Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
1 . An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, the apparatus comprising: means for storing cumulative feedback data gathered from multiple users during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task/domains; means for determining the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; means for determining a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task/domain; means for communicating to the user the current response; and means for receiving from the user current feedback data regarding the current response, wherein the current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in said storing means and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
1 . An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, the apparatus comprising: means for storing cumulative feedback data gathered from multiple users during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task/domains; means for determining the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; means for determining a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task/domain; means for communicating to the user the current response; and means for receiving from the user current feedback data regarding the current response, wherein the current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in said storing means and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by asking the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by inferring the current user task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the apparatus is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the apparatus is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for one of a set of discovery searching task/domains and a signifier for one of a set of signifier mapping task/domains, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
6 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the apparatus is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by examining at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
7 . A method for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, comprising: determining the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; determining a current response to the current user command on the basis of previously gathered and stored feedback data associated with the current task/domain; communicating to the user the current response; receiving from the user current feedback data regarding the current response; and storing the current feedback data, wherein the stored current feedback data is added to cumulative feedback data gathered and stored during previous iterations of the method and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
7 . A method for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, comprising: determining the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; determining a current response to the current user command on the basis of previously gathered and stored feedback data associated with the current task/domain; communicating to the user the current response; receiving from the user current feedback data regarding the current response; and storing the current feedback data, wherein the stored current feedback data is added to cumulative feedback data gathered and stored during previous iterations of the method and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the current user task/domain is determined by asking the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
9 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the current task/domain is determined by inferring the task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
10 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein: the method is performed by an apparatus functioning as a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the intended current task/domain is determined by asking the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
11 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein: the method is performed by an apparatus functioning as a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the intended current task/domain is determined by examining at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
12 . A computer-readable storage medium storing program code executable by a program-controlled apparatus, said code being operable to cause the apparatus to: determine the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; determine a current response to the current user command on the basis of previously gathered and stored feedback data associated with the current task/domain; communicate to the user the current response; receive from the user current feedback data regarding the current response; and store the current feedback data, wherein the stored current feedback data is added to cumulative feedback data gathered and stored during previous executions of the code and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
12 . A computer-readable storage medium storing program code executable by a program-controlled apparatus, said code being operable to cause the apparatus to: determine the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; determine a current response to the current user command on the basis of previously gathered and stored feedback data associated with the current task/domain; communicate to the user the current response; receive from the user current feedback data regarding the current response; and store the current feedback data, wherein the stored current feedback data is added to cumulative feedback data gathered and stored during previous executions of the code and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
13 . A computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the current user task/domain is determined by asking the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
14 . A computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the current task/domain is determined by inferring the task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
15 . A computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein: the apparatus functions as a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the intended current task/domain is determined by asking the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
16 . A computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein: the apparatus functions as a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the intended current task/domain is determines by examining at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
150 words
17 . An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, the apparatus comprising: a digital storage device that stores cumulative feedback data gathered during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task/domains; a first digital logic device that determines the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; a second digital logic device that determines a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task/domain; a first communication interface that communicates to the user the current response; and a second communication interface that receives from the user current feedback data regarding the current response, wherein the current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in said digital storage device and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
150 words
17 . An apparatus for responding to a current user command associated with one of a plurality of task/domains, the apparatus comprising: a digital storage device that stores cumulative feedback data gathered during previous operations of the apparatus and segregated in accordance with the plurality of task/domains; a first digital logic device that determines the current task/domain with which the current user command is associated; a second digital logic device that determines a current response to the current user command on the basis of that portion of the stored cumulative feedback data associated with the current task/domain; a first communication interface that communicates to the user the current response; and a second communication interface that receives from the user current feedback data regarding the current response, wherein the current feedback data is added to the cumulative feedback data stored in said digital storage device and associated with the current task/domain.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
