Electronic notification agent

• US 6,510,424 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ford, Jeffrey V., Van Vliet, Edward R., Amezcua, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US09/426,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3-5, 707/8-9, 707/513, 709/200-203, 709/217-219, 709/317, 705/5-10, 705/26-27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

In a data processing system, a method for fetching information through a data network comprising: transmitting information to a client unit for causing the client unit to display a user interface enabling a user to enter user information relating to certain data items to be searched in the database and when to transmit the data items to the user; receiving the user information; creating a set of rules according to the user information received; searching at least one database for the data items specified by the user according to the rules; and transmitting the data items according to the rules. According to another embodiment the invention may be realized by a computer readable medium including programming instructions for any suitable data processing apparatus.

Claims

1. In a data processing system, a method for fetching information through a data network comprising:

periodically querying at least one database for a first set of new documents;

identifying, in response to the step of periodically querying, a second set of documents within the first set of documents, wherein each of the documents within the second set of documents has an originator that is different than an owner of the database;

transmitting, in response to the step of identifying, a message to a client unit, wherein the client unit is associated with a user who is the owner of the database;

transmitting information to the client unit for causing the client unit to display a user interface enabling a user to enter user information relating to certain data items to be periodically searched in the database and when to transmit the data items to the user;

receiving the user information;

creating a set of rules according to the user information received;

periodically searching the at least one database for the data items specified by the user according to the rules; and

transmitting the data items according to the rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user information includes information on where to transmit the data items specified by the user and the step of transmitting the data items comprises transmitting the data items to the destination provided by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the data items comprises transmitting the data items to the client unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data items specified by the user comprise calendar-related data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data items specified by the user are periodically updated and transmitted to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using a wireless pager protocol.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using a short message service protocol.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using an SMTP E-mail protocol.

9. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the user information includes information on where to transmit the data items specified by the user and the means for transmitting the date items comprises transmitting the data items to the destination provided by the user.

10. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the data items comprises means for transmitting the data items to the client unit.

11. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the data items specified by the user comprise calendar-related data.

12. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the data items specified by the user are periodically updated and transmitted to the user.

13. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data items to the user using a wireless pager protocol.

14. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data items to the user using a short message service protocol.

15. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data items to the user using an SMTP E-mail protocol.

16. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the user information includes information on where to transmit the data items specified by the user and the instructions for transmitting the data items comprise instructions for transmitting the data items to the destination provided by the user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of periodically querying and the step of periodically searching occur with different periods.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is an alert indicating the second set of documents.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the message contains the second set of documents.

20. A data processing system comprising:

means for periodically querying at least one database for a first set of new documents;

identifying, in response to the step of periodically querying, a second set of documents within the first set of documents, wherein each of the documents within the second set of documents has an originator that is different than an owner of the database;

means for transmitting, in response to the step of identifying, a message to a client unit, wherein the client unit is associated with a user who is the owner of the database;

means for transmitting information to the client unit for causing the client unit to display a user interface enabling a user to enter user information relating to certain data items to be periodically searched in the database and when to transmit the data items to the user;

means for receiving the user information;

means for creating a set of rules according to the user information received;

means for periodically searching the at least one database for the data items specified by the user according to the rules; and

means for transmitting the data items according to the rules.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for periodically querying and the means for periodically searching operate with different periods.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the message is an alert indicating the second set of documents.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the message contains the second set of documents.

24. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for:

periodically querying at least one database for a first set of new documents;

identifying, in response to the step of periodically querying, a second set of documents within the first set of documents, wherein each of the documents within the second set of documents has an originator that is different than an owner of the database;

transmitting, in response to the step of identifying, a message to a client unit, wherein the client unit is associated with a user who is the owner of the database;

transmitting information to the client unit for causing the client unit to display a user interface enabling a user to enter user information relating to certain data items to be periodically searched in the database and when to transmit the data items to the user;

receiving the user information;

creating a set of rules according to the user information received;

periodically searching the at least one database for the data items specified by the user according to the rules; and

transmitting the data items according to the rules.

25. The medium of claim 24 further comprising a removable information storage medium storing the program instructions.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein the step of transmitting the data items comprises transmitting the data items to the client unit.

27. The medium of claim 24, wherein the data items specified by the user comprise calendar-related data.

28. The medium of claim 24, wherein the data items specified by the user are periodically updated and transmitted to the user.

29. The medium of claim 24, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using a wireless pager protocol.

30. The medium of claim 24, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using a short message service protocol.

31. The medium of claim 24, wherein the data items are transmitted to the user using an SMTP E-mail protocol.

32. The medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions for periodically querying and the instructions for periodically searching occur with different periods.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the message is an alert indicating the second set of documents.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the message contains the second set of documents.