Distributed data accessing technique
First Claim
1. A method for accessing data over a network having a plurality of network stations, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information that identifies data which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station;
generating, at the first network station, a signal representing both the information that identifies the available data and linking information to the second network station; and
transmitting the signal to a third of the plurality of network stations, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations;
wherein the transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed data accessing technique is disclosed. The technique is realized by storing, at a first network station, information identifying data which is available at a second network station, the second network station being different than the first network station. A signal is generated at the first network station representing the information identifying the available data and linking information to the second network station. The signal is transmitted to a third network station, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations. The transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. A method for accessing data over a network having a plurality of network stations, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information that identifies data which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; generating, at the first network station, a signal representing both the information that identifies the available data and linking information to the second network station; and transmitting the signal to a third of the plurality of network stations, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; wherein the transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for electronically presenting and paying bills in a network having a plurality of network stations, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information identifying a bill which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; receiving, from a third of the plurality of network stations, a request for the information identifying the available bill, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; authenticating the request from the third network station; generating, at the first network station, a signal representing the information identifying the available bill and linking information to the second network station, the linking information being operative at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available bill is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station; transmitting the signal to the third network station; receiving, at the first network station, a notification that the identified available bill was transmitted from the second network station to the third network station; and logging at least some of the aforementioned steps.
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30. An apparatus for accessing data over a network having a plurality of network stations, the apparatus comprising:
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a first storer for storing, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information identifying data which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; a first generator for generating, at the first network station, a signal representing the information identifying the available data and linking information to the second network station; and a first transmitter for transmitting the signal to a third of the plurality of network stations, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; wherein the transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An apparatus for electronically presenting and paying bills in a network having a plurality of network stations, the apparatus comprising:
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a storer for storing, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information identifying a bill which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; a first receiver for receiving, from a third of the plurality of network stations, a request for the information identifying the available bill, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; an authenticator for authenticating the request from the third network station; a generator for generating, at the first network station, a signal representing the information identifying the available bill and linking information to the second network station, the linking information being operative at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available bill is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station; a transmitter for transmitting the signal to the third network station; a second receiver for receiving, at the first network station, a notification that the identified available bill was transmitted from the second network station to the third network station; and a logger for logging at least some of the aforementioned steps.
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59. An article of manufacture for accessing data over a network having a plurality of network stations, the article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium; and computer programming stored on the storage medium;
wherein the stored computer programming is configured to be readable from the computer readable storage medium by at least one computer and thereby cause the at least one computer to operate so as to;store, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information that identifies data which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; generate, at the first network station, a signal representing both the information that identifies the available data and linking information to the second network station; and transmit the signal to a third of the plurality of network stations, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; wherein the transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. An article of manufacture for electronically presenting and paying bills in a network having a plurality of network stations, the article of manufacture comprising the steps of:
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a computer readable storage medium; and computer programming stored on the storage medium;
wherein the stored computer programming is configured to be readable from the computer readable storage medium by at least one computer and thereby cause the at least one computer to operate so as to;store, at a first of the plurality of network stations, information identifying a bill which is available at a second of the plurality of network stations, the second network station being different than the first network station; receive, from a third of the plurality of network stations, a request for the information identifying the available bill, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations; authenticate the request from the third network station; generate, at the first network station, a signal representing the information identifying the available bill and linking information to the second network station, the linking information being operative at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available bill is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station; transmit the signal to the third network station; receive, at the first network station, a notification that the identified available bill was transmitted from the second network station to the third network station; and log at least some of the aforementioned steps.
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Specification