US6516337B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sending to a central indexing site meta data or signatures from objects on a computer network
Assignee: ARCESSA PARTNERS LLC
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Filing: 1999-10-14
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2019-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A search engine utilizes a bottom-up approach to index the content of a network instead of relying on atop-down approach as used by conventional search engines. The network being indexed may be any network, including the global computer network, Internet, and the world wide web. Instead of using a central site including spidering software to recursively search all linked web pages and generate a search index of the Internet, independent distributed components or agents are located at each web site and report meta data about objects at the web site to the central server. A central catalog of object references is compiled on the central site from the meta data reported from each web site. One or more brochures file may also be created and stored on each web site to provide conceptual or non-keyword data about the site, such as demographics and categorization information. This conceptual information is then utilized in constructing the central catalog so that more accurate search results may be generated for search queries applied to the catalog.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary W. Tripp
- 👤 Michael D. Meadway
- 👤 Claude E. Duguay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/951; G06F16/30; G06F16/31; G06F16/35; G06F16/353; G06F16/953; G06F16/9532; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/955; Y10S707/959; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of constructing a catalog of object references from objects stored within a network, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer storing the catalog and being designated a cataloging site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the method comprising: running on each source site a program which assembles meta data about objects stored on the source site; transmitting the assembled meta data from each source site to the cataloging site, the assembled meta data being transmitted at a scheduled time that is a function of resource availability on at least one of the source site and the cataloging site; and processing the transmitted data at the cataloging site to generate a catalog of object references.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of constructing a catalog of object references from objects stored within a network, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer storing the catalog and being designated a cataloging site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the method comprising: running on each source site a program which assembles meta data about objects stored on the source site; transmitting the assembled meta data from each source site to the cataloging site, the assembled meta data being transmitted at a scheduled time that is a function of resource availability on at least one of the source site and the cataloging site; and processing the transmitted data at the cataloging site to generate a catalog of object references.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each item of transmitted meta data is accompanied by a command to the cataloging site instructing the cataloging site what to do with the item of meta data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the assembled meta data comprises transmitting differential meta data indicating changes in current meta data relative to previous meta data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the program creates meta data only for selected objects on the site, the selected objects being selected using human input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the program creates meta data only for selected objects on the site, the selected objects being selected using a computer generated pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the scheduled time that is a function of resource availability on at least one of the source site and the cataloging site and human input.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for monitoring objects stored within a network to detect changes in one or more of the objects, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer assembling the results of monitoring and being designated a central site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the method comprising: running on each source site a program which processes objects stored on the source site, thereby generating for each processed object a digital signature which reflects data of the object which data consists of contents or meta data; transmitting the generated signatures from each source site to the central site; and comparing each transmitted signature at the central site to a previously generated signature for the object from which the signature was derived to determine whether the data of the object has changed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for monitoring objects stored within a network to detect changes in one or more of the objects, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer assembling the results of monitoring and being designated a central site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the method comprising: running on each source site a program which processes objects stored on the source site, thereby generating for each processed object a digital signature which reflects data of the object which data consists of contents or meta data; transmitting the generated signatures from each source site to the central site; and comparing each transmitted signature at the central site to a previously generated signature for the object from which the signature was derived to determine whether the data of the object has changed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the source site initiates running of the program on the source site.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the central site initiates running of the program on the source site.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein objects on the source site that are monitored are accessible only from the source site.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the signature for an object consists of information copied from a directory entry for the object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the signature for an object consists of a hash of contents of the object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the object from which a signature is generated consists of a collection of information about a set of objects on the site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein each generated signature is accompanied by a command to the cataloging site instructing the cataloging site what to do with the generated signature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer-readable medium containing a program for generating meta data for objects stored on a source site on a computer network, the network including a plurality of computers being designated respectively as source sites and a computer designated as a cataloging site that stores a catalog of object references to objects stored on the source sites, the program generating the object references by performing: assembling meta data about objects stored on the source site; and transmitting the assembled meta data from the source site to the cataloging site for processing at the cataloging site to generate the catalog of object references, the assembled meta data being transmitted at a scheduled time that is a function of resource availability on at least one of the source site and the cataloging site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A computer-readable medium containing a program for generating meta data for objects stored on a source site on a computer network, the network including a plurality of computers being designated respectively as source sites and a computer designated as a cataloging site that stores a catalog of object references to objects stored on the source sites, the program generating the object references by performing: assembling meta data about objects stored on the source site; and transmitting the assembled meta data from the source site to the cataloging site for processing at the cataloging site to generate the catalog of object references, the assembled meta data being transmitted at a scheduled time that is a function of resource availability on at least one of the source site and the cataloging site.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein each item of transmitted meta data is accompanied by a command to the cataloging site instructing the cataloging site what to do with the item of meta data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein transmitting the assembled meta data comprises transmitting differential meta data indicating changes in current meta data relative to previous meta data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the program creates meta data only for selected objects on the site, the selected objects being selected using human input.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer-readable medium containing a program for monitoring objects stored within a network to detect changes in one or more of the objects, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer assembling the results of monitoring and being designated a central site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the program monitoring the objects by performing: processing objects stored on the source site, thereby generating for each processed object a digital signature which reflects data of the object which data consists of contents or meta data; and transmitting the generated signatures from each source site to the central site for comparison of each signature at the central site to a previously generated signature for the object from which the signature was derived to determine whether the data of the object has changed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer-readable medium containing a program for monitoring objects stored within a network to detect changes in one or more of the objects, the network including a plurality of interconnected computers with one computer assembling the results of monitoring and being designated a central site and each of the other computers storing a plurality of objects and being designated a source site, the program monitoring the objects by performing: processing objects stored on the source site, thereby generating for each processed object a digital signature which reflects data of the object which data consists of contents or meta data; and transmitting the generated signatures from each source site to the central site for comparison of each signature at the central site to a previously generated signature for the object from which the signature was derived to determine whether the data of the object has changed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the source site initiates running of the program on the source site.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the central site initiates running of the program on the source site.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein objects on the source site that are monitored are accessible only from the source site.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the signature for an object consists of information copied from a directory entry for the object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the signature for an object consists of a hash of contents of the object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the object from which a signature is generated consists of a collection of information about a set of objects on the site.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein each item of transmitted meta data is accompanied by a command to the cataloging site instructing the cataloging site what to do with the item of meta data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |