Dynamic web page construction based on determination of client device location

Abstract

A method for serving a web page begins by storing a set of location-specific page elements. In response to a request for the web page from a client browser, a control routine parses the request to locate a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser that has made the request. The geographic location data string may be generated at the client browser in a number of different ways, e.g., by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver coupled to the client computer. At the server, the web page is built dynamically using the geographic location data string to select a given one of the set of location-specific page elements and, preferably, an element having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser. The web page is then served in response to the request. In this way, targeted advertising or other page content is included in the web page as a function of the client browser location.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claim:  
     
         1 . A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of: 
 storing a set of location-specific page elements;    receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;    dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of the set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser; and    serving the web page in response to the request.    
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 2  wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.  
     
     
         3 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.  
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 3  wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.  
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein the client browser provides the geographic location data string in a cookie.  
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein the client browser provides the geographic location data sting in an HTML form.  
     
     
         7 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein the set of location-specific page elements are stored at a third party server.  
     
     
         8 . The method as described in  claim 1  wherein the web page is built using a Java server page mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for serving a web page, comprising: 
 means for receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser; and    means responsive to the request for dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of a set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser.    
     
     
         10 . The computer program product as described in  claim 9  further including means for serving the web page in response to the request.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program product as described in  claim 9  wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as described in  claim 9  wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as described in  claim 9  wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as described in  claim 9  wherein the means to the request for dynamically building the web page is a Java server page mechanism.  
     
     
         15 . A web server, comprising: 
 means for receiving a request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser; and    means responsive to the request for dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given one of a set of location-specific page elements having content associated with a physical location in proximity to the location of the client browser.    
     
     
         16 . The web server as described in  claim 15  further including means for serving the web page in response to the request.  
     
     
         17 . The web server as described in  claim 15  wherein the geographic location data string is provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device coupled to a client computer in which the client browser is resident.  
     
     
         18 . The web server as described in  claim 15  wherein the location-specific page elements are a set of web page advertisements.  
     
     
         19 . The web server as described in  claim 18  wherein the given one of the set of location-specific page elements is a web page advertisement for a business located in proximity to the location of the client browser.  
     
     
         20 . The web server as described in  claim 15  wherein the means to the request for dynamically building the web page is a Java server page mechanism.  
     
     
         21 . A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;    dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a given location-specific page element;    caching the web page for future use;    serving the web page in response to the first request;    responsive to receipt of a second request for the web page, determining whether the second request originates within a given distance from the location; and    if so, retrieving and serving the cached web page in response to the second request.    
     
     
         22 . A method for serving a web page, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first request for the web page from a client browser, the request being associated with a geographic location data string identifying a location of the client browser;    dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data sting to select a fist location-specific page element;    serving the web page with the first location-specific page element in response to the first request; responsive to receipt of a second request for the web page from the client browser, dynamically building the web page using the geographic location data string to select a second location-specific page element; and    serving the web page with the second location-specific page element in response to the second request.