Listing network for classified information
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for creating and distributing classified listings, the method comprising, at a programmed user computer system:
- a) providing a user interface providing facilities for creating, maintaining, and deleting listings from a local listings database;
b) downloading by way of the network a classification data structure defining a plurality of classifications;
c) accepting from a user listing information defining a new listing, the listing information including one or more classifications from the classification data structure to associate with the listing;
d) storing the listing in the local listings database; and
, e) forwarding at least some listing information about listings in the local listings database to at least one search server on the network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer implemented methods and computer systems for locally creating, managing, publishing to peer computers, searching for, and retrieving classified listings are disclosed. Information about the listings is provided to search servers which can be used to locate listings of interest. In some embodiments a system has a central search server which can be queried to locate listings of interest. Other embodiments provide a peer-to-peer computer network which uses a distributed search method. Users can generate listings at their local computers. Listings are stored locally. Listings can include file attachments which can be transferred in a peer-to-peer manner. The system provides a classification data structure, which defines classifications which may be associated with listings. Listings can also be associated with geographical locations. The system may be used to share information about items for sale, upcoming events of interest, services available or needed, or the like.
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Citations
115 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for creating and distributing classified listings, the method comprising, at a programmed user computer system:
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a) providing a user interface providing facilities for creating, maintaining, and deleting listings from a local listings database;
b) downloading by way of the network a classification data structure defining a plurality of classifications;
c) accepting from a user listing information defining a new listing, the listing information including one or more classifications from the classification data structure to associate with the listing;
d) storing the listing in the local listings database; and
,e) forwarding at least some listing information about listings in the local listings database to at least one search server on the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 114)
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34. A method for searching for classified listings, the method comprising:
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a) providing a search query including a locality criterion identifying a geographical area of interest;
b) using the locality criterion to identify a plurality of local listing servers which at least partially cover the geographical area of interest, each of the local listing servers maintaining a local listings database;
c) forwarding the search query to the plurality of local listing servers;
d) receiving search results from the plurality of local listing servers; and
,e) combining the search results.
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38. A method for maintaining an index to listings distributed on a plurality of geographically separated computer systems, the method comprising:
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a) initializing a search server associated with an initial coverage area;
b) obtaining information identifying a set of computer systems containing listings in the coverage area;
c) generating and sending to the computer systems in the set information identifying the search server;
d) receiving at the search server listing information identifying listings held at the computer systems; and
,e) indexing the listing information.
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39. A computer-implemented method for creating and distributing classified listings, the method comprising:
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a) providing on a computer network a classification data structure providing a plurality of classifications;
b) on a network-connected computer system providing local listing server software which, when invoked on a user computer system, causes the user computer system to;
download a copy of the classification data structure;
provide a user interface providing facilities for creating, maintaining, and deleting listings from a listings database maintained on the user computer system, each of the listings associated with at least one of the classifications; and
,upload information about listings from the local listings database to one or more other computer systems on the network; and
,c) receiving and storing at one or more listing servers connected to the network listing information, the listing information corresponding to listings in the listings databases of a plurality of user computer systems, the one or more listing servers each comprising a search engine capable of receiving a query from a user computer system, executing the query and returning a result set comprising listing information corresponding to one or more of the listings.
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113. Apparatus for publishing classified listings, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a processor b) a user interface;
c) a locally stored classification data structure defining a plurality of classifications;
d) a database for storing listings;
e) stored geographical location information; and
,f) software which, when executed on the processor, causes the processor to receive listing information defining a listing from the user interface, the listing information including a selection of one of the classifications, and to store the listing information in the database together with the stored geographical location information.
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115. A method for obtaining a file in a peer-to-peer file transfer system, the method comprising:
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a) requesting a file in a peer-to-peer manner;
b) waiting for a period;
c) if the file has not been received then requesting a copy of the file from a central server.
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Specification