Method for retrieving data from an information network through linking search criteria to search strategy
First Claim
1. In an information network comprising a plurality of network sites, a method of providing a network user with information contained within at least one of said network sites in view of a user search criteria, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a database;
populating said database with a plurality of other search criteria provided by other network users and a plurality of search strategies, each of said search strategies comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to said other search criteria;
within said database, linking said other search criteria with said search strategies;
selecting from said database at least one search strategy based upon said user search criteria;
executing said at least one search strategy; and
providing search results to the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user of an information network is provided with information contained within at least one of plurality of network sites in view of a user search criteria by searching a database that is populated with a plurality of other search criteria provided by other network users and a plurality of search strategies. Each of the search strategies includes information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to the other search criteria. The other search criteria within the database are linked with the search strategies. At least one search strategy is selected from the database based upon the user'"'"'s search criteria. The search strategy is executed and the results are provided to the user in one embodiment, users can employ software agents to assist in searching, collecting, and reporting on data in accordance with the user'"'"'s specified criteria.
207 Citations
27 Claims
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1. In an information network comprising a plurality of network sites, a method of providing a network user with information contained within at least one of said network sites in view of a user search criteria, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database;
populating said database with a plurality of other search criteria provided by other network users and a plurality of search strategies, each of said search strategies comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to said other search criteria;
within said database, linking said other search criteria with said search strategies;
selecting from said database at least one search strategy based upon said user search criteria;
executing said at least one search strategy; and
providing search results to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for text string matches; and
for each text string match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said text string.
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3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of executing said at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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accessing each of said network sites provided by said search strategy; and
scanning a text file defining each of said network sites for information that satisfies said user search criteria.
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4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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requesting a meta data format document of said network site from said network site; and
scanning the meta data format document for matches with said search criteria.
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5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for an extended markup language (XML) document of said network site; and
scanning the XML document for matches with said search criteria.
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6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for a hypertext markup language (HTML) document of said network site; and
scanning the HTML document for matches with said search criteria.
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7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for an hypertext markup language (HTML) document of said network site;
converting said HTML document to a meta data format document; and
scanning the meta data format document for matches with said search criteria.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein said user search criteria comprises visual image data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for visual image data matches; and
for each visual image data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said visual image data.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein said user search criteria comprises audio data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for audio data matches; and
for each audio data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said audio data.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein said user search criteria comprises audio/visual data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for audio/visual data matches; and
for each audio/visual data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said audio/visual data.
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11. In an information network comprising a plurality of provider network sites, each having a provider associated therewith, and a plurality of requester network sites, each having a requester associated therewith, a method of introducing providers and requesters to each other based on a search criteria provided by at least one of said providers and requesters, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database;
populating said database with network site data representative of the content of the network site from a plurality of said requester network sites and provider network sites, a plurality of other search criteria provided by other providers and requesters, and a plurality of search strategies comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to said other search criteria;
linking at least one of said search strategies with at least one of said other search criteria;
on behalf of each requester providing requester search criteria, creating a requester search agent and employing said search agent to;
search said database for network site data and other search criteria relevant to said requester search criteria;
for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said requester search criteria;
providing search results to said requester; and
on behalf of each provider providing provider search criteria, creating a provider search agent and employing said search agent to;
search said database for network site data and other search criteria relevant to said provider search criteria;
for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said provider search criteria; and
providing search results to said provider. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of communicating among a plurality of software agents, each agent employed by a user to search an information network comprising a plurality of network sites for information responsive to an individual search criteria, said method comprising the steps of:
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for each individual search criteria, storing information data relevant to said search criteria in a database wherein said information comprises at least one search strategy associated with said individual search criteria, said search strategy comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to said individual search criteria; and
for each software agent, searching said database for information data relevant to said individual search associated with said software agent. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In an information network comprising a plurality of network sites, a method of locating data relevant to a search criteria provided by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database;
populating said database with data representative of other search criteria provided by other users;
populating said database with a plurality of search strategies, each search strategy comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to the other search criteria;
linking at least one of said search strategies with at least one of said other search criteria;
on behalf of said user, creating a search agent and employing said search agent to;
search said database for other search criteria relevant to said user search criteria;
for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said user search criteria;
providing search results to said user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for text string matches; and
for each text string match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said text string.
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20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of executing said at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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accessing each of said network sites provided by said search strategy; and
scanning a text file defining each of said network sites for information that satisfies said user search criteria.
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21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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requesting a meta data format document of said network site from said network site; and
scanning the meta data format document for matches with said search criteria.
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22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for an extended markup language (XML) document of said network site; and
scanning the XML document for matches with said search criteria.
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23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for a hypertext markup language (HTML) document of said network site; and
scanning the HTML document for matches with said search criteria.
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24. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of scanning a text file comprises the steps of:
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searching said network site for an hypertext markup language (HTML) document of said network site;
converting said HTML document to a meta data format document; and
scanning the meta data format document for matches with said search criteria.
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25. The method of claim 18 wherein said user search criteria comprises visual image data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for visual image data matches; and
for each visual image data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said visual image data.
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26. The method of claim 18 wherein said user search criteria comprises audio data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for audio data matches; and
for each audio data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said audio data.
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27. The method of claim 18 wherein said user search criteria comprises audio/visual data and the step of selecting from said database at least one search strategy comprises the steps of:
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comparing said user search criteria with said other search criteria for audio/visual data matches; and
for each audio/visual data match, selecting the search strategy linked to said other criteria associated with said audio/visual data.
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Specification