Aggregating content of disparate data types from disparate data sources for single point access

• US 7,949,681 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jaramillo, David, Redman, Jerry W., Bodin, William K., Thorson, Derral C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz; Apu M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cindy
• Application Number:
  US12/178,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 707/795, 709217-219, 726/1, 726/2, 726/6
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for aggregating content of disparate data types from disparate data sources for single point access by a user. Embodiments include establishing a user account for the user; retrieving content of disparate data types from identified disparate data sources associated with the user account; storing the retrieved content; and associating the stored content with the user account.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for aggregating content of disparate data types from disparate data sources for single point access by a user, the method comprising:

establishing a user account for the user, including;

receiving, from the user, identifications of a plurality of disparate data sources; and

associating the identifications with the user account;

retrieving content of disparate data types from identified disparate data sources associated with the user account;

storing the retrieved content; and

associating the stored content with the user account;

identifying in dependence upon data sources identified by the user an additional data source.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein establishing a user account for the user further comprises:

receiving from a user identifications of one or more rendering devices; and

retrieving device profiles for the one or more rendering devices in dependence upon the identifications.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising identifying in dependence upon rendering devices identified by the user an additional data source.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising identifying in dependence upon a plurality of user accounts for one or more other users an additional data source for the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising identifying in dependence upon data sources identified by one or more other users an additional data source for the user.

6. A system for aggregating content of disparate data types from disparate data sources for single point access by a user, the system comprising:

a computer processor;

a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor;

the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instruction capable of;

establishing a user account for the user, including;

receiving, from the user, identifications of a plurality of disparate data sources; and

associating the identifications with the user account;

retrieving content of disparate data types from identified disparate data sources associated with the user account;

storing the retrieved content; and

associating the stored content with the user account;

wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instruction capable of identifying in dependence upon data sources identified by the user as an additional data source.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein computer program instructions capable of establishing a user account for the user further comprise computer program instructions capable of:

receiving from a user identifications of one or more rendering devices; and

retrieving device profiles for the one or more rendering devices in dependence upon the identifications.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of identifying in dependence upon rendering devices identified by the user an additional data source.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of identifying in dependence upon a plurality of user accounts for one or more other users an additional data source for the user.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of identifying in dependence upon data sources identified by one or more other users an additional data source for the user.

11. A computer program product for aggregating content of disparate data types from disparate data sources for single point access by a user, the computer program product embodied on a recordable computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising:

computer program instructions for establishing a user account for the user, including;

computer program instructions for receiving, from the user, identifications of a plurality of disparate data sources; and

computer program instructions for associating the identifications with the user account;

computer program instructions for retrieving content o f disparate data types from identified disparate data sources associated with the user account;

computer program instructions for storing the retrieved content; and

computer program instructions for associating the stored content with the user account;

computer program instructions for identifying in dependence upon data sources identified by the user as additional data source.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein computer program instructions for establishing a user account for the user further comprise:

computer program instructions for receiving from a user identifications of one or more rendering devices; and

computer program instructions for retrieving device profiles for the one or more rendering devices in dependence upon the identifications.