US5907680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Client-side, server-side and collaborative spell check of URL's
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-24
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Granted: 1999-05-25
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Expires: 2016-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Spell checking of network addresses such as Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses is provided at three levels. Each is invoked when a connection to the specified network address is unable to be established. At a client level, the specified URL is compared with URL's previously successfully used to find candidate misspellings. At a server level, directory and file names are checked against corresponding components of the URL to which connection was requested to return a list of candidate correct spellings to the requestor. Excluded from the list returned to the requestor are the correct spellings of "hidden" files to which general access is not desired. At a network access provider level, information about URL's successfully used by all customers is accumulated and used to provide a candidate list of correct spellings to a user. Older entries are periodically pruned from the database to control size.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses, comprising: a. a first database containing valid network protocol names; b. a second database containing valid network server names; c. a third database containing valid component names; and d. a computer configured to analyze a network address, used in an attempt to establish a connection to that address but which did not result in a connection, to compare portions of that address with one of said first, second or third databases, containing corresponding information and present to a user one or more alternative spellings of that address if a portion of that address does not match identically a valid entry in the database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses, comprising: a. a first database containing valid network protocol names; b. a second database containing valid network server names; c. a third database containing valid component names; and d. a computer configured to analyze a network address, used in an attempt to establish a connection to that address but which did not result in a connection, to compare portions of that address with one of said first, second or third databases, containing corresponding information and present to a user one or more alternative spellings of that address if a portion of that address does not match identically a valid entry in the database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said one or more alternative spellings are presented in a form so that a user can select one of said alternative spellings with an input device and attempt to connect again using the selected alternative spelling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses received at a server having a hierarchical directory structure from a remote user, comprising: a. a database containing names of hidden files; b. and a computer configured to analyze network addresses term by term beyond the server address, to compare portions of an address with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory and to present to said remote user one or more alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory, unless such an alternative spelling is contained in said database.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses received at a server having a hierarchical directory structure from a remote user, comprising: a. a database containing names of hidden files; b. and a computer configured to analyze network addresses term by term beyond the server address, to compare portions of an address with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory and to present to said remote user one or more alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory, unless such an alternative spelling is contained in said database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus of claim 3 in which said one or more alternative spellings are presented in a form so that said remote user can select one of said alternative spellings with an input device and attempt to connect again using the selected alternative spelling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses received from a remote user at a network access provider, comprising: a. a database containing remote server names to which users have successfully connected; b. a database containing network addresses; and c. a computer configured to analyze a network addresses, received from a remote user which did not result in a connection, to compare portions of that address with portions of each database containing corresponding information and present to a user one or more alternative spellings if a portion of a network address does not identically match a valid entry in the databases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for checking spelling of network addresses received from a remote user at a network access provider, comprising: a. a database containing remote server names to which users have successfully connected; b. a database containing network addresses; and c. a computer configured to analyze a network addresses, received from a remote user which did not result in a connection, to compare portions of that address with portions of each database containing corresponding information and present to a user one or more alternative spellings if a portion of a network address does not identically match a valid entry in the databases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus of claim 5 in which said one or more alternative spellings are presented in a form so that said remote user can select one of said alternative spellings with an input device and attempt to connect again using the selected alternative spelling.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
49 words
A system for checking spelling of network addresses received from a user, comprising at least two computers connected to said network, said computers respectively running at least one of a client spell checker, a network access provider spell checker and a server spell checker resident on said respective computers.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
49 words
A system for checking spelling of network addresses received from a user, comprising at least two computers connected to said network, said computers respectively running at least one of a client spell checker, a network access provider spell checker and a server spell checker resident on said respective computers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
35 words
A system for checking spelling of network addresses received from a user, comprising: a. a network; and b. a computer connected to said network configured to spell check network addresses and to suggest alternative spellings.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
35 words
A system for checking spelling of network addresses received from a user, comprising: a. a network; and b. a computer connected to said network configured to spell check network addresses and to suggest alternative spellings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 in which said computer is operated as a client in a client-server mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 in which said computer is operated as a server in a client-server mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 8 in which said computer is operated as a network access provider.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses, comprising the steps of: a. performing a step of comparing a portion of a network address received from a user which did not result in a connection with entries in a database containing corresponding portions of network addresses which had previously resulted in connections; and b. performing a step of identifying candidate matches from the database which match imperfectly a portion of a network address, and c. performing a step of when one or more candidate matches is found, providing a list of said candidate matches to said user.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses, comprising the steps of: a. performing a step of comparing a portion of a network address received from a user which did not result in a connection with entries in a database containing corresponding portions of network addresses which had previously resulted in connections; and b. performing a step of identifying candidate matches from the database which match imperfectly a portion of a network address, and c. performing a step of when one or more candidate matches is found, providing a list of said candidate matches to said user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12, in which candidate matches are provided to a user in a hypertext format which permits selection and use of one of said candidate matches in a connection request by clicking on a candidate match.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising the steps of: a. performing a step of comparing a portion of a network address received from a remote user which did not result in access to a document on the server with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory, and b. performing a step of presenting to said remote user alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising the steps of: a. performing a step of comparing a portion of a network address received from a remote user which did not result in access to a document on the server with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory, and b. performing a step of presenting to said remote user alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 in which the names of hidden files are excluded from the list of alternative spellings presented to a user.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses at a network access provider, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of storing remote server names and network addresses, to which network access provider users have successfully connected, in one or more databases; b. providing an element for performing the step of comparing portions of an address received from a network access provider user which did not result in a connection, with corresponding portions of said database; and c. providing an element for performing the step of presenting to said network access provider user alternative spellings if a portion of an address does not identically match a valid entry in the database.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of checking spelling of network addresses at a network access provider, comprising the steps of: a. providing an element for performing the step of storing remote server names and network addresses, to which network access provider users have successfully connected, in one or more databases; b. providing an element for performing the step of comparing portions of an address received from a network access provider user which did not result in a connection, with corresponding portions of said database; and c. providing an element for performing the step of presenting to said network access provider user alternative spellings if a portion of an address does not identically match a valid entry in the database.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer program product, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for comparing a portion of a network address received from a user, which did not result in a connection, with entries in a database of network addresses, which previously resulted in a connection, to identify candidate matches which match imperfectly the network address received from the user, and when one or more candidate matches is found, providing a list of said candidate matches to said user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer program product, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for comparing a portion of a network address received from a user, which did not result in a connection, with entries in a database of network addresses, which previously resulted in a connection, to identify candidate matches which match imperfectly the network address received from the user, and when one or more candidate matches is found, providing a list of said candidate matches to said user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer program product for checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for comparing a portion of a network address received from a user which did not result in access to a document on the server with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory and to present to a user alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer program product for checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for comparing a portion of a network address received from a user which did not result in access to a document on the server with corresponding portions of the hierarchical directory and to present to a user alternative spellings if a directory or file name does not match identically a valid entry in the hierarchical directory.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer program product for checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for storing remote server names and network addresses to which users have successfully connected in one or more databases, comparing portions of an address received from a user which did not result in a connection with corresponding portions of said database; and presenting to a user alternative spellings if a portion of an address does not match identically a valid entry in the database.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer program product for checking spelling of network addresses in a server having a hierarchical directory, comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program stored on said memory medium, said computer program containing instructions for storing remote server names and network addresses to which users have successfully connected in one or more databases, comparing portions of an address received from a user which did not result in a connection with corresponding portions of said database; and presenting to a user alternative spellings if a portion of an address does not match identically a valid entry in the database.
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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) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |