Product identifier, catalog and locator system and method

• US 6,532,481 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George C. Fassett Jr
• Original Assignee: George C. Fassett Jr
• Inventors: Fassett, George C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Merilyn P.
• Application Number:
  US09/539,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 707/200, 707/2, 707/4, 707/203, 707/10, 707/104, 707/9, 707/540, 705/27, 717/11, 717/172
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A key code generating engine strips extenders and other unwanted characters from a file or product name, truncates the remainder to a set maximum, appends the result to an identifier and provides a version suffix. The key code then is associated with other information about the file or product, such as a description, version, size, and a location identifier such as an address, telephone number or Internet web site URL. The resulting record is collated into a plurality of databases accessible through the Internet and searchable by key code or boolean keyword strings to locate files for downloading or vendors'"'"' web pages for ordering or learning more about a product. Multiple database systems segregated by subject matter can provide users a virtual card catalog of products and their respective upgrades, patches and add-ons. The key code, when applied to physical products instead of files, also can provide means for researching availability and ordering such physical products and accessories through alternative supplier inventory schemes.

Claims

1. A method for creating a standardized computer file code from a file name, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating a core term from the file name;

(2) assigning a file type identifier to the core term; and

(3) applying a selected version identifier to the core term by executing the following steps;

(a) contrasting the core term to a version number database of previously standardized core terms to determine if a previous highest version number for the core term exists;

then either

(i) setting the selected version identifier equal to said previous highest version number if said previous highest version number exists;

or

(ii) setting the selected version identifier to zero if said previous highest version number does not exist;

then

(b) incrementing the selected version identifier by one;

then

(c) appending the selected version identifier to the core term.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step (1) further comprising the steps of

(a) removing all characters of one or more predetermined character types from the file name; and then

(b) truncating all remaining characters to a predetermined maximum character quantity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined character types comprise all non-alphabetic characters.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the removing step (a) comprising the steps of

isolating all alphabetic and numeric characters;

and

deleting any remaining characters from the core term.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the assigning step (2) comprising the steps of

(a) selecting the file type identifier from a database of available file type identifiers;

and

(b) appending the selected file type identifier as a prefix to the core term.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the assigning step (2) comprising the steps of

(a) interactively offering a user a selection of file type identifiers from a database of existing file type identifiers;

and

(b) interactively prompting the user to select an existing file type identifier or to select a new file type identifier of the user'"'"'s own creation;

then

(b) appending the selected file type identifier as a prefix to the core term.

7. A method for creating a standardized file code from a file name, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating a core term from the file name by:

(a) removing all characters of one or more predetermined character types from the file name; and

then

(b) truncating all remaining characters to a predetermined maximum character quantity;

(c) contrasting the remaining character quantity with a predetermined minimum; and

(d) supplying additional characters until the remaining character quantity equals or exceeds the predetermined minimum;

(2) assigning a file type identifier to the core term; and

(3) applying a selected version identifier to the core term.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the supplying step (d) comprises

interactively prompting a user for said additional characters.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the supplying step (d) comprises

randomly selecting said additional characters from a base-36 list of characters.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the supplying step (d) comprises

repeating one or more characters comprising the file type identifier.

11. A centralized file location system comprising

a central controller having

user access means for coupling a user to the central controller;

data storage means;

a central processing unit;

software means for programming the central processing unit to

receive a record containing a file name, a file type, a file location address, and a

description of the file;

generate a unique, standardized file code from the file name and file type, the file code having

a prefix based on a category name for the file common to other similar files;

a core code derived from a name for the file; and

a version number for each key code distinguishing it from others having the same prefix and core code; and

associate the file code with the record in a database on the data storage means by

identifying related files by their prefix and core code; and

grouping the related files by key codes in the database;

search engine means for searching the database by file type, file code and keyword to locate and display the file location address; and

linking means for connecting the user to the file location address to access the file.

12. The centralized file location system of claim 11 wherein the user access means comprises

a monitor and keyboard coupled to the central controller.

