Search system and method via proxy server
First Claim
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1. A method of searching for data to be retrieved from a distributed computer system, the method comprising:
- generating a search request at a user end terminal, the search request comprising search criteria and a permanent user identifier which can be mapped to an address in the distributed computer system, wherein the search criteria comprise information entered at the end terminal by a user and additional information automatically added to the entered information, the additional information being associated with the user identifier;
forwarding the search request to a proxy terminal arranged to forward the search request to a data source capable of retrieving data satisfying the search request from the distributed computer system, and providing the search result to a user end terminal selected in accordance with one or more user preferences after the initial search session has terminated.
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Abstract
A method of searching for data to be retrieved from a distributed computer system, the method comprising: generating a search request at a user end terminal comprising at least one search criterion; modifying the search request at a user end terminal to indicate at least one user preference; forwarding the search request to a proxy terminal arranged to forward the search request to a data source capable of retrieving data from the distributed computer system, the data source being capable of providing a search result to a user end terminal selected in accordance with one or more predetermined user preferences.
215 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of searching for data to be retrieved from a distributed computer system, the method comprising:
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generating a search request at a user end terminal, the search request comprising search criteria and a permanent user identifier which can be mapped to an address in the distributed computer system, wherein the search criteria comprise information entered at the end terminal by a user and additional information automatically added to the entered information, the additional information being associated with the user identifier;
forwarding the search request to a proxy terminal arranged to forward the search request to a data source capable of retrieving data satisfying the search request from the distributed computer system, and providing the search result to a user end terminal selected in accordance with one or more user preferences after the initial search session has terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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15. A method of searching for data to be retrieved from a distributed computer system, the distributed computer system comprising at least one user end terminal capable of communicating with a proxy server, the proxy server being capable of communicating with at least one data source capable of retrieving information from the distributed computer system, the user end terminal being adapted to be operable by a user who is registered with the proxy server with a unique user identity, the user identity being associated with a set of user preferences, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a search request at one of said at least one user end terminals in an initial search session, the search request indicating a plurality of search criteria to be met by the data to be retrieved, the search criteria comprising information the user has entered at the user terminal and additional information derived using the user identity which is automatically included as search criteria;
sending a search request message encapsulating the search request to the proxy server;
associating the search request message with a unique search number associated with the user'"'"'s unique identity;
forwarding the search request message to at least one data source arranged to process the received search request message;
performing a search according to the encapsulated search request;
sending a search result encapsulated in a search result message to the proxy server;
de-encapsulating the search result message;
processing the search result according to the set of user preferences;
selecting one of said at least one user end terminals according to the set of user preferences; and
sending an search result message encapsulating the processed search result to said at least one selected user end terminal after the initial search session has terminated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification