Method and system for sharing the browser

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for sharing a browser wherein it is not necessary to install a controller for sharing on a computer in advance. More particularly, a collaboration server is provided for accumulating pages to be shared from a Web server retaining original pages. A collaboration server comprises a CachinManager that accumulates pages dynamically generated on the original Web server for sharing, a CommunicationManager that controls sessions such as communication and participation/quitting among NodeManager controlling a browser on each user machine, an ordinary Web server for downloading facilities for implementing sharing of a Web server and an Embedder that embeds in each page a PageManager for controlling pages. The plural user machines to be shared comprise and existing Web browser capable of running Java and Script, and PageManager embedded in each page. A PageManager comprises two parts, namely, namely, a PageController and a PageCommunicator. A PageController detects changes in a page element, communicates them to another machine by way of a PageCommunicator, and receives changes in a page of another computer and then reflects the same changes to own page element. A PageCommunicator manages communication between a NodeManager and a PageController. A NodeManager cor controlling a browser is provided for each process and manages communication between each PageManager and a server.

1 . A system having a server and plural computers for sharing a browser, each computer has a browser for browser pages, a PageManager controlling said pages, and a NodeManager controlling said browser for making a communicating between said PageManager said server, wherein: 
 said server includes:    means to transmit the NodeManager to each of the plurality of computers;    means to embed the PageManager into each of said pages; and    means to send the pages with the PageManager embedded therein to the plurality of computers: wherein    said PageManager comprises:    means for detecting changes in the page in which the PageManager is embedded, and sending said changes to the NodeManager on the computer on which the page is located, the NodeManager sending said changes to said server; and    means for receiving changes in a page of another computer from said NodeManager on the computer on which the PageManager is located, and reflecting said changes to the page in which the PageManager is embedded; and    wherein said PageManager analyzes from hierarchical structure of a page and communicates with a corresponding PageManager based on this analysis result.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said server comprises:a CachinManager that accumulates pages;a CommunicationManager that controls sessions among said plural computers; and an Embedder that embeds in each page PageManager for controlling pages.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said PageManager has a PageController and a PageCommunicator, said PageController comprises:detecting changes in a page element, and sending said changes to said NodeManager by way of said PageCommunicator; or receiving changes in a page of another computer from said NodeManager by way of said PageCommunicator and reflecting the received changes to own page element.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein said changes in a page element are changes in page loading, changes in a form element including text and buttons, changes in a scroll position of a page or operation of a remote pointer.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said NodeManager resides in a page independent from the page in the shared browser and which does not migrate and controls communication between PageManagers.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said NodeManager controls page information including transition history of a page.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said PageManager and said Nodemanager are embedded as Java applets which have an identical domain and data communication by shared memory is performed between said PageManager and said NodeManager.  
   
   
       9 . A server for sharing a browser among plural computers, comprising: 
 means for receiving from a computer a signal for sharing said browser;    means for sending to a computer a NodeManager controlling said browser;means for receiving from a computer a request for viewing a page on said browser;    means for sending to a computer, according to said request for viewing a page, a request page in which a PageManager controlling page is embedded;    means for receiving page change information sent by said PageManager via said NodeManager;    means for sending said page change information to another computer;    means for sending page change information to the PageManager via said NodeManager; and    wherein said PageManager analyzes from hierarchical structure of a page and communicates with a corresponding PageManager based on this analysis result.    
   
   
       10 . A method for sharing a browser among plural computers, comprising the steps of: 
 on activating said browser of a computer, loading a NodeManager on the computer from a server;    establishing communication between said server and said NodeManager;    said NodeManager assigning shared memory;    on page viewing on said browser, embedding on a requested page on said server a PageManager for controlling the page;    establishing communication between said NodeManager and said PageManager via said shared memory; and    sending changes in a page on page viewing to said NodeManager via said shared memory, or receiving changes in a page of another computer from said NodeManager via said shared memory and reflecting said changes to a next page.    
   
   
       11 . A medium having a program for sharing a browser among plural computers, said program having said computers implement the functions of: 
 establishing communication with a server;    assigning shared memory;    receiving a NodeManager from the server;    on page viewing on said browser, issuing a page request to said server;    the server embedding into the requested page a PageManager for controlling said page:    receiving from said server a page in which a PageManager controlling pages is embedded; and    sending to said server changes in a page received from said PagerManager via said shared memory, or receiving changes in a page of another computer from said server and sending said changes to said PageManager via said shared memory; and    wherein said PageManager analyzes from hierarchical structure of a page and communicates with a corresponding PageManager based on this analysis result.    
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the NodeManager controls communications to and from the PageManager.  
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the NodeManager and the PageManager have identical domains.  
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the page includes a plurality of elements;    the NodeManager includes a memory queue; and    the PageManager includes: 
 i) a PageController including scripts for controlling each of the page elements, and  
 ii) a PageCommunicator that communicates with the NodeManager through the message queue.