System and method for efficiently accessing internet resources

• US 7,543,040 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEURAUTER, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US11/691,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 715503-504, 715738- 9, 715/744, 715/746, 715764- 5, 715/780, 715/788, 715/809, 715/821, 715/835, 715/853, 715859-860, 709/203, 709/217, 707/1, 707/10, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A system and method for efficiently accessing Internet resources is disclosed. One example directory system for permitting a user to access and retrieve information from a network of computers is disclosed. The example system comprises a key phrase field for accepting a search term, a data table and a search unit. The data table comprises a plurality of cells for storing unique identifiers wherein at least one of said plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifiers. The search unit conducts a search for unique identifiers from the network of computers related to the search term.

Claims

1. A system for permitting a user to access and retrieve information from a network of computers, comprising:

a key phrase field for accepting a search term;

a data table comprising a plurality of cells arranged into at least one row and at least two columns, each of the plurality of cells stores a unique identifier related to its corresponding column and row and the search term, at least one of the plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifier; and

a search unit operative to conduct a search, the search unit conducts the search for unique identifiers related to the search term from a network of computers, the search unit further operative to conduct a subsearch in response to a selection of one of the plurality of cells by the user, the search unit uses links to access data stored within the network of computers, the search unit stores each unique identifier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table contains information that has been verified for accuracy.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table is organized according to an organizational structure of an institution.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table is organized according to a column for storing titles.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table comprises a desired method of contact.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table comprises a field that is maintained by an institution.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is an Internet search engine.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the search unit conducts the search using a database selected by the user.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the search unit merges a plurality of databases into a merged database, and the search unit conducts the search using the merged database.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the system interfaces with a software module to perform the action related to the unique identifier.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the software module is an e-mail application.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the software module initiates a telephone call.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the software module is a facsimile application.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the software module initiates a video conference.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the network of computers comprises a website.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the data table comprises contact information.

15. A method for providing information to a user from a network of computers, comprising:

receiving a search term from a user;

searching a database for unique identifiers related to the search term;

conducting a subsearch in response to a selection of a cell by the user;

retrieving data stored within a network of computers using at least one link;

displaying a data table comprising a plurality of cells arranged into at least one row and at least two columns, each of the plurality of cells displays a unique identifier related to its corresponding column and row and the search term, at least one of the plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifier;

receiving a request to activate one of the plurality of cells within the data table.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising verifying the information in the data table for accuracy.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising organizing the data table according to an organizational structure of an institution.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the data table is organized according to a column for storing titles.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the data table comprises a desired method of contact.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the data table comprises a field that is maintained by an institution.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a selection of a database by the user.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

merging a plurality of databases into the database.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising interfacing with a software module to perform the action related to at least one of the plurality of cells.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the software module is an e-mail application.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the software module initiates a telephone call.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the software module is a facsimile application.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the software module initiates a video conference.

29. The method of claim 15 wherein the network of computers comprises a website.

31. The method of claim 15 wherein the data table comprises contact information.

32. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a request from a second user to use the at least one link to provide information from the network of computers.

33. The method of claim 15 further including receiving a selection of an icon to send a plurality of communications.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of communications are directed to one person.