Method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for searching and navigating a document database
First Claim
1. A method for searching a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, said method comprising:
- assigning a unique numeric category identifier to each of a plurality of document categories;
assigning each of said electronic documents to one of said document categories, said assigned category based upon the content of each of said electronic documents;
associating metadata with each of said electronic documents, said metadata comprising said unique numeric category identifier corresponding to said document category assigned to each of said electronic documents;
receiving a request to search said database, said search limited to documents assigned to a specified document category associated with said request;
searching said metadata associated with each of said electronic documents; and
returning an identity of each of said electronic documents, wherein each identity is returned as a list of document identifiers and a pointer into said list corresponding to a single one of said electronic documents.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for searching and navigating a document database is provided. Document categories are assigned unique numeric category identifiers. Each document in a database is assigned to one of the document categories. Metadata is associated with each electronic document that includes the numeric category identifier corresponding to the category assigned to the document. The database may be searched or browsed based on category by utilizing the metadata. URLs may also be embedded in a Web page that includes a list of document identifiers and an index. The list of document identifiers is a list containing the identities of an arbitrary number of search results. The index identifies one of the documents in the list of document identifiers to be retrieved. When such a URL is selected, a Web server computer utilizes the list of document identifiers and the index to identify the document to be returned.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for searching a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, said method comprising:
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assigning a unique numeric category identifier to each of a plurality of document categories;
assigning each of said electronic documents to one of said document categories, said assigned category based upon the content of each of said electronic documents;
associating metadata with each of said electronic documents, said metadata comprising said unique numeric category identifier corresponding to said document category assigned to each of said electronic documents;
receiving a request to search said database, said search limited to documents assigned to a specified document category associated with said request;
searching said metadata associated with each of said electronic documents; and
returning an identity of each of said electronic documents, wherein each identity is returned as a list of document identifiers and a pointer into said list corresponding to a single one of said electronic documents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for navigating a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, each of said electronic documents identified by a document identifier, said method comprising:
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receiving a request for one of said electronic documents, said request comprising a list of document identifiers and a pointer into said list corresponding to said requested electronic document; and
in response to said request, utilizing said pointer and said list of document identifiers to identify said requested electronic document from said plurality of electronic documents without performing a search of said database. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for navigating a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, each of said electronic documents identified by a document identifier, said method comprising:
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receiving a request for one of said electronic documents, said request comprising a list of document identifiers and a pointer into said list corresponding to said requested electronic document; and
in response to said request, utilizing said pointer and said list of document identifiers to identify said requested electronic document from said plurality of electronic documents without performing a search of said database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification