Internet organizer for accessing geographically and topically based information
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A system which associates on-line information with geographic areas, said system comprising:
- a computer network wherein a plurality of computers have access to said computer network; and
an organizer executing in said computer network, wherein said organizer is configured to receive search requests from any one of said plurality of computers, said organizer comprising;
a database of information organized into a hierarchy of geographical areas wherein entries corresponding to each one of said hierarchy of geographical areas is further organized into topics; and
a search engine in communication with said database, said search engine configured to search geographically and topically, said search engine further configured to elect one of said hierarchy of geographical areas prior to selection of a topic so as to provide a geographical search area wherein within said hierarchy of geographical areas at least one of said entries associated with a border geographical area is dynamically replicated into at least o e narrower geographical area, said search engine further configure to search said topics within said selected geographical search area.
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Abstract
A software interface organizes information predicated upon the geographical area of the resources about which the information is desired. A user is presented with a "viewpoint" map which may comprise, for example, an actual visually displayed map of a selected geographical area, or text information which pertains to the resources associated with the selected geographical area. A geography database, a local content database and a yellow pages database are provided to allow the user to obtain information at different levels. The geography database allows the user to browse through different geographic areas of which are ordered hierarchically, while the local content database includes information about general goods and services available within a given geographic location and the yellow pages database includes information about specific goods and services in the geographic location. Thus, the user is provided with a means whereby information which is associated with particular geographic locations can be readily accessed.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system which associates on-line information with geographic areas, said system comprising:
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a computer network wherein a plurality of computers have access to said computer network; and an organizer executing in said computer network, wherein said organizer is configured to receive search requests from any one of said plurality of computers, said organizer comprising; a database of information organized into a hierarchy of geographical areas wherein entries corresponding to each one of said hierarchy of geographical areas is further organized into topics; and a search engine in communication with said database, said search engine configured to search geographically and topically, said search engine further configured to elect one of said hierarchy of geographical areas prior to selection of a topic so as to provide a geographical search area wherein within said hierarchy of geographical areas at least one of said entries associated with a border geographical area is dynamically replicated into at least o e narrower geographical area, said search engine further configure to search said topics within said selected geographical search area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A machine for locating information organized into geographically-based areas, said machine comprising:
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a database of information accessible b a computer, said database of information organized into a predetermine hierarchy of geographical areas comprising at least a geographical area of relatively smaller expanse and a geographical area of relatively larger expanse, said area of larger expanse including a plurality of areas of smaller expanse and wherein entries corresponding to each of said hierarchy of geographical area is further organized into topics; and a search engine executing in a computer and in communication with said database, said search engine configured to select at least one geographical area in said hierarchy of geographical areas so as to define a geographical search area wherein at least one of said entries in said geographical area of relatively larger expanse is dynamically replicated into at least one of said geographical areas of smaller expanse, said search engine further configured to search said topics within said geographical search area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for organizing on-line information into geographically-based areas, said system comprising
a user computer for accessing information in a computer network; - and
organizer means for processing requests received from said user computer, said organizer comprising; a database of information organized into a predefined hierarchy of geographical areas, wherein entries corresponding to each of said geographical areas is further organized into topics; and search engine means for selecting one of said geographical areas wherein at least one of said entries associated with a broader geographical area is dynamically replicated into a narrower geographical area, said search engine means also comprising means for searching said topics associated with said geographical search area. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for locating on line information comprising the steps of:
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organizing a database of on-line information into a plurality of geographical areas, said geographical areas having a plurality of entries associated therewith; organizing said entries corresponding to said plurality of geographical areas into one or ore topics; directing a search engine executing in a computer to select one or more of said geographical areas so as to select a geographical search area; dynamically replicating an entry from broader geographical area into said geographical search area; and displaying said topics associated with sa d geographical search area. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification