Network browser supporting historical content viewing

Abstract

An Internet infrastructure supports a timed window and version-based historical search service comprising a search server that receives a search string from a client device and a historical data repository from where the historical Internet data is retrieved when searching. A client device has a network browser that accesses a historical data support module that facilitates searching of historical data and displaying the historical Internet data to user. The network browser provides options for inputting a search string, accepting user search preferences, viewing timeline-based historical information, or viewing version-based historical search results. The network browser supports refinement of timeline searches with different historical version access, and vice versa.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network browser adapted for use in a client device, the network browser supports accessing of web pages and documents from a network that contains at least one search server, the network browser comprising:
 a historical data support module;   wherein the network browser is adapted to receive a search request from a user of the client device for a webpage or a document from network;   wherein the network browser is adapted to send the request to a server based on user preferences;   wherein the historical data support module facilitates retrieving historical web pages or documents based on user preferences and correlation to the search request; and   wherein the network browser is adapted to receive and display the historical web pages or documents; and   wherein the network browser is adapted to facilitate further refinement and searching of the historical web pages or documents upon a user request.