Method and apparatus for searching for information in a network and for controlling the display of searchable information on display devices in the network
First Claim
1. A server computer for controlling the display of indicia on a client computer, said indicia representing searchable information controllable by an information storage device having information stored in at least one information source, said server computer comprising:
- a processor coupled to said information storage device;
a display device coupled to said processor, said display device having a display area for displaying an indicia representing said information stored on said information storage device;
an input device coupled to said processor, said input device for selecting a selected information source from said information stored on said information storage device; and
a communication interface coupled to said processor for coupling said server computer to a communication medium, and whereinsaid server computer transmits a first signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said selected information source to be available for searching by said client computer; and
said server computer transmits a second signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said selected information source to be not available for searching by said client computer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining information in a network of computer systems and for controlling the display of searchable information. The apparatus includes a first processor having a first display device and being coupled to an information storage device having information stored in at least one information source, where the first processor is coupled to a network. An input device is coupled to the first processor, where the input device is for selecting the information source to provide a selected information source which is to be unavailable for searching. A second processor having a second display device is coupled to the network to communicate with the first processor. The second display device is for displaying an indicia of information source, where the second display device displayed the indicia of the information source when the information source has not been selected by the input device. When the input device has selected the information source the indicia at some point in time after the information source has been selected is no longer displayed on the second display device. The method includes displaying on a first display device to a first indicia which corresponds to an information source stored on an information storage device. The method further includes displaying on the second display device a second indicia corresponding to the information source, this second indicia being displayed when the information source is not selected by the input device. When the information source is selected, at some time after selection, the second indicia is longer displayed on the second display device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A server computer for controlling the display of indicia on a client computer, said indicia representing searchable information controllable by an information storage device having information stored in at least one information source, said server computer comprising:
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a processor coupled to said information storage device; a display device coupled to said processor, said display device having a display area for displaying an indicia representing said information stored on said information storage device; an input device coupled to said processor, said input device for selecting a selected information source from said information stored on said information storage device; and a communication interface coupled to said processor for coupling said server computer to a communication medium, and wherein said server computer transmits a first signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said selected information source to be available for searching by said client computer; and said server computer transmits a second signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said selected information source to be not available for searching by said client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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- 7. A client computer capable of being coupled to a server computer and capable of searching information controllable by said server computer, said client computer comprising a processor, a communication interface coupled to said processor, and a display device coupled to said processor, said display device containing a display area for displaying an indicia representing at least one information source controllable by said server computer, said indicia indicating that said information source is available for searching when said information source has not been selected to be unavailable by said server computer, and said display device not displaying said indicia when said information source has been selected to be unavailable to said client computer by said server computer.
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12. On a server computer capable of being coupled to a client computer, said server computer comprising a processor, an information storage device coupled to said processor, a display device coupled to said processor, an input device coupled to said processor, and a communication interface coupled to said processor for coupling said server computer to a communication medium, a method for controlling the display on said client computer of indicia representing searchable information controllable by said server computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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displaying at least one information source in a display area on said display device; transmitting a first signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said at least one information source using said input device to be available for searching by said client computer, said first signal causing matching indicia displayed on said client computer to indicate that said information source is available for searching; and transmitting a second signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said at least one information source using said input device to be a hidden information source, said hidden information source being unsearchable on said client computer, said second signal causing said matching indicia displayed on said client computer to indicate that said that said hidden information source is unavailable for searching. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium for use with a digital processing system, said digital processing system capable of being coupled to a client computer, and comprising a processor, an information storage device coupled to said processor, a display device coupled to said processor, an input device coupled to said processor, and a communication interface for connecting said processor to a communication medium, said computer readable storage medium containing executable instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said digital processing system to perform the steps of:
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displaying at least one information source in a display area on said display device; transmitting a first signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said at least one information source using said input device to be available for searching by said client computer;
said first signal causing matching indicia displayed on said client computer to indicate that said information source is available for searching; andtransmitting a second signal through said communication interface to said client computer if said server computer has selected said at least one information source using said input device to be a hidden information source, said hidden information source being unsearchable on said client computer, said second signal causing said matching indicia displayed on said client computer to indicate that said that said hidden information source is unavailable for searching. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification