Data retrieval scheme
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of purchasing an item, the method enabling a user to search for information on the cost of an item on a distributed computer system, the method comprising: generating a search request for the item at a user terminal; modifying the search request to indicate at least one user preference; forwarding the search request to a server adapted to retrieve data from the distributed computer system, the server adapted to provide a search result to a user terminal selected in accordance with a predetermined user preference dependent on the extent to which the search result conforms with the search request, whereby the user is able to purchase the item at the cost informed by the search result.
202 Citations
95 Claims
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1-56. -56. (canceled)
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57. A method of retrieving data associated with an item searched for using a distributed computer system, the retrieved data enabling an further action comprising the purchase of the item by a user associated with a permanent user identity, the method comprising:
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generating a search request for the item at a user terminal during an initial search session, the search request being associated with said user identity;
modifying the search request to indicate at least one user preference associated with said user identity;
forwarding the search request to a server adapted to retrieve data from the distributed computer system, retrieving the data from the distributed computer system;
associating the retrieved data with said permanent user identity;
providing a search result comprising said retrieved data associated with said user identity to a user terminal selected in accordance with a predetermined user preference dependent on the extent to which the search result conforms with the search request, wherein said retrieved data comprises an item conforming to the search criteria of the search request, and performing said further action on said retrieved data in accordance with said at least one said user preference, wherein said further action comprises the purchase of the item at a cost informed by the data retrieved by the search result, wherein the association of said search result with said permanent user identifier enables said search result data to be retrieved by said user after the initial search session has terminated. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 67, 68, 69, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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61. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the data includes an item and associated cost information and the distributed computer system comprises at least one user terminal capable of communicating with a proxy server, the proxy server being capable of communicating with at least one other server capable of retrieving information from the distributed computer system, the user terminal being adapted to be operable by a user who is registered with the proxy server with an identifier for the user, the identifier being associated with one or more static or dynamic addresses, the user identifier being further associated with a set of user preferences, wherein said step of generating a search request at said user terminal comprises:
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indicating at least one search criterion to be met by the data to be retrieved; and
sending a search request message encapsulating the search request to the proxy server;
wherein said step of modifying the search request incorporates the user preferences and associates the search request message with the identifier of the user;
wherein said step of forwarding the search request comprises;
forwarding the modified search request message and the identifier from the proxy server to at least one search server arranged to process the received search request message;
wherein said step of retrieving data comprises performing a search according to the encapsulated search request;
wherein said steps of associating the retrieved data and providing a search result comprise sending a search result containing some information dependent on the identifier for the user encapsulated in a search result message to the proxy server; and
wherein said step of performing said action further comprises said proxy server performing the steps of;
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 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 terminal. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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- 63. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the distributed computer system supports the session initiation protocol (SIP), and wherein the user terminal is a SIP registered terminal, the proxy server is a SIP proxy server, and the user is registered at the proxy server with a unique SIP address.
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70. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the method further comprises the step of the proxy server modifying the set of at least one search criterion according to said set of user preferences.
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71. A method as claimed in 57, wherein at least one user preference indicates a scheme to which the user has subscribed which may modify the cost of an item returned by the search.
- 72. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the method further comprises the step of the proxy server modifying the search result according to a set of user preferences.
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75. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the at least one search server to which said search request message is forwarded to by the proxy server is determined by the proxy server in accordance with said set of at least one user preferences.
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76. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the proxy server modifies the search result received to identify an address to which the search request can be forwarded to in the form of an electronic email.
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77. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the proxy server processes the returned search result to remove at least one result which is indicated by at least one user preference as not relevant to the user'"'"'s listed interests.
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78. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the proxy server processes the returned search result to modify any returned cost value for an item indicated by the search according to a discount scheme to which the identity of the user is associated.
- 79. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the proxy server processes the search result to prioritise the delivery of at least one item listed by the search result to the user in accordance with the extent to which said at least one item conforms with the set of at least one search criterion.
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81. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the search request is generated by the user terminal modifying a previously stored search request in accordance with an updated set of at least one search criterion.
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82. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the set of at least one user preferences specifies a maximum time limit for the search results to be generated.
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83. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the distributed computer system is connected over a communications network.
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84. A method as claimed in 57, wherein the session during which software provided on the user terminal interfaces with software provided on the proxy server to send the proxy server the search request message is terminated when the proxy server sends the search result message to the user.
Specification