Processing browser requests to provide multiple portions of content having a consistent appearance

Abstract

Processing a browser request that specifies a destination network resource generally includes intercepting a browser request that specifies a selected destination network resource and redirecting the browser request to a network server that differs from the destination resource specified by the browser request. Processing a browser request also may include intercepting a browser request received from a client computer at a proxy server when the browser request specifies a selected destination network resource and performing instructions associated with and in addition to instructions performed to download the selected destination network resource.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a first portion of content residing at a first content source;   retrieving the first portion of content from the first content source;   determining, using at least one processor, that the browser request necessitates additional processing;   retrieving, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source; and   enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content such that the first portion of content and the second portion of content have a consistent appearance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, using at least one processor, that the browser request necessitates additional processing comprises:
 intercepting the browser request; and   referring to a list to determine that a domain name associated with the browser request is included in the list.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein retrieving, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source comprises:
 determining that the second portion of content is to be requested from the second content source based on the associated domain name being included in the list;   sending a request for the second portion of content to the second content source; and   receiving the second portion of content from the second content source.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content comprises enabling presentation of the second portion of content in a universal segment of a browser user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content such that the first portion of content and the second portion of content have a consistent appearance comprises enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content to establish a consistent appearance for an e-commerce website. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content comprises enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a split display including at least two sections, wherein the first portion of content is displayed within a first of the at least two sections and the second portion of content is displayed within a second of the at least two sections. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising customizing the second portion of content to have an appearance consistent with a web page that is being navigated. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a first portion of content residing at a first content source;   retrieving the first portion of content from the first content source;   determining, using at least one processor, that the browser request necessitates additional processing;   retrieving, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source;   customizing the second portion of content so that the first portion of content and the second portion of content have a consistent appearance; and   enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a browser.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining, using at least one processor, that the browser request necessitates additional processing comprises:
 intercepting the browser request; and   referring to a list to determine that a domain name associated with the browser request is included in the list.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein retrieving, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source comprises:
 determining that the second portion of content is to be requested from the second content source based on the associated domain name being included in the list;   sending a request for the second portion of content to the second content source; and   receiving the second portion of content from the second content source.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a browser comprises enabling presentation of the second portion of content in a universal segment of a browser user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a browser comprises enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content to establish a consistent appearance for an e-commerce website. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content comprises enabling concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a split display including at least two sections, wherein the first portion of content is displayed within a first of the at least two sections and the second portion of content is displayed within a second of the at least two sections. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein customizing the second portion of content so that the first portion of content and the second portion of content have a consistent appearance comprises customizing the second portion of content to have an appearance consistent with a web page that is being navigated. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to:
 receive a browser request, wherein the browser request specifies a first portion of content residing at a first content source;   retrieve the first portion of content from the first content source;   determine that the browser request necessitates additional processing;   retrieve, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source; and   enable concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content such that the first portion of content and the second portion of content have a consistent appearance when presented on a display device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to determine that the browser request necessitates additional processing comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to:
 intercept the browser request; and   refer to a list to determine that a digital identifier associated with the browser request is included in the list.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to retrieve, in response to the determination that the browser request necessitates additional processing, a second portion of content from a second content source comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to:
 determine that the second portion of content is to be requested from the second content source based on the associated domain name being included in the list;   send a request for the second portion of content to the second content source; and   receive the second portion of content from the second content source.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to enable concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to enable concurrent presentation of the first portion of content and the second portion of content within a split display including at least two sections, wherein the first portion of content displayed within a first of the at least two sections and the second portion of content is displayed within a second of the at least two sections. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to customize the second portion of content to have an appearance consistent with a web page that is being navigated. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the computer system is one of: a client computer or a proxy server.