DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION NETWORK IMPLEMENTED TO MAINTAIN UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY
First Claim
1. A distributed information network constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, comprising:
- a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each of which represented by metadata corresponding to directly or indirectly available information content;
multiple distributed sites each of which implemented with an information provider that is remotely located from the root server, the information provider of each of the distributed sites storing metadata corresponding to the information content that is available at a server of or a server associated with the information provider, the information content being retrievable in response to a profiled information search request from the root server for search results of a search performed on the information content;
a profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distributed sites, the profiled information communication link enabling formation of a path for delivery of the search results of the information content to which the metadata correspond to a destination site from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request; and
an operating system client that delivers to the root server an information search request by a user, the root server assembling a list identifying a selected one or more of the servers qualified to be searched for information content, and receives without passing through the profiled information communication link the search results retrieved from the selected one or more servers identified in the list in response to the profiled information search request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed information network is constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, i.e., the Internet. The distributed information network preferably includes a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each represented by metadata. A network browser delivers an information search request to the root server, which in response develops a profiled information search request. The information provider of each of the distributed sites stores metadata corresponding to information content that is retrievable in response to the profiled information search request for search results derivable from the information content to which the metadata correspond. A profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distribution sites enables formation of a path for delivery of the search results to a destination site, from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distributed information network constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, comprising:
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a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each of which represented by metadata corresponding to directly or indirectly available information content; multiple distributed sites each of which implemented with an information provider that is remotely located from the root server, the information provider of each of the distributed sites storing metadata corresponding to the information content that is available at a server of or a server associated with the information provider, the information content being retrievable in response to a profiled information search request from the root server for search results of a search performed on the information content; a profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distributed sites, the profiled information communication link enabling formation of a path for delivery of the search results of the information content to which the metadata correspond to a destination site from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request; and an operating system client that delivers to the root server an information search request by a user, the root server assembling a list identifying a selected one or more of the servers qualified to be searched for information content, and receives without passing through the profiled information communication link the search results retrieved from the selected one or more servers identified in the list in response to the profiled information search request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of gathering information from multiple sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, comprising:
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implementing with each of the multiple distributed sites an information provider storing metadata corresponding to information content that is available at a server of or a server associated with the information provider, the information content being retrievable in response to a profiled information search request for search results of a search performed on the information content; establishing a profiled information communication link between a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each of which represented by metadata corresponding to the information content and each of the multiple distributed sites; transmitting from an operating system client to the root server a profiled information search request for search results of a search performed on the information content; the root server assembling a list identifying a selected one or more of the servers qualified to be searched for information content; and forming a communication path for delivery of the search results to a destination site from the selected one or more servers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification