Techniques are disclosed for efficiently and selectively reloading frames of a multiframe Web page or a multiframe window. Multiple frames may be reloaded as a result of the server sending its response to a single client request message. Server-side logic maintains an awareness of which frames need to be reloaded, regardless of whether that need results from something synchronous with the client's request for a frame or asynchronous to that request. Then, when the client requests data for a single frame, in addition to sending content for the requested frame, the server also sends data to cause reloading of the other frames that need to be reloaded (and only those frames). Preferably, the data to cause reloading of the other frames comprises indicators (such as scripting code) that will force the client to request reloading of each of these other frames. Multiple reload requests may be collapsed into a single response. The disclosed techniques apply also to frames to be initially loaded. Bandwidth is used efficiently, and flashing of browser frames is reduced. No additional client-side logic is required.

An apparatus and method for dynamically displaying data in a browser of a client computer. In one aspect, the invention is a method comprising: displaying a web page comprising a primary frame having dynamic fields in said browser, wherein said web page is created by programming language containing specialized tags containing instructional elements adapted to facilitate rendering of visual data in said dynamic fields; searching said programming language of said web page for said specialized tags and creating a companion file, said companion file comprising scripting information based upon said instructional elements and updated real world data stored in a memory source; downloading said companion file; and executing said scripting information contained within said companion file causing said rendering of visual data in said dynamic fields to correspond to said updated real world data.

Techniques are provided for maintaining the visibility of a priority page in the background of a software application window while simultaneously displaying unrelated content from a content tab. The content displayed in the content tab can be obtained from a web page. A user can resize or minimize the content tab, but the background priority page is always visible in the window. The priority page can be a friends lists displayed in the background of an instant messenger application. Content from a content tab is simultaneously displayed in the instant messenger window with the friends list.

A method for managing authorization to access Internet services. A session object is created when a user logs onto a web site. The session object includes authorization-privilege information for N services. The user selects the service desired from the web site, at which point the server checks the session object. If the session object does not include authorization to access the selected service, the server consults a directory service. If the user is authorized according to the directory service, authorization-to-access information is incorporated into the session object. When authorization is conditional, a listener object is created within the session object. The listener object registers with a broadcast object and receives information germane to conditions of authorization. The listener object analyzes the information according to conditions of authorization, and terminates access to the selected service when conditions of authorization are not satisfied.

A software agent is provided which executes instructions on a local user's computer to retrieve potentially changing information content from remote target sources, including web pages, over a computer network, such as the Internet. Different types of software agents are available to retrieve different types of information content from remote sites. Agent types include a smart agent, a search agent, a custom agent for detailed tasks and an RSS agent for retrieving structured XML format documents from remote Internet sites. Information retrieved by the agents is formatted and stored locally for presentation in a publication on the local computer. Publication templates can display target content retrieved by multiple agents from many different remote target pages.