US5848421A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for catalog maintenance and utilization
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1996-06-17
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2016-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A system (10) for maintaining and accessing a catalog database (36) includes a catalog database upgrade system (34). The system (10) also includes a catalog database navigator system (56). The catalog database upgrade system (34) is capable of adding items to a catalog database (36) and modifying items in the catalog database (36). The catalog database navigator system (56) is capable of locating items in the catalog database (36).
Inventors
- 👤 Harriet Elaine Brichta
- 👤 Mark A. Trio
- 👤 Lee R. Wilson
- 👤 Jim W. Gunnels
- 👤 Robert J. Muhme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/23; G06F16/2365; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for maintaining and accessing catalog items in a catalog database, the system comprising: a catalog database upgrade system operable to retrieve catalog item data corresponding to a retrieved catalog item data field from the catalog database; a modify item screen operable to present the retrieved catalog item data to a user for modification; an add item screen operable to receive new catalog item data in a new catalog item data field from the user; wherein the catalog database upgrade system is further operable to store the new catalog item data in the catalog database and to store the modified catalog item data in the catalog database; a catalog database modification system operable to compare the new catalog item data in the new catalog item data field to catalog item data in other catalog item data fields, the catalog database modification system further operable to modify the new catalog item data to remove inconsistencies in response to comparing the data; and a catalog database navigator system operable to locate catalog items in the catalog database using catalog item data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for maintaining and accessing catalog items in a catalog database, the system comprising: a catalog database upgrade system operable to retrieve catalog item data corresponding to a retrieved catalog item data field from the catalog database; a modify item screen operable to present the retrieved catalog item data to a user for modification; an add item screen operable to receive new catalog item data in a new catalog item data field from the user; wherein the catalog database upgrade system is further operable to store the new catalog item data in the catalog database and to store the modified catalog item data in the catalog database; a catalog database modification system operable to compare the new catalog item data in the new catalog item data field to catalog item data in other catalog item data fields, the catalog database modification system further operable to modify the new catalog item data to remove inconsistencies in response to comparing the data; and a catalog database navigator system operable to locate catalog items in the catalog database using catalog item data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a pull-down menu control next to each item data field; and wherein the catalog database upgrade system is further operable to present a list of all available data entries for the catalog item data field when the pull-down menu control is activated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the catalog database navigator system further comprises: a find item screen operable to display all available catalog item data fields associated with a catalog item; a pull-down menu control next to each item catalog item data field; and wherein the catalog database navigator system is further operable to present a list of all available data entries for the catalog item data field when the pull-down menu control is activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the catalog database navigator system further comprises: a find item screen operable to accept entered catalog item data from the user; and wherein the catalog database navigator is further operable to retrieve catalog item data from the catalog database corresponding to the entered catalog item data.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for maintaining and accessing a catalog database, the catalog database having existing items having associated names, the method comprising the steps of: creating a new item in a catalog database with a catalog database upgrade system, the new item having an associated name; comparing the associated name of the new item to the associated names of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; and modifying the associated name of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent naming of items in response to the comparing step.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for maintaining and accessing a catalog database, the catalog database having existing items having associated names, the method comprising the steps of: creating a new item in a catalog database with a catalog database upgrade system, the new item having an associated name; comparing the associated name of the new item to the associated names of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; and modifying the associated name of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent naming of items in response to the comparing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a new item in a catalog database further comprises the steps of: displaying an add item screen on a display; receiving data entered to a data field in the add item screen; and storing the data in the catalog database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of modifying the associated name of the new item further comprises the steps of: retrieving the associated name of the new item from the catalog with the catalog database modification system; displaying a modify item screen on a display that includes the retrieved associated name; accepting user-entered modifications to the associated name; and storing the modified associated name in the catalog database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 and further comprising the step of selecting items from the catalog database with a catalog database navigator system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of selecting items further comprises the steps of: displaying an item selection screen on a display; receiving an input from a pull-down menu control; displaying a list of acceptable choices for a data field; and receiving a selection from the list of acceptable choices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the existing items have associated categories and wherein the new item has an associated category and further comprising the steps of: comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; and modifying the associated category of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent item categorization in response to comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of modifying the associated category of the new item further comprises the steps of: retrieving the associated category of the new item from the catalog database with the catalog database modification system; displaying a modify item screen on a display that includes the retrieved associated category; accepting user-entered modifications to the associated category; and storing the modified associated category in the catalog database.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for maintaining and accessing a catalog database, the catalog database having existing items having associated categories, the method comprising the steps of: creating a new item in a catalog database with a catalog database upgrade system, the new item having an associated category; comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; and modifying the associated category of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent item categorization in response to comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for maintaining and accessing a catalog database, the catalog database having existing items having associated categories, the method comprising the steps of: creating a new item in a catalog database with a catalog database upgrade system, the new item having an associated category; comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; and modifying the associated category of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent item categorization in response to comparing the associated category of the new item to the associated categories of the existing items.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of modifying the associated category of the new item further comprises the steps of: retrieving the associated category of the new item from the catalog database with the catalog database modification system; displaying a modify item screen on a display that includes the retrieved associated category; accepting user-entered modifications to the associated category; and storing the modified associated category in the catalog database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of creating a new item in a catalog database further comprises the steps of: displaying an add item screen on a display; receiving data entered to a data field in the add item screen; and storing the data in the catalog database.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of modifying the associated category of the new item further comprises the steps of: retrieving the associated category of the new item from the catalog database with the catalog database modification system; displaying a modify item screen on a display that includes the retrieved associated category; accepting user-entered modifications to the associated category; and storing the modified associated category in the catalog database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 and further comprising the step of selecting items from the catalog database with a catalog database navigator system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selecting items further comprises the steps of: displaying an item selection screen on a display; receiving an input from a pull-down menu control; displaying a list of acceptable choices for a data field; and receiving a selection from the list of acceptable choices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the existing items have associated names and wherein the new item has associated names and further comprising the steps of: comparing the associated name of the new item to the associated names of the existing items in the catalog database with a catalog database modification system; modifying the associated name of the new item in the catalog database with the catalog database modification system to correct inconsistent naming of items in response to comparing the associated name of the new item to the associated names of the existing items.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of modifying the associated name of the new item further comprises the steps of: retrieving the associated name of the new item from the catalog database with the catalog database modification system; displaying a modify item screen on a display that includes the retrieved associated name; accepting user-entered modifications to the associated name; and storing the modified associated name in the catalog database.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the catalog item data includes a catalog item name.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the catalog item data includes a catalog item category.
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |