Hypertext information retrieval using profiles and topics

• US 5,953,732 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Meske, Carl F. Jr., Hooper, Philip J., Opperman, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US08/967,739
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707/501, 707/513
• US Class Current: 715/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for of retrieving information. A first file of information is received which includes a first markup language to identify contents of the information. Responsive to the receiving the first file of information, the first file of information is parsed to generate a list of profiles, and at least one corresponding topic for each of the list of profiles. A second file in a second markup language is created containing the list of the profiles and at least one corresponding third file is created in a third markup language for the at least one corresponding topic for each of the list of profiles. The second file contains anchors referencing each at least one corresponding third file, and first markup instances in the first file of information are converted to second markup instances in either the second file or the third fie. The first file of information is parsed to determine the at least one article, if any, for the each at least one corresponding top for the each of the list of profiles, and a corresponding brief for the at least one article. A fourth file and a fifth file are generated for the at least one article, if any,, for the each at least one corresponding topic for the each of the list of profiles. The fourth file includes a brief of each the at least one article in the first file of information and an anchor to the fifth file, the fifth fie including text for the at least one article, if any, for the each at least one corresponding topic for the each of the list of profiles. In implemented embodiments, a sixth file can also be created which contains a plurality of anchors referencing a plurality of the fifth files, where in the anchors in the sixth file are arranged by each the profile and corresponding topic. The first file of information can include receiving an electronic mail (e-mail) message.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating a display of information in a markup language, comprising the steps of:

a) parsing information to obtain an article, if any, and a brief, if any, corresponding to said article, a profile, if any, and a topic, if any, corresponding to said profile;

b) storing the parsed article, brief, profile and topic, if any, in said markup language;

c) generating an index identifying each of the stored article, brief, profile and topic, if any, and storing the index;

d) generating at least one logical link between the stored article, brief, profile and topic, if any and the stored index;

e) displaying the at least one logical link in the markup language together with at least one of the parsed article, brief, profile and topic, if any.

2. A computer implemented method according to claim 1, including a step of allowing a user to enter at least one search term using a hypertext transfer protocol to search the stored article, brief, profile and topic, if any and the stored index.

3. A computer implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the parsed article, brief, profile and topic, if any, are stored in respective files, and the step of providing at least one logical link comprises providing a plurality of logical links between said respective files and said stored index.

4. A computer implemented method according to claim 3, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying the plurality of logical links.

5. A computer implemented method for generating a display of information in a markup language, comprising the steps of:

a) parsing information to obtain parsed portions of data stored therein;

b) storing the parsed data in the markup language;

c) generating at least one logical link in the markup language between the parsed portions of the data; and

d) displaying the at least one logical link on a display device in the markup language.

6. A computer implemented method according to claim 5, wherein the parsed data may include first, second, third and fourth data categories, wherein said data categories, if found in the parsed information, are stored in corresponding data files, respectively.

7. A computer implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the step of generating at least one logical link comprises generating a plurality of logical links between data stored in the corresponding data files.

8. A computer implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the step of providing a plurality of logical links includes a step of creating at least one index in the markup language of at least one of the parsed data categories.

9. A computer implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying the at least one index.

10. A computer implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth data categories include profiles, briefs, topics and articles.

11. A computer implemented method according to claim 5, including a step of allowing a user to enter at least one search term using a hypertext transfer protocol.

12. A computer implemented method according to claim 5, wherein the step of displaying includes displaying at least some of the portions of parsed data.