System and Method for Efficiently Accessing Internet Resources

• US 20090300140A1
• Filed: 06/01/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: AXP Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of a first user accessing information of a second user, comprising:

prompting a second user to enter information;

storing the information of the second user;

providing to an organization a link to the information of the second user;

determining by the organization an access level provided to a first user, and

accessing, by the first user, the information of the second user based on the access level.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying the information of the second user.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein accessing the information comprises interfacing with a software application.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying the information, including an item, and indicating that an action is available for the item.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the storing the information of the second user comprises storing in a local database.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein the storing the information of the second user comprises storing by an Internet service provider.

36. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying the information using contrasting lettering to indicate an available action.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein the information includes an e-mail address used in place of a telephone number.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein the information includes a column maintained by the organization.

39. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying the information of the second user according to an organizational structure of the organization.

40. The method of claim 30 further comprising validating the information of the second user.

41. The method of claim 30 wherein the information comprises a desired method of contact.

42. The method of claim 30 wherein the accessing comprises indicating that additional information associated with the second user is available.

43. The method of claim 30 further comprising displaying the information of the second user in a data table, the data table comprising a column defined by the organization, the column associated with information regarding the second user.

44. The method of claim 32 wherein the software application initiates an e-mail.

45. The method of claim 32 wherein the software application initiates a telephone call.

46. The method of claim 32 wherein the software application initiates a facsimile.

47. The method of claim 32 wherein the software application initiates a video web phone.

48. The method of claim 30 wherein the information comprises a website address.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the accessing comprises accessing the website address.

50. The method of claim 30 wherein the information comprises a personal profile.

51. A method of a software application allowing a communication between a first user and a second user, comprising:

receiving information of a first user;

receiving information of a second user;

storing the information of the first user;

storing the information of the second user;

initiating a search by the first user to retrieve information across the Internet, the search comprises a keyword;

displaying a unique identifier related to the keyword and the second user;

receiving a link request, from the first user, to access the information of the second user;

providing access to the first user of the information of the second user; and

invoking a communication between the first user and the second user.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the communication comprises a video web phone call.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein the communication comprises a telephone call with a single selection.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein the storing the information of the first user comprises storing the information of the first user in a database associated with the first user.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein the displaying comprises indicating that an action is available for an item.

56. The method of claim 51 wherein the displaying comprises displaying an item using contrasting lettering to indicate an available action.

57. The method of claim 51 wherein the information of the first user includes an e-mail address used in place of a telephone number.

58. The method of claim 51 wherein the information of the first user comprises a desired method of contact.

59. The method of claim 51 wherein the displaying comprises indicating that additional information associated with the second user is available.

60. The method of claim 51 wherein the communication comprises e-mail.

61. A system for accessing information of a second user by a first user, the system comprising:

a processor;

an output device connected to the processor, the output device prompting a second user to enter information;

an input device connected to the processor, the input device receiving the information of the second user;

a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions to control the operation of the processor, the memory further storing the information of the second user;

whereby the processor provides to an organization a link to the information of the second user, the processor further determines an access level assigned to a first user by the organization, the processor further provides the information of the second user to the first user based on the access level.