Seamless integration of internet resources
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for retrieving information from a plurality of sources, comprising:
- a search engine for searching an information repository comprising object sources, said object sources comprising a class, keywords, description, location, and retrieval information for a plurality of data resources;
an interactive front end adapted to;
(a) receive a search request from a user, (b) invoke said search engine to locate a plurality of object sources responsive to said search request, said object sources responsive to said request located in accordance with said class, keywords, and description for said plurality of data resources, and (c) display information regarding said object sources responsive to said search request; and
a launcher adapted to launch an application to access the data resource associated with one of said plurality of object sources selected by said user.
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Abstract
A mechanism for seamlessly searching and accessing information available through the Internet and other resources is disclosed. The present invention maintains a database of file objects available from numerous sources. The present invention updates the database periodically to ensure the accuracy and completeness of it. The present invention also may access and retrieve data from numerous sources when prompted by a single and simple command initiated by the user. The user is shielded from the quirks and intricacies of various information sources.
93 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for retrieving information from a plurality of sources, comprising:
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a search engine for searching an information repository comprising object sources, said object sources comprising a class, keywords, description, location, and retrieval information for a plurality of data resources;
an interactive front end adapted to;
(a) receive a search request from a user, (b) invoke said search engine to locate a plurality of object sources responsive to said search request, said object sources responsive to said request located in accordance with said class, keywords, and description for said plurality of data resources, and (c) display information regarding said object sources responsive to said search request; and
a launcher adapted to launch an application to access the data resource associated with one of said plurality of object sources selected by said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for retrieving information from a plurality of sources, comprising:
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(a) creating an information repository comprising object sources, said object sources comprising a class, keywords, description, location, and retrieval information for a plurality of data resources;
(b) receiving a search request from a user, (c) invoking a search engine to locate a plurality of object sources responsive to said search request, said object sources responsive to said search request located in accordance with said class, keywords, and description for said data resources;
(d) displaying information regarding said object sources responsive to said search request;
(e) prompting said user to select one of said object sources responsive to said search request; and
(f) launching an application to access the data resource associated with said selected object source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of integrating internet resources comprising:
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(a) creating an information repository comprising a plurality of information source objects wherein each information source object comprises a class, keywords, a description, a location for an information source, and retrieval information for accessing said information source;
(b) receiving from an interactive front end a search request;
(c) searching said information repository in accordance with said search request;
(d) sending to said interactive front end a list of information sources that meet the requirements of said search request;
(e) receiving from said interactive front end a retrieve request for one of said information sources; and
(f) determining a method for retrieving data in accordance with said retrieve request for one of said information sources, said method for retrieving data determined by said interactive front end in accordance with said retrieval information for accessing said information source. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification