System & method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories
First Claim
1. A system for searching for a contact comprising:
- a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises;
a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory; and
a searching component in communication with said database
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a computerized system and method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories. An embodiment of the system includes a database, containing data necessary to perform a search, a user interface, and a component for performing the searches. Embodiments of the system provide a user with the ability to search directories in multiple locations and in multiple formats, both standard and non-standard, for contacts and to display the results of the search in one unified list. A system administrator or a user determines which directories the system searches and in what order the system performs the search.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for searching for a contact comprising:
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a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises;
a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory; and
a searching component in communication with said database - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for searching for a contact comprising:
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receiving a search criterion;
searching a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises;
a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory; and
iteratively performing the following steps a-c for each of said plurality of references;
a. connecting to an electronic directory to which said reference refers, b. performing a search of said electronic directory, using said search criterion, and c. receiving a result of said search. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for searching for a contact comprising:
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computer program code for receiving a search criterion;
computer program code for searching a database containing a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises;
a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory; and
computer program code for iteratively performing the following steps a-c for each of said plurality of references;
a. connecting to an electronic directory to which said reference refers, b. performing a search of said directory, using said search criterion, and c. receiving a result of said search. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification