Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a device is configured to capture data using an image sensor, decode the data to identify a unique electronic token providing access to a database, process the unique electronic token, access the database and retrieve information associated with an account corresponding to the unique electronic token, generate an electronic user interface displaying the information, and in response to receiving, via the electronic user interface, login information associated with the account, provide access to the account.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for facilitating electronic commerce over a network includes communicating with a user via a user device and a merchant via a merchant device over the network, receiving a purchase request from the merchant via the merchant device over the network on behalf of the user, generating an invoice with an invoice identifier related to the purchase request, printing the generated invoice with the invoice identifier, sending the printed invoice with the invoice identifier to the user via a postal service, receiving an invoice payment request from the user via the user device over the network, obtaining the invoice identifier from the invoice payment request, reconciling an invoice payment on behalf of the user via the user device over the network, and storing information related to the reconciled invoice payment.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering content on a network using differential caching is described. A request for information is received from a request-generating element coupled to a browser associated with a client through the network. A static portion and a dynamic portion of a document to be included in a response as the requested information are identified based on previously cached information by utilizing a software element that is not part of the client. The static portion is cached in a memory that is logically local to the client that requested the information. The static portion is served to the request-generating element from the cached memory. The dynamic portion is served to the request-generating element from the network. The static portion and the dynamic portion are integrated using the request-generating element into the document included in the response to the browser as the requested information.

Abstract: A network object predictive pre-download device operable on a network logically between a web client and a web server on a network is described. The pre-download device includes a prediction engine that intercepts a request from the web client to the web server for a first network object and determines a second network object most probable to be requested in the future from the web server. The pre-download device also includes a cache primer that intercepts a response to the request from the web server and sends a first message to the web client informing the web client of the second network object to be cached by the web client. The cache primer also sends the second network object to the web client such that the second network object is predicatively pre-downloaded to the web client whereby second network object latency is reduced when an actual user request occurs.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a web page to a client device is described. Template information, sub-template information, and delta information are identified based on a request for information from the client device. The template information includes seldom changing elements of a web page. The sub-template information includes: (i) information that changes less frequently than delta information, and (ii) elements of a web page shared by several templates. At least one of the template information, sub-template information, and delta information is retrieved from a location other than an originating server that is the original provider of information requested by the client device. The request is responded to by sending to the client device the template information, sub-template information and delta information. In addition, a system for transmitting a web page to a client device is described.

Abstract: A method of providing a web-site performance analysis service is disclosed that gathers data relative to visits to web-pages that are associated with a web-site. Traversals are identified that correspond to each visit to the web-pages. Each identified traversal has an identification of either an incoming link from which each visit originated or an outgoing link to which each visit terminated. A time duration is measured that corresponds to each visit. A chart of a statistical distribution of pages-per-visit of the identified traversals is formed. The identified traversals and time duration corresponding to each visit is stored in a memory. The stored data from the memory is transferred to a database. Performance measures are produced that correspond to each visit to the web-pages based on the stored data in the database. A web-site performance analysis system that implements this method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A toolbar is provided that is synchronized with a web-site browser system. The toolbar provides an interface to a path analysis system that provides path analysis data related to a select web-page. By synchronizing the toolbar to the browser, the path analysis system provides path analysis data related to the web-page that the browser is currently displaying. By displaying the path analysis data coincident with the content of the web-page from the browser, the user is provided a direct visual association between the actual web-page and the traversals to and from the web-page. By synchronizing the toolbar with the browser, the user can view the path analysis data of each page as the user navigates through the web-site using the same technology that a typical web-site visitor would use.

Abstract: A method for enabling pre-downloading of network objects to a web client from a web server is described. The method includes intercepting at a device a request from a web client to a web server for a first network object. The same device intercepts a response to the request from the web server. The device determines a second network object most probable to be requested in the future from the web server. Subsequently, a message is sent from the device to the web client the first message informing the web client of the second network object to be cached by the web client. A second message is sent from the web client requesting the second network object. The second network object is received and predicatively pre-downloaded into a cache whereby a latency for requesting the second network object is reduced when requested in response to an actual user request.

Abstract: A network object predictive pre-download device operable on a network logically between a web client and a web server on a network is described. The pre-download device includes a prediction engine that intercepts a request from the web client to the web server for a first network object and determines a second network object most probable to be requested in the future from the web server. The pre-download device also includes a cache primer that intercepts a response to the request from the web server and sends a first message to the web client informing the web client of the second network object to be cached by the web client. The cache primer also sends the second network object to the web client such that the second network object is predicatively pre-downloaded to the web client whereby second network object latency is reduced when an actual user request occurs.

Abstract: A method and system for responding to a request from a client for a web page using delta caching is described. Building templates for the web at the server(s) is functionally separated and logically remote from the request server. One or more template-builders are logically separated from one or more delta-encoders. Each operates independently to perform its part of delta caching; template-builders build templates for the web page, while delta-encoders use those templates and a received web object to compute delta information for the web page. Delta-encoders, like template-builders, are logically remote from the request server. The delta information for the web page and a reference to the template can be separately sent to the client.

