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US6567800B1
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System and method for searching information stored on a network
Assignee: FICHTER DAWN
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Filing: 1998-10-01
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Granted: 2003-05-20
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Expires: 2018-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for searching websites that use category information to narrow the range of a website content search. Website content is retrieved through a network and stored. A user starts a search by selecting a category or categories in which information Pertinent to the user's needs is likely to be found. The user then performs a keyword search on the content of websites that fall within the selected category or categories. The results of this category-content search are sent and displayed to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Barrera
- 👤 William Andrew Boyajian
- 👤 Leonard Mark Canale
- 👤 Don Fichter
- 👤 William R. Kamm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/951; G06F16/953; G06F16/9532; G06F16/9538; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for searching for information stored at websites, comprising the steps of: a. retrieving website content through a network; b. correlating a piece of retrieved website content with a category; c. receiving a category selection; d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category; and e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for searching for information stored at websites, comprising the steps of: a. retrieving website content through a network; b. correlating a piece of retrieved website content with a category; c. receiving a category selection; d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category; and e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: f. receiving description information for a website from a registrant; and g. correlating the website with a category based upon the description information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of presenting a first category name to a user as a hyperlink to a second category name, the second category being a subcategory of the first category.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the content search includes the steps of: a. maintaining a dynamic index that includes a list of identifiers for websites that are associated with the selected category; b. searching a representation of the content of each website whose identifier occurs in the dynamic index; and c. sending the results of the search to the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein performing a content search includes the step of performing a keyword search.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the content search includes performing a keyword search on the contents of metatags stored in pages at the website.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the content search includes the steps of: a. maintaining a web page index that includes a list of identifiers for web pages that comprise a website; b. receiving a website selection from a user; c. receiving a web page content search request from the user; d. searching the content of the web pages that comprise the selected website based upon the web page content search request from the user; and e. sending the results of the web page content search to the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a category selection is a Uniform Resource Locator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of sending the results of the web page content search to the user includes the step of sending the Uniform Resource Locator of a web page in which information responsive to the user web page content request is stored.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the content search includes the steps of: a. maintaining a web page index that includes a list of identifiers for web pages that comprise a website; b. receiving a website selection from a user; c. receiving a web page Uniform Resource Locator search request from the user; d. searching the Uniform Resource Locators of the web pages that comprise the selected website based upon the web page Uniform Resource Locator search request from the user; and e. sending the results of the web page Uniform Resource Locator search to the user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending the results of the content search to a user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the results sent to the user are adapted to be displayed ranked in the order of their relevance such that a more relevant result is displayed before a less relevant result.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the results of the content search are sent to the user as a dynamically generated web page.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the results sent to the user include a website identifier and information pertaining to the content of the website corresponding to the identifier.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for searching for information stored at websites, comprising: a. a processor; b. a memory that stores category-content search instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to retrieve content from websites, store the retrieved content, correlate a piece of stored content to a category, receive a category selection, receive a content search request, perform a content search of stored website content that is correlated with the selected category, and to send the results of the content search to a user, said memory coupled to said processor; and c. a port adapted to be coupled to a network, said port coupled to said processor and said memory.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for searching for information stored at websites, comprising: a. a processor; b. a memory that stores category-content search instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to retrieve content from websites, store the retrieved content, correlate a piece of stored content to a category, receive a category selection, receive a content search request, perform a content search of stored website content that is correlated with the selected category, and to send the results of the content search to a user, said memory coupled to said processor; and c. a port adapted to be coupled to a network, said port coupled to said processor and said memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said category-content search instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to receive description information for a website from a registrant, and to associate the website with a category based upon the website description information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said category-content search instructions are adapted to be executed by said processor to maintain a dynamic index that includes a list of identifiers for websites that are associated with the selected category, to search a representation of the content of each website whose identifier occurs in the dynamic index, and to send the results of the search to a user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said category-content search instructions are further adapted to be executed by said processor to dynamically generate a web page that reflects the results of the category-content search and that is adapted to be displayed to a user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said memory includes a database.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said content-category search instructions are adapted to be executed by said processor to search, read from and write to said database.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for searching for information stored at websites, the method steps comprising: a. retrieving website content through a network; b. correlating a piece of stored website content with a category; c. receiving a category selection; d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category; and e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for searching for information stored at websites, the method steps comprising: a. retrieving website content through a network; b. correlating a piece of stored website content with a category; c. receiving a category selection; d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category; and e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-11-18 | 2007-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-19 | 2010-11-18 | 2011-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-19 | 2014-11-18 | 2015-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |