Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2002-04-30
Breene, John (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C709S223000, C709S224000, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06381599
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a system for use in on-line research, and more particularly, to a computer system that enables a user to have access to information available via the Internet and other resources in an environment which provides seamless integration of all such information.
The Internet is a connection of many individual campus, state, regional and national computer networks into one single logical network all sharing a common addressing scheme. Most of these networks have publicly accessible information. This information includes electronic journals, mailing lists, electronic books, programs, pictures, encyclopedias and dictionaries and many other resources such as articles and legislative databases just to name a few. Some databases exist solely to archive academic information exchange. These databases and networks house a great deal of information that can be of great benefit to those that have the ability to access it. However, a lack of an easy way to access information has been a bottleneck that has prevented people from utilizing the information.
Users of commercial dial-up services are accustomed to one-stop shopping. These users generally sign on to the service and, through the use of navigation aids, search and retrieve relevant information. These commercial services have navigation aids or programs dedicated to providing easy access to information. These searches, however, are limited to the centralized computer databases of that commercial service or to databases that are connected directly to that service. If the user wants to access information available via the Internet, the user must enter an area that allows access to the Internet via a specialized gateway. These gateways generally require the user to utilize protocols of the Internet, such as FTP, Telnet and USENET, which provide only very basic functions through a cryptic command format. These functions may include electronic mail, file transfer and remote login. Electronic mail allows people to send messages to one or more people, to deliver text files, to retrieve information by automated computer programs like LISTSERV (through a gateway to BITNET), and more. File transfer may occur through a process called file transfer protocol, or FTP. This process allows one to log on to remote computers and use the resources in directories that network administrators have made available to the public to access publicly available documents or programs. Remote login or Telnet, provides the ability to connect to a remote computer and work with it interactively. Through Telnet, one can log into directories of remote computers, such as library catalogs of distant universities, and search for relevant information. During a Telnet session the user's computer serves as a terminal of that remote computer. Each of these programs provide minimal access to focused resources and can be confusing to the user. Moreover, to implement a complete search of information the user must master each method and individually search each service.
The connections provided by Internet access providers generally give few indications to the user about what to do to access information. Most users, log on through a UNIX-based service provider and work with a cryptic prompt. Generally, users see a set of application programs that enable one to use the network. Some of these programs boast the ability to provide easy access to the greatest number of resources, but none provide a method of incorporating all available search programs or resources into one universal resource access system.
The Internet provides the ability to access mailing lists. Mailing lists are subscriber listings of publicly available discussions by people who share common interests. A mailing list is an e-mail address that redistributes all mail sent to it back out to a list of addresses. As an example, those people interested in general information about a subject area may access the mailing list and subscribe to that list that posts messages concerning that subject area. In the future, postings to that list will be sent to that and all other subscribers. The user may then, at his leisure, read all or some of those postings. The user may even reply to a posting by sending a message to all subscribers or to the specific author of the posting. Each mailing list is focused upon a specific hobby or interest area and provides the user with the ability to easily keep up-to-date on a chosen topic.
Similar to mailing lists, the Internet provides USENET. The USENET is a worldwide network of newsgroups on thousands of subjects which can be accessed by newsreader programs. For commercial dial-up users, USENET newsgroups seem familiar in many ways. They are discussion areas where ideas can be exchanged. A user can post a message on-line and read the responses to it that build up over time. A user can subscribe to a particular newsgroup, page through it using a software reader, organize the messages according to threads, add messages commenting on what people have said, and ask questions.
The Internet provides a program called FTP, or File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a way of sending files between computers. FTP provides interactive capabilities that allow the user to log on to a remote computer and prowl around in its directories to locate a file and have it sent. The process is slow and complex. Unlike commercial services such as CompuServe®, there are few menus to guide the user, and even at the largest archival sites, software can be challenging to locate by type or description. Also unlike commercial services, FTP sites have other purposes for existing. They are working systems that have resources that are not designed for access by the general public and are not “user-friendly.” FTP sites do not have easy-to-use interfaces similar to the CompuServe Information Manager®. There is another difference between commercial on-line service libraries and the FTP sites of the Internet. CompuServe's Forums® are run by system operators. The system operator keeps a close check on the files uploaded to libraries, to make sure they contain no viruses, to ensure that they work, and to determine that they're worthwhile. They also make sure that the available programs are current versions. Software at FTP sites, on the other hand, may or may not receive this kind of scrutiny.
To improve and simplify access to these files available via FTP an indexing tool called Archie was developed. Archie servers store information on what is available at FTP sites in regularly updated servers. A user can Telnet to an Archie server and search the database. Archie allows searching for entries containing a particular search string, and it can provide other information which can be useful in the search for specific files. Archie also maintains a software description database that holds the names and descriptions of software packages. To obtain the located resource, however, a user must leave Telnet and must set up a FTP session to get the file.
There are other search tools available to the Internet user. These tools include programs called Gopher, WAIS, World Wide Web, Veronica, etc. These programs attempt to address the problem of having a multitude of databases, with multiple redundant files of several versions located around the world. However, even with these tools, a user attempting to locate and download required information has been described as being faced with a task similar to a person trying to find a bathroom in a house with 250,000 unmarked doors. The user will eventually find that file but will be required to spend considerable amounts of time and will be required to have an inordinant amount of patience and persistence.
Gopher allows a user to browse the Internets resources in many forms. Gopher provides a menu of available options and allows the user to access several different services or programs. There are several ways of accessing a gopher server, such as a local client program or via a Telnet session. Gopher clients also pro
Gerard Gregory S.
Hanley Julie H.
Jones David R.
America Online Inc.
Breene John
Le Debbie M
Standley & Gilcrest LLP
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