Abstract: Techniques for predictive predownload of templates with delta caching are used to substantially minimize the time needed to send objects from a server to a client. A template builder generates templates for each web page. A prediction engine maintains a prediction map, responsive to web pages and other objects, the objects including the templates for web pages. The prediction engine selects objects likely to be requested by the client making the particular request, such as a next page or an object referenced by a page. A delta encoder for a page determines a delta between a current version of that page, and a template for that page, and encodes the page for delivery to the client using template information and delta information. The client is able to present the web page in response to the template information (which is likely already present at the client) and the delta information.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for sending relatively identical web pages, when requested by subsequent users, with substantial reduction of bandwidth. The server determines a “template web page” corresponding to the actual information on the web page, and having a set of insertion points, at which changed data can be inserted by the client. The server sends a JavaScript program corresponding to the template web page, which makes reference to the template web page and the changed data, along with sending the actual changed data itself. A first user requesting the web page receives the entire web page, while a second user requesting the web page (or the first user re-requesting the web page at a later time) receives the template information plus only the changed data. The server re-determines the template web page from time to time, such as when a ratio of changed data to template web page data exceeds a selected threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering content on a network using differential caching is described. A request for information is received from a request-generating element coupled to a browser associated with a client through the network. A static portion and a dynamic portion of a document to be included in a response as the requested information are identified based on previously cached information by utilizing a software element that is not part of the client. The static portion is cached in a memory that is logically local to the client that requested the information. The static portion is served to the request-generating element from the cached memory. The dynamic portion is served to the request-generating element from the network. The static portion and the dynamic portion are integrated using the request-generating element into the document included in the response to the browser as the requested information.

Abstract: A technique for increased efficiency of content delivery over a network is described. Instances of web pages are divided into (1) templates including those elements of a web page that are relatively unchanging and (2) delta information including those elements that are ephemeral or customized. Each template is compressed and cached at an originating server. Transmission of the delta information is decoupled from transmission of the template. When a user requests a page, the compressed template is sent (either from an originating server or a mirror thereof). The delta information is compressed and sent separately. Since the template is only compressed once and is cached locally, it requires less bandwidth and allocation of other computing resources to transmit than transmission of a compressed web page.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for serving relatively non-static content in a CDN (content delivery network). Content is pushed out from an originating server to a set of mirroring servers using differential caching. Each requestable object is separated into template and delta information. The originating server determines templates for differential caching, and causes those templates to be distributed using the CDN. Each mirroring server in the CDN is able to access a copy of a recent template for each request. Hosting of the template information is decoupled from hosting of the delta information. Delta information can include (a) changes to the template information since last distributed, or (b) personalized information specific to the client or to the request. Delta information can be served separately from the originating server, or can be served separately from mirroring servers using a CDN (possibly the same CDN as used to serve template information).

Abstract: It is desirable to send documents to a user in such a way as to minimize the bandwidth and other computer resources required. To this end, a document may be categorized as (1) delta information (information that changes rapidly), (2) sub-template information (information that changes less frequently) and (3) template information, which changes very seldom. The template information and sub-template information are compressed and cached at a site remote from the requesting party. Compressing and caching both sub-template information and template information results in a significant savings of bandwidth and computing resources, such as would be required if the sub-template information were treated as delta information and were not stored in a cache as is the case in the prior art. This savings is enhanced when the compressed template and sub-template information are sent to a large number of users.

Abstract: A method for fetching network objects from a web server is described. The method includes intercepting at a device a request from a web client to a web server for a first network object. The same device intercepts a response to the request from the web server. The device determines at least one second network object most probable to be requested in the future from the web server. Subsequently, a message is sent from the device to the web client the first message informing the web client of the at least one second network object to be cached by the web client.

Abstract: A method of providing a web-site performance analysis service is disclosed that gathers data relative to visits to web-pages that are associated with a web-site. Traversals are identified that correspond to each visit to the web-pages. Each identified traversal has an identification of either an incoming link from which each visit originated or an outgoing link to which each visit terminated. A time duration is measured that corresponds to each visit. A chart of a statistical distribution of pages-per-visit of the identified traversals is formed. The identified traversals and time duration corresponding to each visit is stored in a memory. The stored data from the memory is transferred to a database. Performance measures are produced that correspond to each visit to the web-pages based on the stored data in the database. A web-site performance analysis system that implements this method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a web page to a client device is described. Template information, sub-template information, and delta information are identified based on a request for information from the client device. The template information includes seldom changing elements of a web page. The sub-template information includes: (i) information that changes less frequently than delta information, and (ii) elements of a web page shared by several templates. At least one of the template information, sub-template information, and delta information is retrieved from a location other than an originating server that is the original provider of information requested by the client device. The request is responded to by sending to the client device the template information, sub-template information and delta information. In addition, a system for transmitting a web page to a client device is described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for predicting which network objects are likely to be requested by a web user from a web server, such as that used in conjunction with an internetworking environment. A request made by a web user for a web object is parsed and dynamic values contained therein normalized. A prediction is made based on the normalized request, statistical measures, and other factors about what other web objects the web user is likely to request. The predictive information is then made available to the web server and the predicted net objects are pre-downloaded to the Web client. A pre-download statistics server may be used to record and provide statistics to assist in the prediction process. Examples described herein relate to web pages, but the invention is broadly applicable to many different types of requests for information (such as, for example, database queries and other libraries of information.