Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection engine
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection engine. User actions are detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination is made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information is extracted electronically from third party web sites, direct supplier connections, and intermediate databases. Potential information suppliers are automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries are formulated from the user search and transferred to each selected supplier over a network coupling. The queries include a request for information. Responses are received from the suppliers, and the responses are used to generate a result list for the user. The result list includes information and query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a web site of each supplier from which the information was derived.
26 Citations
86 Claims
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1-62. -62. (canceled)
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63. A search method, comprising:
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transmitting a search request to a search system server from a user computer;
initiating at least one communication session between the search system server and at least one supplier server, wherein the communication session is initiated based on the search request transmitted to the search system server, wherein the communication session comprises at least one request from the search system server to the supplier server and at least one response from the supplier server to the search system server, and wherein the response from the supplier server comprises dynamically generated data indicative of a state of the supplier server; and
transmitting the dynamically generated data from the search system server to the user computer. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 84)
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73. A search method, comprising:
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transmitting, with browser software running on a user computer, a search request to a search system server;
initiating at least one communication session between the search system server and at least one supplier server, wherein the communication session is initiated based on the search request transmitted to the search system server, wherein the communication session comprises at least one request from the search system server to the supplier server and at least one response from the supplier server to the search system server, and wherein the response from the supplier server comprises dynamically generated data indicative of a state of the supplier server;
transmitting the dynamically generated data from the search system server to the user computer;
generating at least one result list displayed at the user computer, wherein the result list includes at least one URL link to a website purchase page utilized for purchasing an item from the supplier and wherein the URL link has associated therewith the data transmitted to the user computer; and
navigating to the website purchase page identified by the URL link in the result list with the browser software. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85)
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82. A communication method employing an intermediate server, comprising:
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receiving a transaction request from a user computer at the intermediate server;
initiating at least one communication session with at least one information supplier from the intermediate server, wherein the communication session is conducted based on the transaction request from the user computer, and wherein the communication session comprises at least one request from the intermediate server to the information supplier and at least one response from the information supplier to the intermediate server;
obtaining state identifying information from at least one response from the information supplier, wherein the state identifying information comprises data dynamically generated by the information supplier indicative of a state of the communication session within the information supplier; and
transferring the state identifying information to the user computer, wherein the transfer makes the user computer capable of continuing the communication session with the information supplier in place of the intermediate server.
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83. A search method, comprising:
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receiving a transaction request transmitted from a user computer to an intermediate server;
initiating at least one communication session with at least one information supplier, wherein the communication session is initiated from the intermediate server based upon the transaction request from the user computer;
conducting the communication session, wherein the communication session comprises at least one request from the intermediate server to the information supplier and at least one response from the information supplier to the intermediate server; and
transmitting state identifying information to the user computer, wherein the state identifying information comprises data dynamically generated by the information supplier indicative of a state of the communication session within the information supplier. - View Dependent Claims (86)
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Specification