Web search engine with graphic snapshots
First Claim
1. A method for processing data files stored at distributed addresses on a data processing network, at least some of the data files having text and graphic content, the method comprising:
- analyzing at least a subset of the data files to produce a database of information characterizing aspects of the data files that tend to distinguish the data files from one another, and cross referencing said information to addresses of the data files;
generating an image of at least a portion of the subset of data files, and storing a graphic file of said image in a manner cross referenced to the addresses of the data files, whereby the graphic file represents an image of the data files at a time of generation;
receiving search queries and applying the search queries to the database for selecting a hit list from among the data files;
reporting the hit list in a search report including the addresses of each of the data files selected and the image corresponding to the data files in the hit list at the respective time of generation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A search engine manages the indexing of web page contents and accepts user selection criteria to find and report hits that meet the search criteria. The inventive search engine has an associated crawler function wherein display images of the web pages are rendered and stored as snapshots, preferably when the pages are indexed. The search engine reports search results by composing an html page with links to the corresponding page hits and containing snapshot reduced size graphic images showing the web pages as they appeared when fetched and stored as snapshots.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for processing data files stored at distributed addresses on a data processing network, at least some of the data files having text and graphic content, the method comprising:
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analyzing at least a subset of the data files to produce a database of information characterizing aspects of the data files that tend to distinguish the data files from one another, and cross referencing said information to addresses of the data files; generating an image of at least a portion of the subset of data files, and storing a graphic file of said image in a manner cross referenced to the addresses of the data files, whereby the graphic file represents an image of the data files at a time of generation; receiving search queries and applying the search queries to the database for selecting a hit list from among the data files; reporting the hit list in a search report including the addresses of each of the data files selected and the image corresponding to the data files in the hit list at the respective time of generation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network search engine for managing user selection of information contained on data files stored at distributed network addresses on a global information processing network wherein distributed users have control over associated data files accessible by other users, each of said data files having at least some associated text and each of the data files having at least one mode of graphic presentation, comprising:
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a crawler having at least one processor operable to address and load successive data files comprising at least a subset of said data files stored at said distributed network addresses, the crawler being operable to produce and store a database of information characterizing aspects of the data files that tend to distinguish the data files from one another, cross referenced to addresses of the data files; and
,wherein the crawler is further operable to produce graphic image files representing at least some of the data files, the graphic image files each corresponding to content of corresponding said data files at a point in time, and wherein the crawler is operable to store the graphic image file so as to cross reference the graphic image file to the data files in the database. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An improved Internet search engine for managing user search and selection of web pages stored at distributed systems coupled at network addresses to the Internet, the search engine having an associated web crawler operable to address and load successive web pages, and to index text data associated with said successive web pages so as to obtain parameter information that distinguishes at least groups of the web pages from one another, the crawler storing the parameter information and associated addresses of the web pages, and the search engine being operable responsive to user submitted search criteria to search the parameter information and to report at least the associated addresses of web pages that met the search criteria when indexed, wherein the improvement comprises:
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said crawler being operable in conjunction with obtaining the parameter information for at least a subset of said successive web pages to generate a graphic image file containing a visual image that is substantially identical to an appearance of said web pages, for display in a size proportionally smaller than said web pages; and wherein the search engine is operable when reporting the associated addresses of web pages that met the search criteria to include a representation of the graphic image file in said proportionally smaller size. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method for providing search results with associated snapshot images of web page displays, comprising:
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generating reduced size graphic image files, wherein each of the reduced size graphic image files corresponds to an appearance of a respective web page, comprising; rendering display images of the respective web page, wherein each display image represents a snapshot of the respective web page at a fixed time, and processing the rendered display images to obtain the reduced size graphic image files such that each reduced size graphic image file corresponds to a reduced size static visual representation of the respective web page; receiving an electronic search query; and electronically transmitting a report page listing web pages associated with results of the electronic search query, wherein the report page includes at least one reduced size graphic image file and a link to the respective web page. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A search engine for providing search results with images of web page displays, comprising:
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a processor; means for generating reduced graphic image files, wherein each reduced size graphic image file corresponds to an appearance of a respective web page, comprising; means for rendering display images of the respective web page, wherein each display image represents a snapshot of the respective web page at a fixed time, and means for processing the rendered display images to obtain the reduced size graphic image files such that each reduced size graphic image file corresponds to a reduced size static visual representation of the respective web page; means for receiving an electronic search query; and means for electronically transmitting a report page listing web pages associated with results of the electronic search query, wherein the report page includes at least one reduced size graphic image file and a link to the respective web page.
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39. A memory store having control logic stored therein, the control logic, when executed, enabling at least one computer to provide search results with associated snapshot images of web page displays, the control logic comprising:
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first logic that enables the at least one computer to generate reduced graphic image files, wherein each of the reduced size graphic image files corresponds to an appearance of a respective web page, comprising; logic for rendering display images of the web pages, wherein each display image represents a snapshot of a respective web page at a fixed time, and logic for processing the rendered display images to obtain the reduced size graphic image files such that each reduced size graphic image file corresponds to a reduced size static visual representation of the respective web page; second logic that enables the at least one computer to receive an electronic search query; and third logic that enables the at least one computer to electronically transmit a report page listing web pages associated with results of the electronic search query, wherein the report page includes at least one reduced graphic image file and a link to the respective web page.
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40. A search engine comprising:
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a processor; a memory store; software, stored in the memory store and executable on the processor to perform program functions, wherein the program functions comprise; generating reduced graphic image files, comprising;
rendering display images of one or more web pages, wherein each display image represents a snapshot of a respective web page at a fixed time, and processing the rendered display images to obtain the reduced size graphic image files such that each reduced size graphic image file corresponds to a reduced size static visual representation of the respective web page;receiving an electronic search query; and transmitting a report page listing web pages associated with results of the electronic search query, wherein the report page includes at least one reduced size graphic image file and a link to the respective web page.
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Specification