Peer-to-peer commerce system
First Claim
1. A system permitting simultaneous searching of multiple databases, comprising:
- a network of information provider computers having associated databases of information, said information provider computers being connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol;
said information provider computers having an index of information on their associated databases and being able to check a query against the index and send the information back over the network if it is located;
at least one user computer being connected to the network according to the peer-to-peer protocol, said user computer being adapted to generate at least one query for information and to send it over the network, said query containing geographical location information, said user computer being adapted to receive a response to the query over the network in the form of the requested information; and
a management center processor connected to the network according to the peer-to-peer protocol, said management center processor receiving the query from said user computer over the network, formulating routing information based on said query and forwarding the query over the network to designated information provider computers based on the routing information in response to the receipt of the query, said management center receiving information responses from the information provider computers over the network and forwarding them to the user computer over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A peer-to-peer commerce system in part relies on being able to identify the geographic location of the electronic devices, e.g., computers or palm pilots. Where the computer or device is stationary, this can be indicated by inserting a zip code, address or telephone number in the computer code identifying the device. Where the device is mobile, this can be indicated manually in a similar fashion. In addition, global positioning satellite (“GSP”) devices may be incorporated with the device to give geographic location automatically. Further, if the device is a cellular telephone device, the cellular device has location information in terms of identifying the cell in which the device is broadcasting. The peer-to-peer search is passed simultaneously over various branches of a binary tree to applications controlling databases for various businesses. Each business application checks the query against the information on its database and provides it to the requesting computer when available.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system permitting simultaneous searching of multiple databases, comprising:
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a network of information provider computers having associated databases of information, said information provider computers being connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol;
said information provider computers having an index of information on their associated databases and being able to check a query against the index and send the information back over the network if it is located;
at least one user computer being connected to the network according to the peer-to-peer protocol, said user computer being adapted to generate at least one query for information and to send it over the network, said query containing geographical location information, said user computer being adapted to receive a response to the query over the network in the form of the requested information; and
a management center processor connected to the network according to the peer-to-peer protocol, said management center processor receiving the query from said user computer over the network, formulating routing information based on said query and forwarding the query over the network to designated information provider computers based on the routing information in response to the receipt of the query, said management center receiving information responses from the information provider computers over the network and forwarding them to the user computer over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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14. A method for simultaneous searching of multiple databases associated with a network of information provider computers, said information provider computers being connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol, said information provider computers having an index of information on their associated databases and being able to check a query against the index and send the information back over the network if it is located, comprising the steps of:
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generating, at a user computer connected to the network according to the peer-to-peer protocol, at least one query for information which includes geographical location information;
sending the query over the network to a management center processor in peer-to-peer protocol communication with the network;
formulating routing information based on said query;
forwarding the query over the network to designated information provider computers based on the routing information;
comparing the query to the index of information at the information provider computer to determine if the requested information is on its associated database;
if the requested information is on the database of the information provider, formatting it into a predetermined form;
sending the formatted information back to the management center; and
sending the formatted information from the management center to the user computer.
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Specification