System and method for monitoring changes in databases and websites

Abstract

A system and method is described for constructing a differential web in which information including objects, numbers, or text in databases and web pages may be selected using pointing device movements. Once selected, objects may be designated to be monitored for changes, said changes being captured and made browsable on web-like constructs. Changes to the objects that satisfy certain user-stated criteria may result in notifications to specific users who may also setup automatic transactions on the changed objects. Recognition and control units recognize the selected objects and make them available to be executed in a Cloud Computing Environment. Objects may be selected from different web pages and hence monitoring can be effectuated across disparate databases and web pages.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving information provided by a gesture command of a user, the gesture command specifying one or more user-selectable objects presented on a display of a user device which are encompassed within a scope of the gesture command;   subsequently identifying the one or more user-selectable objects specified by the gesture command;   accessing meta-information associated with the one or more user-selectable objects that are identified, the meta-information defining attributes with one or more conditions for monitoring items associated with the one or more user-selectable objects that are identified;   causing the attributes to be displayed on the display of the user device such that one or more of the conditions are user-selectable;   receiving a selection of at least one of the conditions of at least one attribute associated with the one or more objects;   monitoring changes in the attributes; and   notifying a user of the changes when at least one of the selected conditions is met.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the identifying includes identifying one or more user-selectable objects linked to other objects based on a gesture command. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the linking includes hyperlinking selected objects from different web pages. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the linking includes identifying changes in the meta-information associated with selected objects over time and temporally hyperlinking selected objects whose meta-information has changed. 
     
     
         5 . A system, comprising:
 a recognition unit configured to receive information provided by a gesture command of a user, the gesture command specifying one or more user-selectable objects presented on a display of a user device which are encompassed within a scope of the gesture command;   a control unit configured to identify the one or more user-selectable objects specified by the gesture command;   a meta-information database associated with the one or more objects, the meta-information database storing meta-information defining attributes with one or more conditions for monitoring items associated with the one or more user-selectable objects that are identified; and   a meta-information monitor configured to receive a selection of at least one of the conditions of at least one attribute associated with the one or more objects and monitor changes in the attributes to notify a user of the changes when at least one of the selected conditions is met.   
     
     
         6 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , the control unit configured to define a one or more user-selectable objects linked to other objects based on a gesture command. 
     
     
         7 . A system in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a control unit configured to navigably link a plurality of user-selectable objects linked to other objects. 
     
     
         8 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is configured to hyperlink selected objects from different web pages. 
     
     
         9 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is configured to identify changes in selected objects over time and temporally hyperlink selected objects that have changed. 
     
     
         10 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the changes include price changes. 
     
     
         11 . A system in accordance with  claim 5 , comprising:
 a monitoring unit configured to monitor the items in accordance with received criteria and provide a notification if the criteria are met; and   a navigation control unit configured to link web pages associated with the items in response to the gesture command.   
     
     
         12 . A system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the navigation control unit is configured to link web pages associated with the items over time. 
     
     
         13 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the navigation control unit is configured to link web pages associated with changed items. 
     
     
         14 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the navigation control unit is configured to link web pages associated with unrelated items selected by a particular user with a gesture command. 
     
     
         15 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the recognition unit receives selected information from one or more users updating and changing the criteria monitored by the monitoring unit. 
     
     
         16 . A system in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the monitoring unit provides a notification when the criteria are changed and notifies users following the objects selected to show details of the objects after the selection has been updated. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving information provided by a gesture command of a user, the gesture command specifying one or more user-selectable objects presented on a web page which are encompassed within a scope of the gesture command;   subsequently identifying the one or more user-selectable objects specified by the gesture command;   accessing meta-information associated with the one or more user-selectable objects that are identified, the meta-information defining attributes with one or more conditions for monitoring items associated with the one or more user-selectable objects that are identified;   causing a display of one or more links made user-selectable in response to the gesture command;   monitoring the meta-information for changes;   linking web pages that have had gesture commands identified thereon; and   linking web pages that have temporally different objects identified thereon.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the monitoring includes receiving meta-information parameters from a selection gesture source. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving information provided by a gesture command of a user, the gesture command specifying user-selectable objects presented on a display of a user device which are encompassed within a scope of the gesture command;   subsequently identifying the user-selectable objects specified by the gesture command as selected objects;   collecting the one or more selected objects into one or more clusters of objects and causing said clusters to be displayed on the display of the user device;   accessing meta-information associated with the one or more clusters of objects, the meta-information defining attributes of said clusters of objects with one or more conditions for monitoring items associated with said clusters of objects,   causing the attributes to be displayed such that one or more of the conditions are user-selectable;   receiving a selection of at least one of the conditions of at least one attribute associated with said clusters of objects;   monitoring changes in the attributes; and   notifying a user of the changes when at least one of the selected conditions is met.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , comprising plural clusters of objects specified by the gesture command. 
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the recognition unit receives selected information from one or more users updating and changing one or more of the plural clusters of objects. 
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the monitoring unit provides a notification on the display of the user device notifying users following the objects of one or more of the plural clusters of objects selected that show details of the objects after the selected information has been updated. 
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the monitoring unit provides a notification on the display of the user device making one or more of the plural clusters user-selectable and linked to other objects or clusters.