Method, system, and computer-readable medium for communicating results to a data query in a computer network

• US 20040230666A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taboada, Roberto C., Bailey, Eric D., Helfrich, James N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system are provided for communicating results to a query for data in a computer network utilizing a graphical user interface. A framework on a client computer registers the client computer with an information service provider. Then the framework receives the query for data from the user interface. The framework creates a query packet including the query for data. A remote computer in communication with the framework resident on the local computing device receives the query packet from the framework and sends a response packet to the framework. After receiving the response packet, the framework determines whether the response packet contains a result to the data query. If the response packet contains a result to the data query, the framework formats the result for presentation to a user via the user interface on the local computing device. If the response packet, does not contain a result to the data query the framework may send a status message, indicating that no results were returned for the data query, to the user interface. The data in the query packet and the response packet may be formatted in a data format such as Extensible Markup Language (“XML”).

Claims

1. A method of communicating results to a query for data in a computer network utilizing a graphical user interface resident on a local computing device, the method comprising:

receiving the query for data from the user interface;

creating a query packet containing the query for data, the query packet adhering to a data format;

sending the query packet to the remote computing device;

receiving a response packet from the remote computing device, the response packet adhering to the data format;

determining whether the response packet contains at least one result to the data query; and

if the response packet contains the at least one result to the data query, then formatting the at least one result for presentation to a user on the local computing device via the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a status message to the user interface if the response packet does not contain the at least one result to the data query.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the status message comprises a notification that no results were returned for the query for data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering the local computing device with a remote computing device in the computer network

5. The method of claim 4, wherein registering the local computing device with a remote computing device in the network comprises:

receiving a registration request from the user interface;

creating a registration request packet, the registration request packet adhering to the data format;

sending the registration request packet to the remote computing device; and

receiving a registration response packet from the remote computing device, the registration response packet containing a response to the registration request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein formatting the at least one result for presentation to a user on the local computing device via the user interface comprises transforming the at least one result into a format for presentation to the user in the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data format is Extensible Markup Language.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the local computing device is a client in the computer network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is an information service provider in the computer network.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the local computing device is a client computer in the computer network.

11. A system for communicating results to a query for data in a computer network, the system comprising:

a user interface resident on a local computing device in the computer network for creating the query for data;

a framework, resident on the local computing device and in communication with the user interface, operative to;

receive the query for data from the user interface; and

create a query packet containing the query for data, the query packet adhering to a data format; and

a remote computer in communication with the framework resident on the local computing device, operative to;

receive the query packet from the framework; and

send a response packet to the framework, the response packet adhering to the data format;

wherein the framework, after receiving the response packet, is operative to determine whether the response packet contains at least one result to the data query;

if the response packet contains the at least one result to the data query, the framework is operative to format the at least one result for presentation to a user via the user interface; and

if the response packet does not contain the at least one result to the data query, the framework is operative to send a status message to the user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the framework is further operative to:

receive a registration request from the user interface;

create a registration request packet, the registration request packet adhering to the data format;

send the registration request packet to the remote computing device; and

receive a registration response packet from the remote computing device, the registration response packet containing a response to the registration request.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the data format is Extensible Markup Language.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote computing device is an information service provider in the computer network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the framework in formatting the at least one result for presentation to a user on the local computing device via the user interface is operative to transform the at least one result into a format for presentation to the user in the user interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the format for presentation of the at least one result to the user in the user interface comprises a document.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the format for presentation of the at least one result to the user in the user interface comprises a form.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the format for presentation of the at least one result to the user in the user interface comprises content.

20. A method of communicating results to a query for data in a computer network utilizing a graphical user interface resident on a local computing device, the method comprising:

registering the local computing device with a remote computing device in the computer network utilizing the user interface;

receiving the query for data from the user interface;

creating a query packet containing the query for data, the query packet adhering to a data format;

sending the query packet to the remote computing device;

receiving a response packet from the remote computing device, the response packet adhering to the data format;

determining whether the response packet contains at least one result to the data query;

if the response packet contains the at least one result to the data query, then formatting the at least one result for presentation to a user on the local computing device via the user interface; and

if the response packet does not contain the at least one result to the data query, then sending a status message to the user interface.