Method and apparatus for performing a research task by interchangeably utilizing a multitude of search methodologies
First Claim
1. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
- a. utilizing a research module to correlate a search criteria to a searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search;
b. utilizing the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, and further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria; and
c. repeating step (b) until the research task is completed such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for performing a research task interchangeably utilizes a multitude of search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, dichotomous key search, and parametric search. A search criteria is correlated to a searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database. The process is repeated by correlating a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items until the research task is completed. The searchable database can be formatted in a directory tree structure which includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. The collection of related data for a particular node can be displayed in an encyclopedia-like format. A specific node within the directory tree structure is accessible using a query string which defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node.
76 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
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a. utilizing a research module to correlate a search criteria to a searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search; b. utilizing the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, and further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria; and c. repeating step (b) until the research task is completed such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A research system for performing a research task within a searchable database comprising:
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a. means for accessing the searchable database; and b. means for utilizing a research module coupled to the means for accessing to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A research system for performing a research task within a searchable database comprising a research server configured to utilize a research module to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database coupled to the research server for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, to utilize the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria, and to repeat the utilization of the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria, until the research task is completed, and further wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input.
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37. A network of devices for performing a research task within a searchable database comprising:
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a. one or more computer systems configured to communicate with other systems; and b. a research server configured to couple to the one or more computer systems to utilize a research module to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database coupled to the research server for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, to utilize the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria, and to repeat the utilization of the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the matching item used to generate the subsequent matching item, further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria, until the research task is completed, and further wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
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a. performing one or more searches by utilizing a research module, the research module including a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within a searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in a directory tree structure and each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure, wherein the node is a collection of related data, and further wherein as each successive search is performed the generated matching items represent nodes which reside further down the directory tree structure than the node from which the successive search is performed; b. categorizing each item of data by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters which are specific to the node in which the data is included; c. accessing a specific node within the directory tree structure using a query string, wherein the query string defines the navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node within the directory tree structure; d. accessing a discrete item of data using the query string and one or more set parameters and setting a notification signal by saving the query string and the one or more set parameters; e. notifying a user of new data entered into the searchable database in response to triggering of the notification signal, wherein triggering of the notification signal occurs when new data is entered into the searchable database and the navigation path and set parameters of the new data match the query string and set parameters saved according to the set notification signal; f. accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtaining data from the one or more nodes by an external system utilizing an applications programming interface, wherein the applications programming interface accesses the one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using the query string; and g. displaying the collection of related data for a particular node in an encyclopedia-like format, wherein the encyclopedia-like format includes text, graphics, links to related topics within the directory tree structure, links to related web sites external to the directory tree structure, or any combination thereof.
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42. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
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a. utilizing a research module to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database, further wherein the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search; b. utilizing the research module to correlate a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items, wherein each subsequent matching item is a sub-segment of the segment of the searchable database, and further wherein the subsequent search criteria is a selective one of the search criteria and a different search criteria, and further wherein each utilization of the research module includes the availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input; c. selecting one of the subsequent matching items; and d. displaying a collection of related data corresponding to the selected subsequent matching item into an encyclopedia-like format, wherein the encyclopedia-like format includes text, graphics, and links to related objects.
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43. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
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a. performing one or more searches by utilizing a research module, the research module including a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in a directory tree structure and each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure, wherein the node is a collection of related data, and further wherein as each successive search is performed the generated matching items represent nodes which reside further down the directory tree structure than the node from which the successive search is performed; b. categorizing each item of data by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters which are specific to the node in which the data is included; and c. accessing a specific node within the directory tree structure using a query string, wherein the query string defines the navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node within the directory tree structure. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of performing a research task within a searchable database comprising the steps of:
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a. performing one or more searches by utilizing a research module, the research module including a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search such that each utilization of the research module includes the availability of each search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to correlate a search criteria to the searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in a directory tree structure and each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure, wherein the node is a collection of related data, and further wherein as each successive search is performed the generated matching items represent nodes which reside further down the directory tree structure than the node from which the successive search is performed; b. categorizing each item of data by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters which are specific to the node in which the data is included; and c. accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtaining data from the one or more nodes by an external system utilizing an applications programming interface, wherein the applications programming interface accesses the one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using a query string, wherein the query string defines the navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node within the directory tree structure. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification