, wherein the computer is configured to execute:
an object embedding program, executed by the computer, structured to locate a script program from a link associated with the object embedding program, and to apply the script program to network-based information provided by one of the network servers, the object embedding program being linked to the script program by a link associated with the object embedding program, wherein the object embedding program is structured to execute the script program to extract data from the network-based information provided by one of the network servers, wherein the link from which the object embedding program locates the script program is a link to the network-based information, and the network-based information in turn comprises a link to the script program; and wherein the script is further structured to embed the data in a compound document displayed on the computer and display the compound document at the computer.
44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the script program is configured to remove content from the network-based information when extracting the data from the network-based information.
45. The system of claim 43 , wherein the script program is configured to convert the extracted data from a first format into a second format.
46. The system of claim 45 , wherein the first format is an HTML format and the second format is a word processor format.
47. The system of claim 45 , wherein the object embedding program includes links to a plurality of different pages of network-based information and each of the different pages of network-based information includes a link to a different script program.
48. The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to stock market information.
49. The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to mortgage rate information.
50. The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of the different script programs is specific to weather report information.
51. The system of claim 43 , wherein the script program is encoded into the network-based information in HTML comments.
52. The system of claim 51 , wherein the HTML comments are not displayed to a user of the object embedding program.
53. The system of claim 43 , wherein the network-based information and the script program are both provided by the same entity.
54. The system of claim 43 , wherein the script program is digitally signed by a trusted third party.
55. The system of claim 43 , wherein the script program is configured to automatically detect a change in the network-based information and, in response, re-apply the script program to the network-based information.
56. The system of claim 55 , wherein the script program automatically detects a change in the network-based information by polling the network-based information at regular intervals.