13. The centralized file location system of claim 11 wherein the user access means comprises

a server providing a gateway between the central processor unit and a network;

and

at least one user terminal coupled to the server through the network.

14. The centralized file location system of claim 11 wherein the file location address comprises

a uniform resource locator defining a network address where the file may be found.

15. The centralized file location system of claim 11 wherein the linking means comprises

a server providing a gateway between the central processor unit and a network;

and

file maintenance means coupled to the server through the network.

16. The centralized file location system of claim 15 wherein the file maintenance means comprises

a file maintenance controller having

a central processing unit;

a server coupled to the network; and

data storage means;

software means for programming the central processing unit to

store the file;

receive file access requests from the network; and

provide access to the file;

a second server providing a gateway between the network and a file maintenance controller; and

a plurality of user access means coupled to the server through the network.

17. A method for creating a standardized computer file code from a file name, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating a core term from the file name by

(a) removing all characters of a predetermined type from the file name;

then

(b) truncating all remaining characters to a predetermined character maximum;

then

(c) contrasting the remaining character quantity against a predetermined minimum; and

(d) supplying additional characters until the remaining character quantity equals or exceeds the predetermined minimum;

then

(2) assigning a file type identifier to the core term by

(a) selecting the file type identifier having at least two alphabetic characters; and

(b) appending the selected file type identifier as a prefix to the core term; and

(3) applying a version identifier to the core term by

(a) contrasting the core term to a database of previously standardized core terms;

(b) determining the latest version number of the core term;

then

(c) incrementing the latest version number by one; and

then

(d) appending the incremented version number to the core term as a suffix.

18. A method for cataloging computer files for Internet access comprising the steps of

(A) receiving a plurality of records each containing information about a file type, name and uniform resource locator;

(B) sorting the records by file type; and

(C) assigning a standardized file code to each record by

(a) generating a core term from the file name by

(i) removing all characters of a predetermined type from the file name; and

then

(ii) truncating all remaining characters to a predetermined character maximum;

(b) assigning a file type identifier to the core term by

(i) selecting the file type identifier from a database of available file type identifiers; and

(ii) appending the selected file type identifier as a prefix to the core term; and

(c) applying a version identifier to the core term by

(i) contrasting the core term to a database of previously standardized core terms;

(ii) determining the latest version number of the core term;

then

(iii) incrementing the latest version number by one; and

then

(iv) appending the incremented version number to the core term.

19. A method for indexing computer files such that locating one file locates others related thereto, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating a unique key code for each file, the key code having

a prefix based on a category name for the file common to other similar files;

a core code derived from a name for the file; and

a version number;

then

(2) associating related files in a database according to their key codes by

identifying related files by their prefix and core code; and

grouping the related files by key codes in the database;

(3) providing search means for searching the database to locate at least one of said key codes; and

(4) providing display means for displaying associated key codes to a searcher.

20. A method for indexing products whereby a plurality of related products may be located by reference to a first product, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating unique key codes for each of the products, the key codes having

a prefix based on a category name for the related products;

a core code derived from a name for each product; and

a version number suffix;

then

(2) associating in a database the related products with the first product according to similarities in the key codes; and

(3) providing search means for searching the database to locate at least one of said key codes; and

(4) providing display means for displaying together to a searcher associated key codes and the respective products.

21. The method of claim 20 method wherein the associating step (2) comprises

identifying related products by their prefix and core code; and

grouping the related files by their key codes in the database.

22. A method for indexing products whereby a plurality of related products may be located by reference to a first product, the method comprising the steps of

(1) generating unique key codes for each of the products;

then

(2) associating in a database the related products with the first product according to similarities in the key codes by

identifying related products by a prefix and a core code; and

grouping the related products by their key codes in the database;

(3) providing search means for searching the database to locate at least one of said key codes; and

(4) providing display means for displaying together to a searcher associated key codes and the respective products.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

the prefix is based on a category name for the first product common to the related products;

the core code is derived from a name for the product; and

a version number is appended to the key code for distinguishing it from others having the same prefix and core code.