System and Method For Efficiently Accessing Internet Resources

• US 20070203896A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently accessing Internet resources is disclosed. One example directory system for permitting a user to access and retrieve information from a network of computers is disclosed. The example system comprises a key phrase field for accepting a search term, a data table and a search unit. The data table comprises a plurality of cells for storing unique identifiers wherein at least one of said plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifiers. The search unit conducts a search for unique identifiers from the network of computers related to the search term.

Claims

1. A system for permitting a user to access and retrieve information from a network of computers, comprising:

a key phrase field for accepting a search term;

a data table comprising a plurality of cells arranged into at least one row and at least two columns, each of the plurality of cells for storing a unique identifier related to its corresponding column and row and the search term, at least one of the plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifiers; and

a search unit for conducting a search, the search unit conducts the search for unique identifiers related to the search term from the network of computers, the search unit uses links to access data stored within the network of computers, the search unit storing each unique identifier in an applicable cell.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table is reviewed for consistency.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table is organized according to an organizational structure of an institution.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table is organized according to a column for storing titles.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table includes a default contact method.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table includes a field that is maintained by an institution.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is an Internet search engine.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the search unit conducts a subsearch in response to user selection of a cell.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the search unit conducts the search using a database selected by the user.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the search unit merges a plurality of databases into a merged database, and the search unit conducts the search using the merged database.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the system interfaces with a software module to perform the action related to the stored unique identifiers.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the software module is an e-mail application.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the software module initiates a telephone call.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the software module is a facsimile application.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the software module initiates a video conference.

16. A method for providing information to a user from a network of computers, comprising:

receiving a search term from the user;

searching a database for unique identifiers related to the search term;

retrieving data stored within the network of computers using at least one link;

displaying a data table comprising a plurality of cells arranged into at least one row and at least two columns, each of the plurality of cells for storing a unique identifier related to its corresponding column and row and the search term, at least one of the plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifiers;

receiving a request to activate a cell within the data table.

17. The method of claim 16 further including reviewing the data table for consistency.

18. The method of claim 16 further including organizing the data table according to an organizational structure of an institution.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the data table is organized according to a column for storing titles.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the data table includes a default contact method.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the data table includes a field that is maintained by an institution.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of searching includes:

conducting a subsearch in response to a selection of a cell by the user.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving a selection of a database by the user.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

merging a plurality of databases into the database.

25. The method of claim 16 further comprising interfacing with a software module to perform the action related to the stored unique identifiers.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the software module is an e-mail application.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the software module initiates a telephone call.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the software module is a facsimile application.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the software module initiates a video conference.