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US5926808A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Displaying portions of text from multiple documents over multiple databases related to a search query in a computer network

Assignee: JustSystems Evans Research Inc
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Filing: 1997-07-25
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Granted: 1999-07-20
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Expires: 2017-07-25
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Abstract

Abstract The system of the present invention provides for a method and apparatus of displaying portions of text from multiple documents over multiple databases related to a search query. The initial step in this method is to identify a search query. Based on this identification, a search against multiple databases is initiated. In particular, the computer system identifies auxiliary databases either within a network or between networks that are likely to contain documents relating to terms in the search query. Upon identification of these databases, the databases are then searched to identify those documents relating to the identified query. The various sets of identified documents from multiple databases are then returned and processed to create an ordered ranking for the returned documents. Text portions from the highest ranking documents across the multiple databases are then automatically displayed to the user.

Inventors

  • 👤 David A. Evans
  • 👤 Michael J. McInerny

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 08:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/3331; G06F16/334; G06F16/3346; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising: generating a query by selecting a region of text from a document; automatically selecting a plurality of databases related to said query; automatically searching at least one database for documents related to said query; organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and displaying portions of test related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising: generating a query by selecting a region of text from a document; automatically selecting a plurality of databases related to said query; automatically searching at least one database for documents related to said query; organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and displaying portions of test related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 1, wherein: said document incorporating said selected region of text is stored in a database that is not related to said query.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 1, wherein: said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 1, wherein: said automatic searching of the selected database compares document text of said selected database to boolean combinations of keywords.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 4, wherein: said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 133 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising: a computer coupled to an input/output device for generating a query, said query is generated by selecting a region of text from a document; said computer coupled to a disk storage unit, said computer selects a plurality of databases related to said query, wherein said databases are identified by address in said disk storage unit; said computer automatically searches at least one database for documents related to said query; said computer organizes documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and said computer coupled to a display unit for displaying portions of text related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 133 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising: a computer coupled to an input/output device for generating a query, said query is generated by selecting a region of text from a document; said computer coupled to a disk storage unit, said computer selects a plurality of databases related to said query, wherein said databases are identified by address in said disk storage unit; said computer automatically searches at least one database for documents related to said query; said computer organizes documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and said computer coupled to a display unit for displaying portions of text related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 6, wherein: said document incorporating said selected region of text is stored in a database that is not related to said query.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 6, wherein: said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 6, wherein: said automatic searching of the selected database compares document text of said selected database to boolean combinations of keywords.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in claim 9, wherein: said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2002-07-19 2003-01-18 2003-07-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-07-19 2007-01-18 2007-07-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-07-19 2011-01-18 2011-07-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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