Automated categorization of RSS feeds using standardized directory structures

• US 7,702,675 B1
• Filed: 11/11/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khosla, Aditya, Chang, Colin, Cobas, Alberto, LaPorte, Brock D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz; Apu M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Hung D
• Application Number:
  US11/558,910
• Time in Patent Office: 1,256 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/710
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

A method and system for creating a database of categorized web feeds for facilitating web feed organization is disclosed. One exemplary method includes ascertaining a web feed identifier and searching a categorized collection of websites to determine a hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier. For example, the Open Directory Project may be searched to determine an appropriate hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier. The web feed identifier is placed in a corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds. The database of categorized web feeds can then be used as a tool for organizing web feeds on a client computer.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for creating a database of categorized web feeds, the method comprising:

ascertaining a web feed identifier;

without the user having to specify a category associated with the web feed identifier, using aspects of the web feed identifier for searching a categorized collection of websites to determine a hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier;

comparing the categorized collection of websites with aspects of the web feed identifier to determine a categorization of a website corresponding to the web feed identifier;

providing the client computer with the categorization of the website corresponding to the web feed identifier as a suggested hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier;

receiving input from the user accepting the suggested hierarchical folder path;

placing the web feed identifier in a corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds such that the web feed identifier is accessible from the database of categorized web feeds and displayable on the client computer according to the associated corresponding hierarchical folder path

dynamically displaying on the client computer the web feed identifier in a top level of the hierarchical folder path when the web feed identifier is the only web feed identifier in a favorites database maintained by the client computer that corresponds to the top level of the hierarchical folder path; and

dynamically displaying on the client computer the web feed identifier in a sub-level of the hierarchical folder path when more than one web feed identifiers are in the favorites database maintained by the client computer that correspond to the top level of the hierarchical folder path.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein ascertaining a web feed identifier further includes receiving the web feed identifier from a client computer.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining if the web feed identifier is already contained within the database of categorized feeds prior to searching the categorized collection of websites to determine the hierarchical folder path and placing the web feed identifier in the corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the categorized collection of websites includes the Open Directory Project.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the web feeds include feeds having a “

Really Simple Syndication”

or Atom format.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination of the hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier includes searching the categorized collection of websites for the web feed identifier, and repeatedly truncating the web feed identifier until the remaining web feed identifier is found within the categorized collection of websites.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination of the hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier includes determining a website on which the web feed is located, and determining the hierarchical folder path for the website.

8. A computer implemented method for organizing web feeds on a client computer, the method comprising:

ascertaining a web feed identifier;

without the user having to specify a category associated with the web feed identifier, using aspects of the web feed identifier for searching a database of categorized web feeds that is organized in accordance with the organizational scheme of a categorized collection of websites to determine a hierarchical folder path containing topics related to the web feed identifier;

comparing aspects of the web feed identifier with the categorized collection of websites to determine a categorization of a website corresponding to the web feed identifier;

providing a client computer with the categorization of the website corresponding to the web feed identifier as the hierarchical folder path in the form of a suggestion for allowing a user to create a database containing the user'"'"'s personal web feeds using the organizational scheme of the database of categorized web feeds;

receiving input from the user accepting the suggested hierarchical folder path;

placing the web feed identifier in a corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds such that the web feed identifier is accessible from the database of categorized web feeds and displayable on the client computer according to the associated corresponding hierarchical folder path;

dynamically displaying on the client computer the web feed identifier in a top level of the hierarchical folder path when the web feed identifier is the only web feed identifier in a favorites database maintained by the client computer that corresponds to the top level of the hierarchical folder path; and

dynamically displaying on the client computer the web feed identifier in a sub-level of the hierarchical folder path when more than one web feed identifiers are in the favorites database maintained by the client computer that correspond to the top level of the hierarchical folder path.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising automatically storing the web feed identifier in a directory within the database containing the user'"'"'s personal web feeds that corresponds to the hierarchical folder path.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein ascertaining a web feed identifier further includes receiving the web feed identifier from the client computer.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein ascertaining a web feed identifier further includes receiving a web page identifier from the client computer and searching the web page for the web feed identifier.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

creating a directory corresponding to the hierarchical folder path within the database containing the user'"'"'s personal web feeds.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the web feeds include feeds having a “

Really Simple Syndication”

format.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein in the event that the database of categorized web feeds does not contain the web feed identifier, the method further comprises:

searching the categorized collection of websites to determine a hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier; and

placing the web feed identifier in a corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds.

15. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the categorized collection of websites includes the Open Directory Project.

16. A system for assembling a compilation of categorized web feeds, the system comprising:

a central server comprising;

a communication mechanism for receiving a web feed identifier submission from a client computer and for transmitting a folder suggestion for the web feed identifier submission to the client computer without the user having to specify a category associated with the web feed identifier,

a central database for categorically storing the web feed identifier such that the web feed identifier is accessible from the central database and displayable on the client computer according to the folder suggestion, and

a processor using aspects of the web feed identifier for searching a hierarchical organization of websites to compare aspects of the web feed identifier with the hierarchical organization of websites to determine a categorization of a website corresponding to the web feed identifier to determine a hierarchical storage path within the central database for storing the web feed identifier; and

the client computer configured to received the folder suggestion, the client computer comprising;

a favorites database for storing the folder suggestion, and

a user interface for dynamically displaying the web feed identifier (1) in a top level of the hierarchical folder path when the web feed identifier is the only web feed identifier in the favorites database that corresponds to the top level of the hierarchical folder path, and (2) in a sub-level of the hierarchical folder path when more than one web feed identifiers are in the favorites database that correspond to the top level of the hierarchical folder path.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the hierarchical organization of websites is the Online Directory Project.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the web feeds include feeds having a “

Really Simple Syndication”

or Atom format.