BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[001] Computer servers which host information and which are connected to the Internet are well known. Such computer servers, also known as data servers, or when connected to the Internet, as web servers are know to host various types of information. In this specification the term data server will be used to refer to computers connected to a network and which are operable to host information which is available to users connected to the network.

[002] Typically this information is presented to users via a so called browser, which is a user interface used to view information in a user friendly format. The user interface may consist of multiple electronic pages which are linked by means of a "hyperlink". The hyperlink is normally a reference in a hypertext document to another document or source.

[003] Additionally these electronic pages can potentially host a number of internal graphical "<img>" tags and internal resource objects. These internal resource objects include relative links to cascading style sheets, external script files and downloadable objects. Hyperlinks can be applied to text, images or buttons.

[004] The hyperlink enables a user to switch between multiple electronic pages or sources by positioning a cursor over the hyperlink and following it. The internal resource object links loads scripts into the client page or presents the user with the option to download the linked object. In this invention a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a user interface or other display device and which is capable to respond to input. The <img> tag loads graphical content into the user display page.

[005] It often occurs that hyperlinks, <img> targets and resource links on a web server or on a particular web page become corrupted or dysfunctional during the programming stage or during normal operation without a person responsible for the maintenance of the web server being aware of such problem. This results in a user being unable to follow the hyperlinks, client side script errors occurring and downloadable content be unavailable inhibiting the user obtaining information speedily and correctly.

[0061 Currently, the person responsible for maintaining a web server is required to follow each hyperlink, verify each <img> tag and verify each relative link to scripts and downloadable objects in an attempt to ascertain whether such link is fully functional. Browsers may consist of literally hundreds of web pages and hyperlinks with numerous relative and object links. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that testing the functionality of such hyperlinks and contents may be extremely time-consuming.

[007] THIS INVENTION relates to a server application which by method of testing, scanning and reporting any invalid objects on a web site, provide Internet service providers and webmasters the ability to receive reports back on the accuracy of all unified resource locators contained in their hosted pages.

[008] It is an object of the current invention to at least partly alleviate the aforementioned problems.

[009] The following words and or phrases includes within their definitions, but is not limited to, the following:

A Web server is a program that, using the client/server model and the World Wide Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), serves the files that form Web pages to Web users (whose computers contain HTTP clients that forward their requests). Every computer on the Internet that contains a Web site must have a Web server program.

Web servers often come as part of a larger package of Internet- and intranet-related programs for serving e-mail, downloading requests for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) files, and building and publishing Web pages. Considerations in choosing a Web server include how well it works with the operating system and other servers, its ability to handle server-side programming, security characteristics, and publishing, search engine, and site building tools that may come with it.

Specific to the Web, a Web server is the computer program (housed in a computer) that serves requested HTML pages or files. A Web client is the requesting program associated with the user. The Web browser in your computer is a client that requests HTML files from Web servers.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the set of rules for transferring files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) on the World Wide Web. As soon as a Web user opens their Web browser, the user is indirectly making use of HTTP. HTTP is an application protocol that runs on top of the TCP/IP suite of protocols (the foundation protocols for the Internet).

HTTP concepts include (as the Hypertext part of the name implies) the idea that files can contain references to other files whose selection will elicit additional transfer requests. Any Web server machine contains, in addition to the Web page files it can serve, an HTTP daemon, a program that is designed to wait for HTTP requests and handle them when they arrive. Your Web browser is an HTTP client, sending requests to server machines. When the browser user enters file requests by either "opening" a Web file (typing in a Uniform Resource Locator or URL) or clicking on a hypertext link, the browser builds an HTTP request and sends it to the Internet Protocol address (IP address) indicated by the URL. The HTTP daemon in the destination server machine receives the request and sends back the requested file or files associated with the request. (A Web page often consists of more than one file.)

