Self-publishing network directory

• US 7,213,062 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raciborski, Nathan F., Thompson, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bates; Kevin T
• Application Number:
  US09/664,294
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/202, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/30 Routing of multiclass traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 : based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 : Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 : Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 : Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 : Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention relates to the interaction between the electronic directory and sites cataloged therein. One embodiment of a directory system includes a first and second conduit, a receiver function and a global catalog. The first conduit runs between the directory and a first site and the second conduit runs between the directory and a second site. The receiver function accepts the first local catalog of directory information from the first site and the second local content catalog of directory information from the second site. The global catalog of directory information includes the first local catalog and the second local catalog.

Claims

1. A directory for cataloging information on a network, the directory comprising:

a first conduit between the directory and a first site;

a second conduit between the directory and a second site;

a receiver function to accept;

a first local catalog of directory information from the first site and

a second local catalog of directory information from the second site;

a global catalog of directory information that comprises the first local catalog and the second local catalog; and

a first timer, wherein the first local catalog is removed from the global catalog if the first site fails to autonomously report in before a first timer expires.

2. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first site and second site respectively reports the first local catalog and second local catalog to the receiver function according to a predetermined schedule.

3. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit each comprise the Internet.

4. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second local catalogs provide location information for a plurality of content objects.

5. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 4, wherein the location information comprises at least two of a path, a file name, and an address.

6. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a second timer, wherein

the second local catalog is removed from the global catalog if the second site fails to autonomously report in before the second timer expires.

7. The directory for cataloging information on a network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a directory web page that is coupled to the global catalog, the directory web page adapted for display to a user, the directory web page organizing at least a plurality of content objects included in the global catalog by categories.

8. A directory for cataloging information on the Internet, the directory comprising:

a plurality of connects to a plurality of sites, wherein;

there is at least one connection per site, and

at least one of the plurality of connections is active at a time;

a receiver to accept a plurality of local catalogs of directory information from the plurality of sites;

a global catalog of directory information that comprises the plurality of local catalogs; and

a first timer, wherein a first local catalog is removed from the global catalog if a first site fails to autonomously report in before the first timer expires.

9. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of sites periodically report their respective local catalog to the receiver.

10. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of connections comprise the Internet.

11. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of local catalogs provide location information for a plurality of content objects.

12. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 11, wherein the location information comprises at least two of a path, a file name, and an address.

13. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 8, further comprising

a second timer, wherein:

a second local catalog is removed from the global catalog if a second site fails to autonomously report in before the second timer expires.

14. The directory for cataloging information on the Internet as recited in claim 8, further comprising at least one of a search web page and a directory web page that is coupled to the global catalog.

15. A directory system for cataloging information on a packet switched network, the directory system including:

a first site comprising first directory information;

a second site comprising second directory information; and

a third site comprising third directory information, wherein;

the first directory information is sent over the packet switched network to the third site,

the second directory information is sent over the packet switched network to the third site, and

the first directory information and second directory information is a subset of the third directory information; and

a first timer, wherein the first directory information is removed from the third directory information if the first site fails to autonomously report in before the first timer expires.

16. The directory system for cataloging information on the packet switched network as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the first site and second site respectively reports the first directory information and second directory information to the third site periodically.

17. The directory system for cataloging information on the packet switched network as recited in claim 15, wherein the packet switched comprises the Internet.

18. The directory system for cataloging information on the packet switched network as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second directory information provides location information for a plurality of content objects.

19. The directory system for cataloging information on the packet switched network as recited in claim 18, wherein the location information comprises at least two of a path, a file name, and an address.

20. The directory system for cataloging information on the packet switched network as recited in claim 15, further comprising

a second timer, wherein:

the second directory information is removed from the third directory if the second site fails to autonomously report in before the second timer expires.

21. The directory system of claim 15, wherein the first directory information includes content objects selected for publication to the third directory information by an administrator of the first site.