Web based resource distribution system

• US 20020124009A1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hoblit, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system and method for distributing a collection of physical (tangible) resources, e.g., books, newspapers, periodicals, trade publications, compact discs, equipment, video tapes microfilm. In one embodiment, a method comprises the step of accessing a web server maintaining a database of profiles associated with the collection of resources by a user via a web browser. The user may then issue a search request via the web browser to search for one or more resources within the collection of resources. Upon identifying one or more resources from the search, the user may contact one or more owners of the one or more resources identified. The user may contact the one or more owners based on the contact information provided in the profiles in the one or more resources identified. Upon contacting the one or more owners, the user may borrow the one or more resources previously identified.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a collection of resources comprising the steps of:

accessing a web server maintaining a database of profiles associated with said collection of resources;

identifying a resource in said collection of resources;

contacting an owner of said resource; and

borrowing said resource from said owner.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said collection of resources comprises one or more tangible objects.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each resource in said collection of resources has a profile associated with it.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said profile comprises fields of information.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said fields of information comprise one or more of the following:

resource name, resource type, resource subject, author(s), resource owner, resource location, checkout restrictions, check in/out status, permitted length of checkout, black-out period, new owner indicator, contact information.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

searching for one or more resources in said collection of resources based on one or more of said fields of information.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said new owner indicator field indicates whether or not an owner of a particular resource desires to continue to have custodianship of said particular resource

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said black-out period field indicates when a particular resource is not to be checked out.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said permitted length field indicates a time period a particular resource is to be checked out.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said contact information field indicates contact information of a particular owner of a particular resource.

11. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said check in/out status field indicates whether or not a particular resource is available to be borrowed.

12. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said checkout restrictions field indicates which users are permitted to borrow a particular resource.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

returning said resource to said owner.

14. The method as recited in claim 13. wherein a particular field in a profile of said returned resource indicates said returned resource is checked in upon approval of both a borrower and said owner.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a particular field in a profile of said borrowed resource indicates said borrowed resource is checked out upon approval of both a borrower and said owner.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said collection of resources comprises one or more tangible objects.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein each resource in said collection of resources has a profile associated with it.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said profile comprises fields of information.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said fields of information comprise one or more of the following:

resource name, resource type, resource subject, author(s), resource owner, resource location, checkout restrictions, check in/out status, permitted length of checkout, black-out period, new owner indicator, contact information.

21. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said user of said client searches for one or more resources in said collection of resources based on one or more of said fields of information.

22. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said new owner indicator field indicates whether or not an owner of a particular resource desires to continue to have custodianship of said particular resource.

23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said black-out period field indicates when a particular resource is not to be checked out.

24. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said permitted length field indicates a time period a particular resource is to be checked out.

25. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said contact information field indicates contact information of a particular owner of a particular resource.

26. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said check in/out status field indicates whether or not a particular resource is available to be borrowed.

27. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said checkout restrictions field indicates which users are permitted to borrow a particular resource.

28. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said user of said client further performs the following step:

returning said resource to said owner.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein a particular field in a profile of said returned resource indicates said returned resource is checked in upon approval of both a borrower and said owner.

30. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein a particular field in a profile of said borrowed resource indicates said borrowed resource is checked out upon approval of both a borrower and said owner.

16. A system comprising:

a web server configured to provide access to a database of profiles associated with a collection of resources; and

a client coupled to said web server, wherein said client comprises a web browser, wherein a user of said client performs the following steps;

searching for one or more resources in said collection of resources via said web browser;

identifying a resource in said collection of resources;

contacting an owner of said resource; and

borrowing said resource from said owner.