Content notification method, product, and apparatus

• US 6,944,658 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Eric Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUCKART, BENJAMIN R
• Application Number:
  US09/663,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/224, 709/226, 709/206, 709/104, 709/203, 709/204, 709/223, 710/200, 379/88.12, 358/400, 707/10, 705/1
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

When it is determined that a resource corresponding to the identifier is accessible, the resource may then be accessed. When the resource is not accessible, then it may be determined whether an expected date/time range indicating when identifier may exist can be retrieved. When a date/time range cannot be retrieved, then it may be determined whether an expected date/time range may be generated from the identifier. If so, then a date/time range for the identifier may be generated. When the date/time range cannot be generated, then at least a start time may be provided to determine existence of a resource corresponding to the identifier. When a date/time range is retrieved, generated, or provided then a delay interval to check for existence of a resource corresponding to the identifier may be determined. It may then be determined whether to determine whether there a resource corresponding to the identifier may exist. If so, then it may be determined whether the current date/time is within the date/time range of identifier to make the determination as to whether the resource corresponding to the identifier exists. When the current date/time is within the date/time range and it is determined that a resource corresponding to the identifier is accessible, the resource may then be accessed.

Claims

1. A notification method comprising:

receiving a request to provide notification when a new file is published to a file directory, said file directory including one or more files having a filename, file date, and file time;

at least one of a determining a polling start time of day that is earlier than time of day of each said previously published file in said file directory, determining a polling end time of day that is later than time of day of each said previously published file in said file directory, and determining at least one of a polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number from said at least one of a filename, file date, and file time of at least two files in said file directory;

determining when and how often to monitor whether said new file can be found in said file directory from said at least one of a polling start time, polling end time, polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number; and

,

providing said notification when it is determined that said new file can be found in said file directory.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said determining when and how often to monitor whether said new file can be found in said file directory includes performing a resource access request from a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) after said polling start time.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said resource access request includes a differencing resource method, said differencing resource method including comparing the difference from one of a plurality of file dates, file sizes, and number of files counts from said file directory.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said providing said notification when it is determined that said new file can be found in said file directory includes providing said notification from at least one of a hyperlink access and automatic access.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said hyperlink access includes selecting said hyperlink from at least one of a hyperlink determination method, hyperlink retrieval method, and hyperlink generation method.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said hyperlink determination method includes selecting said differencing resource method, generating at least one hyperlink corresponding to said file directory from said differencing resource method selection, and providing said notification having said hyperlink.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said providing said notification includes selecting a notification method corresponding to a subscriber.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said selecting said notification method includes selecting a notification destination from at least one of a pager, e-mail, web page, television, phone, fax, instant message, and conferencing.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 8, further including determining at least one of a polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number from said at least one of a filename, file date, and file time of at least two files in said file directory.

10. A computer program product comprising computer readable program code stored on a computer readable medium, the program code adapted to execute a notification method including receiving a request to provide notification when a new file is published to a file directory, said file directory including one or more files having a filename, file date, and file time, at least one of a determining a polling start time of day that is earlier than time of day of each said previously published file in said file directory, determining a polling end time of day that is later than time of day of each said previously published file in said file directory, and determining at least one of a polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number from said at least one of a filename, file date, and file time of at least two files in said file directory, determining when and how often to monitor whether said new file can be found in said file directory from said at least one of a polling start time, polling end time, polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number, and providing said notification when it is determined that said new file can be found in said file directory.

11. A notification method comprising:

receiving a request to provide notification when a new file is published to a file directory, said file directory including one or more files having a filename, file date, and file time;

determining at least one of a polling start time of day and polling end time of day from variations in time of day of at least two said previously published files in said file directory;

determining when and how often to monitor whether said new file can be found in said file directory from said at least one of a polling start time, polling end time, polling interval, publishing interval, volume number, and issue number; and

,

providing said notification when it is determined that said new file can be found in said file directory.

12. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said determining when and how often to monitor whether said new file can be found in said file directory includes performing a resource access request from a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) after said polling start time.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said resource access request includes a differencing resource method, said differencing resource method including comparing the difference from one of a plurality of file dates, file sizes, and number of files counts from said file directory.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said providing said notification when it is determined that said new file can be found in said file directory includes providing said notification from at least one of a hyperlink access and automatic access.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said hyperlink access includes selecting said hyperlink from at least one of a hyperlink determination method, hyperlink retrieval method, and hyperlink generation method.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said hyperlink determination method includes selecting said differencing resource method, generating at least one hyperlink corresponding to said file directory from said differencing resource method selection, and providing said notification having said hyperlink.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said providing said notification includes selecting a notification method corresponding to a subscriber.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said selecting said notification method includes selecting a notification destination from at least one of a pager, e-mail, web page, television, phone, fax, instant message, and conferencing.