Using hypertext, a link is a selectable connection from one word, picture, or information object to another. In a multimedia environment such as the World Wide

Web, such objects can include sound and motion video sequences. The most

common form of link is the highlighted word or picture that can be selected by the user (with a mouse or in some other fashion), resulting in the immediate delivery and view of another file. The highlighted object is referred to as an anchor. The anchor reference and the object referred to constitute a hypertext link. Although most links do not offer the user a choice of types of link, it would be possible for the user to be provided a choice of link types, such as: a definition of the object, an example of it, a picture of it, a smaller or larger picture of it, and so forth. Links are what make the World Wide Web a web.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides for an operating system which includes a testing means operable to test the functionality of invalid objects present on a web server and a reporting means in communication with the testing means, the reporting means operable and capable to generate a functionality report.

[0011] The invalid objects may be any one or combination of a web page hyperlink, <img> tags, relative links and downloadable objects. The downloadable objects may be any existing or linkable object within a web page.

[0012] The web page hyperlink may be any suitable link capable to link any one source of information to an alternate source of information and may include internal or external links or any combination of the aforementioned. The links may be HTML links, ASP links, Java objects, CSS style sheets, image documents, files, anchors or any combination of the aforementioned.

[0013] The testing means may be operable to test any one of the following functions or any combination thereof:

server communication between a data server and a network through which information is presented to a user for example a Packet Internet Groper (PING) application;

- data links presented on a web page, such as hyperlinks to other web pages, including links to data on a data server (internal links) and links to data which is available via a network to which the data server is connected (external links);

- any objects presented on a web page which includes but is not limited to HTML links; ASP links; Java objects; CSS style sheets, images, documents, files anchors; e-mail addresses on a web page including validating the domain name portion thereof;

- "call-to" links on a web page; trace a route to domain names or sites.

[0014] The testing means may further test the functionality of the web page by simulating a user interaction. Such user interaction may include the pre-selection of a specific hyperlink to be tested. Should the hyperlink point to an object or application, the user interaction may include the pre-selection of such object or application for testing. The testing means may further be capable to test any existing or linkable object within an HTML document.

[0015] The operating system may include a scheduling means operable to activate the testing means on a predefined schedule. The predefined schedule may be continuously, on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis.

[0016] The data links may include links to Hyper Text Multi Language (HTML), or similar documents, links to images, links to e-mail addresses, links to saved documents and links to server applications, such as Java Script applications.

[0017] The operating system may further include a filtering means enabling a user to define a predetermined functionality for which the testing means is to test.

[0018] The reporting means may include any one or more of;

- an e-mail interface operable to transmit the functionality report via e-mail to a predefined user, a mobile telephone data messaging interface operable to transmit the functionality report to the user via a data message such as a short service message (SMS); a pager interface operable to transmit the functionality report to the user via a pager alert,

- an online reporting interface enabling the user to log on securely and retrieve the functionality report online.

[0019] The functionality report may include information pertaining to the functionality of a tested hyperlink such as an "ERROR" message alternatively an OK" message.

[0020] The functionality report may be a test report and may be displayed in an Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) format, alternatively a data presentation format such as in a word processor format or in a graphical presentation format.

[0021] The test report may list any one or more of, but is not limited to, the following:

- the Internet protocol (IP) address tested; the number of hyperlinks tested;

the number of errors detected;

- the status of the web server hosting the web pages

- the status code of the HTML error;

- the wininet code of the error; a link to the parent page containing the error.

[0022] The operating system may be in the form of a set of computer executable instructions, which when executed on a computer, direct a computer programmatically to simulate user interaction on data pages hosted on a data server.

[0023] The operating system may be platform independent, for example the system may be configured to various types of platforms such as Linux or Windows. Similarly the operating system may operate on various types of databases such as MSSQL, MYSQL, ARADOX, SQL LITE.

[0024] The operating system may further include an intelligent link correction means operable to automatically correct any error links found on an web page.

[0025] The operating systems may even further include a snap shot functions, for each web page for object hierarchy comparisons, which enables the user to save web pages for later comparisons and for future scans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig 1 - Fig 17 displays screen layouts of an operating system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In this example, the invention is described as an operating system on which is hosted on a data server. The data server on which the application is hosted is connected to the Internet and hosts Internet web pages.

[0028] As a large number of web pages are normally hosted on a data server, such as in this example, it is difficult manually to verify the integrity of the objects on each web page. For example, the web pages may contain hyperlinks to pictures, e-mail addresses, links to other pages, and the like. These links may further point to web pages hosted on the same data server (internal links) or may be links which points to web pages hosted on alternate servers (external links) which are accessible via the Internet.

[0029] The invention provides an operating system which includes a testing means operable to test the functionality of a web page hyperlink and a reporting means in communication with the testing means, the reporting means operable and capable to generate a functionality report.

[0030] The testing means is operable to simulate user interaction on a web page, such as selecting a link to an object. The result of the link selection, i.e. the status of the object to which the links points, is then recorded.

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an operating system which includes a main screen 10 of a data server which executes the operating system application.

[0032] A selection portion of the screen 12 and a results portion 14 are provided on the screen 10. The selection portion 12 of the screen contains user selectable options directing the execution of the testing means.

[0033] The results portion 14 of the screen 10 displays test results of tests performed by means of the testing means.

[0034] Figure 3 illustrates a selection screen 12.1, also referred to as a "Quick Check". The Quick Check screen displays a status of the Internet connection 16, in particular the connectivity to the internet is displayed in 16.1 and the connectivity speed is displayed in 16.2.

[0035] At 18, a user is provided with an option to enable a packet Internet groper (PING) diagnostic application which is operable to test a response to an internet site.

[0036] At 20, a user is provided an option to test the number of hops to a particular website. The traffic route to the domain or site can be monitored by means of tracing the route to the site.

[0037] At 19 the hops value can be changed and specified.

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates a screen layout 12.2, also referred to as "Reports" which permits a user to enter a web address in field 22 and which enables a user to open an error report 24.

[0039] Figure 5 illustrates a screen layout 12.3 wherein a user is permitted to enter general testing options. Such testing options include inter alia a "General", "E-mail" or "Advance" testing screen layout option. In the "General" testing option layout

(Figure 5), various options are provided. For example, an option is provided to execute the application upon startup of the server 26, an option to notify the user of any errors should the program be minimised by flashing the program icon in the windows task bar 28, an option to minimise the application to the system tray 30 and an option to display the application on the screen of the server 32. The status of the selections at 26, 28, 30 and 32 can be saved by selection of the button 33.

[0040] The user specifies the maximum number of pages to be scanned simultaneously per run is selected at field 34 and the user specifies the maximum number of linkable objects on a web page to be verified simultaneously per run is selected at field 35.

[0041] Figure 6 illustrates a screen layout 12.3 wherein the status of the selections 34 and 35 can be saved by selection of the button 36.

[0042] At 37, a user can select the number of seconds for the application to time-out if the application cannot scan a website. A user can select the number of re-tries on a link at 38.

[0043] At 39, a user can select to display the different colours in the link grid in Figure 1 , portion 14, while links are being verified. The status of the selections 37, 38 and 39 can be saved by selection of the button 40.

[0044] Figure 7 illustrates the "E-mail" layout screen 12.4 under the heading Settings. An option 41 to select reporting of results via e-mail is provided. The e-mail simple mail transport protocol (SMTP) address is entered at field 42 and the mail server port is entered at field 44. The selections can be saved by selection button 47. An authentication will specify how the logon request is handled at the email

server and is selected at field 46. The entering of a usemame for the e-mail account is provided for at field 48 and the entering of a password for the e-mail account is provided for at Figure 8, field 49. To send the Error Report to one or more e-mail addresses is provided for at field 50. The selections in Figure 7, field 46, Figure 8, fields 48, 49 and 50 can be saved by selection button 51.

[0045] Figure 9 illustrates the "Advance" layout screen 12.5 under the heading Settings which provides user selectable options for connecting to the Internet should a user operate from behind a firewall. An option to connect to the internet via a proxy server 52 is provided whilst the the proxy server address can be entered at field 53. The proxy port is entered at field 54 and a usemame and password at fields 58 and 60 respectively. A button 56 is provided to save the settings entered into the respective fields 52, 53 and 54.