18 . An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first digital logic device determines the current user task/domain by asking the user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
19 . An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first digital logic device determines the current user task/domain by inferring the current user task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
20 . An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein: the apparatus is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the first digital logic device determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
21 . An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein: the apparatus is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the first digital logic device determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by examining at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
22 . A method of locating items containing language using a particular vocabulary, said method comprising: crawling nodes on a network to extract from the nodes identifiers for each of a plurality of vocabularies; compiling an index of the extracted vocabulary identifiers; receiving a command associated with an item using one of the plurality of vocabularies; and finding, using the index of vocabulary identifiers, the items using the one vocabulary.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
22 . A method of locating items containing language using a particular vocabulary, said method comprising: crawling nodes on a network to extract from the nodes identifiers for each of a plurality of vocabularies; compiling an index of the extracted vocabulary identifiers; receiving a command associated with an item using one of the plurality of vocabularies; and finding, using the index of vocabulary identifiers, the items using the one vocabulary.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
23 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the network is the World Wide Web.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
24 . A search server for finding items in response to user search requests, the server having access to index tables that include identification data on any vocabulary, schema or DTD that may be specified as defining semantics of the item, for each indexed item for which such a specification is made, the server comprising: means for determining a current task/domain with which a current user search request is associated; and means for weighting possible responses to the search request so as to favor those for which the determined current task/domain corresponds to the specified vocabulary schema or DTD of the item.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
24 . A search server for finding items in response to user search requests, the server having access to index tables that include identification data on any vocabulary, schema or DTD that may be specified as defining semantics of the item, for each indexed item for which such a specification is made, the server comprising: means for determining a current task/domain with which a current user search request is associated; and means for weighting possible responses to the search request so as to favor those for which the determined current task/domain corresponds to the specified vocabulary schema or DTD of the item.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
25 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain implicitly by inference using matching, or semantic analysis or other natural language understanding techniques to identify related terms and categories drawing on knowledge of the vocabularies, schema or DTDs specified in the target items.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
26 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by asking the user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
27 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by asking the user to specify semantic metadata to be found in the target item.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
28 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by asking the user to specify a vocabulary, schema, or DTD that corresponds to the task/domain.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
29 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by inferring the current user task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
63 words
30 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
71 words
31 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for one of a set of discovery searching task/domains and a signifier for one of a set of signifier mapping task/domains, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
70 words
32 . A search server according to claim 24 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by examining at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
117 words
33 . A search server for finding items in response to user search requests, the items being preferred to be those that use a specified vocabulary, the server having access to index tables the extraction of which resulted in vocabulary identifications for each indexed item that may be specified as defining vocabulary of the item, for each indexed item for which such a specification is made, the server comprising: means for determining a current task/domain with which a current user search request is associated; and means for weighting possible responses to the search request so as to de-emphasize or exclude those for which the determined current task/domain does not correspond to the specified vocabulary of the item.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
117 words
33 . A search server for finding items in response to user search requests, the items being preferred to be those that use a specified vocabulary, the server having access to index tables the extraction of which resulted in vocabulary identifications for each indexed item that may be specified as defining vocabulary of the item, for each indexed item for which such a specification is made, the server comprising: means for determining a current task/domain with which a current user search request is associated; and means for weighting possible responses to the search request so as to de-emphasize or exclude those for which the determined current task/domain does not correspond to the specified vocabulary of the item.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
34 . A search server according to claim 33 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by asking the user.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
35 . A search server according to claim 33 , wherein the current task/domain determining means determines the current user task/domain by inferring the current user task/domain from at least one of past and current user behavior.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
63 words
36 . A search server according to claim 33 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
71 words
37 . A search server according to claim 33 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for one of a set of discovery searching task/domains and a signifier for one of a set of signifier mapping task/domains, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by asking the user.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
66 words
38 . A search server according to claim 33 , wherein: the server is a server on a wide area network, the commands from the user comprise one of a search term for a discovery searching task/domain and a signifier for a signifier mapping task/domain, and the current task/domain determining means determines which of the task/domains is currently intended by examining past and current user behavior.