Distributed-code, custom-generated dynamic internet inclusion agent
First Claim
1. A method for enabling a client system coupled to the Internet to search for and aggregate content from a Web site on a content server coupled to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an inclusion server coupled to the Internet;
routing communications between the client system and the content server through the inclusion server;
in the inclusion server, identifying a search methodology from the communications between the client system and the content server; and
generating a search agent to implement the identified search methodology.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a system and method for enabling a novice computer user automatically to generate a customized search agent for conducting a content search on one or more remote network Web sites and aggregating the search results. The user has the ability to specify the Web sites that will be searched. The customized search agent then functions to aggregate content found on each of the sites the computer user specifies for the search. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the novice user employs a remote inclusion agent automatically to generate the search agent simply by using a standard network browser to interface the inclusion agent and surf Web sites that provide the desired content.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a client system coupled to the Internet to search for and aggregate content from a Web site on a content server coupled to the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an inclusion server coupled to the Internet;
routing communications between the client system and the content server through the inclusion server;
in the inclusion server, identifying a search methodology from the communications between the client system and the content server; and
generating a search agent to implement the identified search methodology. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for enabling a client system coupled to the Internet to use a Web browser to generate a search agent to search for and aggregate content available on at least one of a plurality of Web sites, the at least one of a plurality of Web sites being hosted on a content server coupled to the Internet so as to provide the content to the client system, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling an inclusion server to the Internet;
establishing a first communication session between the client system and the inclusion server;
receiving, by the inclusion server, a first search request from the client containing a URL for the content server;
including the URL in a search agent hosted by the inclusion server;
establishing a second communication session between the inclusion server and the content server;
transmitting the first search request from the inclusion server to the content server as if the first search request came directly from the client system;
receiving, by the inclusion server, data from the content server defining a results Web page containing content satisfying the first search request, the content instantiating a content search variable; and
storing the content search variable in the search agent on the inclusion agent server. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for automating a search of a Web site comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a start URL for a Web site to be searched;
(b) sending a request to a server hosting the Web site;
(c) receiving, from the server, data defining a Web page in response to the request;
(d) determining a search heuristic defined by the data; and
(e) emitting code to access the Web page according to the search heuristic. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A system for generating code to enable a client system to search for content on at least one of a plurality of content servers, the system comprising:
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a client system coupled to a network;
a content server coupled to the network, the content server providing searchable content available to the client system according to a predefined search methodology; and
an inclusion server, coupled to the network, for intercepting communications between the client system and the content server, deducing the predefined search methodology, and emitting code for automating a search of the searchable content according to the deduced, predefined search methodology.
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20. A system for enabling an automatic search of one or more Web sites and aggregating one or more search results comprising:
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an initial Web page for receiving information identifying the one or more Web sites to be learned;
an inclusion script for receiving information from the Web sites to be learned and determining a corresponding search methodology for each of the Web sites to be learned; and
a code script for implementing the search methodology determined by the inclusion script for each of the Web sites to be learned. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27)
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24. A system for enabling a computer user having minimal computer experience to distributively generate a customized search agent, the system comprising:
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a client system coupled to a network, the client having a network browser;
a set of graphical interfaces, operable with the network browser, including;
an interactive start Web page for receiving from the computer user an identification of one or more Web sites to be searched;
an interactive search Web page for receiving from the computer user an identification of a requested content available on the one or more Web sites; and
an interactive results Web page for providing the computer user with the requested content in an aggregated form; and
an inclusion agent server for hosting code-generating scripts to generate the customized search agent, the code-generating scripts being substantially hidden from the computer user and including;
an inclusion script to identify and record a search methodology for the one or more Web sites;
a code script containing the identified and recorded search methodology; and
a results script for aggregating the requested content and providing the requested content to the interactive results Web page.
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28. A method for facilitating a B2B exchange among a first entity and a second entity having an online presence, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a server to monitor a methodology used by the first entity to search for content through the online presence of the second entity; and
enabling the first entity to use a Web browser to generate a search agent for searching for content according to the monitored methodology.
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29. A method for enabling a novice computer user to generate an agent to automate an action conducted by the computer user on a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a gateway presence on the network, the gateway presence being accessible to the computer user with a network browser application;
receiving through the gateway presence a communication from the user exemplifying the action; and
providing a preprogrammed computer program to monitor the communication and automatically generate the agent for automating the action.
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Specification