[0046] In Figure 10, the "Advance" layout screen 12.5, a usemame and password for the proxy server can be entered at fields 58 and 60 respectively. A button 57 is provided to save the settings entered into the respective fields 58 and 60.

[0047] Figure 11 illustrates the "advance layout" screen 12.6 which provides a summary of the tests performed. Although screen 12.6 appears in portion 12 of the screen 10, it is part of the reporting means. A summary of the test results of the testing means is reported at filed 62. At 62.1 the internet protocol (IP) address of the web site being scanned is displayed, at 62.2 the total number of links being scanned is displayed, at 62.3 the number of links that were tested are displayed, at 62.4, the number of errors found and at 62.5, the status of the test application. The registered sites (web sites and/or domains that have registered and/or purchased a valid license to. use the program) are listed in field 64.

[0048] Figure 12 illustrates a screen 12.7 which provides further options to the user to select certain various testing options. An option to test all the links on all pages are provided at 66, whilst an option to test a selected link on a specific page is provided at 68.1. An option to test links on all pages from a page defined in field 70.1 is provided for at 70. A further option to follow redirected links is provided at 72, whilst an option to inspect external links is provided for at 74. The options selected at fields 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74 can be saved by means of the button 76.

[0049] Figure 13 illustrates a screen layout 12.8 which provides further selectable testing options to the user. Field 82 provides to the user the option to select between various thread priorities. This provides a user who runs a scan on multiple sites simultaneously, to specify the thread priority for that site compared to the other web sites being checked. For example, 82.1 is the lowest priority and 82.5 is the highest priority. The options can be saved by means of button 86.

[0050] Figure 14 illustrates a screen layout 12.9 wherein various filter options 88 for easy reference are selectable. Field 88.1 provides for HTML links, 88.2 provides for image links, 88.3 provides for e-mail links, 88.4 provides for document links and 88.5 provides for file links. Field 90 enables the user to remove the completed links from the list, whilst field 92 allows the user to test links that contain certain predefined words. The aforementioned selected options may be saved by means of the button 94.

[0051] Figure 15 illustrates a screen layout 12.10 wherein an option is provided to include selected words listed in field 92 and to exclude selected words or phrases as displayed in field 98. A button 96 enables the user to save to selected options.

[0052] Figure 16 illustrates a screen layout 12.11 which provides an option 100 to enable the test/inspector scheduler 102. The test/inspector scheduler 102 is subdivided into various days on which to run the tests. For example, Mondays 102.1 to Sundays 102.7. A button 103, Figure 17, enables the user to save the selected options.

[0053] Figure 17 illustrates a screen layout 12.11 which provides an option 104 to enable the test run specified in the test/inspector scheduler 102 in Figure 16, to start at a specified time selected at field 104.1. A button 105 enables the user to save the option selected in field 104.1.

[0054] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the layout of the program is not limited to the displayed format and may change from time to time depending on the customisation the user requires.

[0055] The operating systems further provide for a common integrated development environment to scan HTML links and objects whilst developing. This is known as IDE integration for link checking whilst developing and plugging will be provided for common integrated development environments to scan links and invalid objects whilst developing with the RAD environment.

[0056] The operating system may further include a snapshot function which enables the user to save any layout or functionality report for future comparisons. This is mostly utilised in the event that the web page is static and the link statuses seldom or never changes.

[0057] It will yet further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the operating system can be run on multiple workstations simultaneously with the same account details. This is known as Multi Terminal Support.

[0058] The following should be noted even though not more fully described in the aforementioned embodiment of the invention:

Server and Client side applications:

Multiple versions of the software will be provided for both client side usage (General Public) and server side usage (Corporate environments and Internet Service Providers)

Historical reporting:

Reports can be run on previous page scans to retrieve previous results. This is archived by specifying a start and end date or selecting a specific scan.

Statistical reporting:

Reports based on scan times and error link ratios. Uptime and speed statistics.

Performance recording and analysis:

Hardware and bandwidth usage can be monitored from within the software program. SDK available to integrate into custom applications (ActiveX components):

A software development kit is available to integrate software technology into other software packages. This allows other software vendors the ability to use the software technology to carry out their own requirements