Information directory system
First Claim
1. A method of providing information in a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services;
- a communications network;
a directory computer operated by a directory provider;
a plurality of search computers operated by enquirers which search computers are connected within the network; and
a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer;
in which the initial steps are performed of;
classifying company information, goods and services for which the information will be provided under unique identifiers;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services as provider content which the active content providers wish to include in the directory;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services provided by unconnected passive providers which the directory provider wishes to include as provider content in the directory;
allocating the unique identifiers to the provider content;
preparing a provider database of the provider content for active content providers and passive providers;
and in which the steps are subsequently performed of;
the search computer opens a communications link with the directory computer;
the directory computer downloads a search page containing a query heading;
the search computer enters onto the search page an initial search request;
the directory computer carries out a search through the provider database; and
the directory computer downloads the provider content relevant to the search request as a search result;
and in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of;
sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer;
and in which, as required from time to time;
the active content provider computers update the content of the provider database.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing information in a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services; a communications network; a directory computer operated by a directory provider; a plurality of search computers operated by enquirers which search computers are connected within the network; and a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer. The company information, goods and services are classified by unique identifiers. Lists of goods and services and company information are provided as provider content from both active and passive content providers. These are stored in a provider database with unique identifiers. The directory computer on request downloads to the search computer one or more queries to allow the search computer specify the search correctly and then the directory computer downloads the search result. The active content provider computers update the search from time to time. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive listing of useful information to an enquirer in an easily searched form while simultaneously allowing the active content providers to tailor the information supplied.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A method of providing information in a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services;
- a communications network;
a directory computer operated by a directory provider;
a plurality of search computers operated by enquirers which search computers are connected within the network; and
a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer;
in which the initial steps are performed of;classifying company information, goods and services for which the information will be provided under unique identifiers;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services as provider content which the active content providers wish to include in the directory;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services provided by unconnected passive providers which the directory provider wishes to include as provider content in the directory;
allocating the unique identifiers to the provider content;
preparing a provider database of the provider content for active content providers and passive providers;
and in which the steps are subsequently performed of;
the search computer opens a communications link with the directory computer;
the directory computer downloads a search page containing a query heading;
the search computer enters onto the search page an initial search request;
the directory computer carries out a search through the provider database; and
the directory computer downloads the provider content relevant to the search request as a search result;
and in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of;
sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer;
and in which, as required from time to time; the active content provider computers update the content of the provider database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a communications network;
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22. A method of providing information in a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services;
- a communications network;
a directory computer operated by a directory provider;
a plurality of search computers operated by enquirers which search computers are connected within the network; and
a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer;
in which the initial steps are performed of;classifying company information, goods and services for which the information will be provided under unique identifiers;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services as provider content which the active content providers wish to include in the directory;
obtaining a list of company information, goods and services provided by unconnected passive providers which the directory provider wishes to include as provider content in the directory;
allocating the unique identifiers to the provider content;
preparing a provider database of the provider content for active content providers and passive providers;
and in which the steps are subsequently performed of;
the search computer opens a communications link with the directory computer;
the directory computer downloads a search page containing a query heading;
the search computer enters onto the search page an initial search request;
the directory computer downloads a list of the unique identifiers relevant to the search request;
the search computer chooses a unique identifier to initiate the downloading of providers content;
the directory computer carries out a search through the provider database;
the directory computer downloads the provider content as a search result;
and in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of; sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer;
and in which, as required from time to time;
the active content provider computers update the content of the provider database. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- a communications network;
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42. A computerised method for the supply of information from a directory comprising:
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(A) initialising a provider database comprising;
classifying company information, goods and services for which information will be provided under unique identifiers;
entering into a provider database a list of company information, goods and services as provider content which active providers wish to include in the directory;
entering into the provider database a list of company information, goods and services provided by passive content providers;
allocating unique identifiers to the provider contents;
(B) receiving an information request from a search computer operated by an enquirer comprising;
identifying the search computer;
recording the ID of the search computer;
maintaining a searcher profile database;
(C) transmitting the information requested comprising;
sending a search page to the search computer said search page containing a query heading;
receiving a response from the search computer detailing the precise information requested;
downloading the information;
and in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of;
sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer;
(D) updating the provider content comprising;
opening a communicators link with the active content provider computer;
allowing the active content provider computer access to the information specific to active providers company information, goods and services in the provider database;
accepting a revised list of company information, goods and services from the active provider computer;
reclassifying the company information, goods and services now provided; and
entering the revised list of company information, goods and services in the provider database. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A directory system for providing information on company information, goods and services provided by active and passive content providers comprising:
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means for storing information on company information, goods and services provided by passive content providers;
means for receiving and storing information provided by active content providers;
means for classifying the information on company information, goods and services stored;
means for receiving a request from an enquirer for information on company information, goods and services;
means for classifying the request with the same classification as that under which the information is stored;
means for carrying out a search through the information stored by matching the classification of the request with that of the information stored;
means for downloading the appropriate information in response to the search, in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of;
sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer; and
means for upgrading the information provided by the active content providers in response to a request from an active content provider. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method for an enquirer to obtain information from a directory system comprising a directory for company information, goods and services;
- a communications network;
a directory computer operated by a directory provider; and
a plurality of active content providers operating active content provider computers, at least some of which are connected to the directory computer;
in which the directory system includes;a classification of company information, goods and services for which the information will be provided under unique identifiers;
a list of company information, goods and services as provider content which the active content providers have included and which are updated from time to time by the active content provider computers;
a list of company information, goods and services provided by unconnected passive providers which the directory provider includes as provider content in the directory;
unique identifiers allocated by the directory computer to the provider content in the directory;
a provider database of the provider content for active content providers and passive providers;
the method comprising using a search computer connected within the network and carrying out the steps of; the search computer opens a communications link with the directory computer;
the directory computer downloads a search page containing a query heading;
the search computer enters a word or words onto the search page as an initial search request;
the directory computer carries out a search through the provider database; and
the directory computer downloads the provider content relevant to the search request as a search result, in which, when the initial search request includes more than one unique identifier, the steps are carried out of;
sorting the provider content into groups having the same unique identifier;
searching the groups to ascertain the content providers appearing in more than one group;
taking the content provider or providers listed in the most groups;
sorting those groups as a first classification list of content providers;
repeating the process until there is a final classification list of content providers listed in only one group; and
downloading the provider content for each of these lists to the enquirer computer. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
- a communications network;
Specification