Data storage using spreadsheet and metatags

• US 7,594,172 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Douglas Fish
• Original Assignee: Robert Douglas Fish
• Inventors: Fish, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackwell; James H
• Application Number:
  US10/398,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 715/503, 715/530, 715/810, 715212-220, 715/25, 715/225, 715/230, 715/255, 709/206, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/102, 705/40
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

Metatag identifiers are stored in a spreadsheet, and are made available for use in metatagging various files. Steps may include: identifying the item of data in a document; activating an activation code; providing a listing of metatag choices; selecting a metatag from the listing of metatag choices; identifying the selected metatag with a column in the spreadsheet; and storing at least a portion of the item of data in a cell of the column. The listing is preferably a visually displayed listing, and selection can be made by clicking. Data previously associated with a metatag, and stored in the spreadsheet can be displayed as values. The values for a given metatag can thus be sorted and listed, providing immediate feedback to a user to assist in determining the propriety of a particular metatag.

Claims

1. A method of storing descriptive metatag-value pairs for parametized information regarding first and second items having differing classifications, comprising:

providing a first electronic interface through which a first human user identifies the first item in a first document to a computer system;

prompting the first user to select a first classification for the first item, wherein the first user selects the first classification for the first item;

providing the first user with a first set of metatag choices determined at least in part by the first user'"'"'s selection of the first classification;

presenting the first user with;

(a) the first set of metatag choices for possible association with the first item, and

(b) candidate values for at least one of the metatag choices that allows the first user to define a first metatag-value pair;

providing a second electronic interface through which the first user creates a new metatag for the first set of metatag choices which based on an analysis of a second document that includes the second item, is subsequently displayed in the first set of metatag choices to a second human user for the second user to utilize in entering a second metatag-value pair for possible association with the second item in the second document; and

storing an association of the first item and the new metatag in a data structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the first item to the system comprises locating the item in a at least one of a text or an HTML document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the first item to the system comprises blocking a portion of the item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the first item to the system comprises identifying a consumer object as the item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the first item to the system comprises identifying real estate as the item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the first item to the system comprises identifying a transportation device as the item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the candidate values from a published list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first set of metatag choices relates to a type of the first item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the metatag choices relates to a quality of the first item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the metatag choices relates to a price of the first item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the metatag choices relates to a source of the first item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data structure comprises a database file.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data structure comprises a spreadsheet.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying a selected one of the first set of metatags with a column in the spreadsheet, and storing one of the candidate values in a cell of the column.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a classification index that the first user can utilize to limit the metatag choices.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the first user to sort at least some of the first set of metatag choices according to frequency of prior usage.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising tagging the portion of the first item in a document with a selected one of the first set of metatag choices.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an activation code to trigger display of at least some of the first set of metatag choices to the user.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an activation code to trigger display of the candidate values to the user.

20. A computer having a processor and a memory, and running software that executes a method according to claim 1.

21. The computer of claim 20, further comprising a component that links the processor to a network.