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US6151686A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Managing an information retrieval problem

Assignee: FMR LLC
•
Filing: 1997-06-06
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Granted: 2000-11-21
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Expires: 2017-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract Provided is a method of managing a problem with retrieving information from a computer system. The method includes automatically generating a request for the information, testing whether the problem is indicated by a result of the request, and, based on the testing, automatically determining whether human intervention is required.

Inventors

  • 👤 John C. McDonough
  • 👤 Michael P. Amatucci
  • 👤 Louis A. Iannucci
  • 👤 David M. Ingham
  • 👤 Thiagarajan Saravanan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2205; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for use in maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, comprising: automatically generating a request for information included in the stored data Provided by the network server; transmitting the request to the network server over a network connection; testing a result of the request transmitted to the network server to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility to the stored data provided by the network server; and based on the testing, automatically determining whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 85 words
A method for use in maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, comprising: automatically generating a request for information included in the stored data Provided by the network server; transmitting the request to the network server over a network connection; testing a result of the request transmitted to the network server to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility to the stored data provided by the network server; and based on the testing, automatically determining whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the information is arranged to be retrieved across a computer network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the problem comprises a recurrence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising basing generation of the request on Internet browser software.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising basing generation of the request on a feature of a computer program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising basing retrieval of the information on a feature of a computer program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response to the request; and comparing at least a portion of the response to control data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes static data and dynamic data; and the method further comprises comparing only the static data to control data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response to the request, the response including an indicator; and based on the indicator, avoiding a comparison of a portion of the response to control data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising based on the testing, automatically determining whether human intervention is required.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising categorizing the problem, wherein the human intervention determination is based on the category of the problem.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising basing the human intervention determination on a result of an automatic restarting of a computer program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising depending on the outcome of the human intervention determination, automatically attempting to notify a person.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising basing the notification attempt on a paging system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computer program comprises a computer program that handles the generating of requests and testing of the results.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 103 words
Computer software, residing on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions for use in a computer system for maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, the instructions causing the computer system to: automatically generate a request for information included in the stored data provided by the network server transmit the request to the network server over a network connection; test a result of the request transmitted to the network server to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility to the stored data provided by the network server; and based on the testing, automatically determine whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 103 words
Computer software, residing on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions for use in a computer system for maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, the instructions causing the computer system to: automatically generate a request for information included in the stored data provided by the network server transmit the request to the network server over a network connection; test a result of the request transmitted to the network server to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility to the stored data provided by the network server; and based on the testing, automatically determine whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the information is arranged to be retrieved across a computer network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to determine whether the problem comprises a recurrence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 28 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to base generation of the request on Internet browser software.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to base generation of the request on a feature of a computer program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 31 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to base retrieval of the information on a feature of a computer program.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 37 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to: receive a response to the request; and compare at least a portion of the response to control data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the information includes static data and dynamic data; and the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to compare only the static data to control data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 47 words
The computer software of claim 16, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to: receive a response to the request, the response including an indicator; and based on the indicator, avoid a comparison of a portion of the response to control data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 22 words
The computer software of claim 16, further comprising instructions for causing the computer system to automatically determine whether human intervention is required.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 35 words
The computer software of claim 25, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to categorize the problem, wherein the human intervention determination is based on the category of the problem.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 35 words
The computer software of claim 25, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to base the human intervention determination on a result of an automatic restarting of a computer program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 34 words
The computer software of claim 25, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to: depending on the outcome of the human intervention determination, automatically attempt to notify a person.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 27 words
The computer software of claim 28, wherein the computer software further comprises instructions for causing the computer system to base the notification attempt on a paging system.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 88 words
A system for use in maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, comprising means for automatically generating a request for information included in the stored data provided by the network server; means for transmitting the request to the network server over a network connection; means for testing a result of the request to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility of the stored data provided by the network server; and means for, based on the testing, automatically determining whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 88 words
A system for use in maintaining accessibility to stored data provided by a network server, comprising means for automatically generating a request for information included in the stored data provided by the network server; means for transmitting the request to the network server over a network connection; means for testing a result of the request to determine whether there is a problem with accessibility of the stored data provided by the network server; and means for, based on the testing, automatically determining whether to restart a computer program.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 84 words
A method for use in maintaining accessibility to a resource provided by a network server, comprising: receiving a template that includes static data and one or more indicators of variable data; automatically generating a request for information provided by the resource; transmitting the generated request to the network server over a network connection; receiving a response to the request; and determining whether a network access problem exists by comparing the static data of the template to data received in response to the generated request.
Claim 35
Independent Claim 84 words
A method for use in maintaining accessibility to a resource provided by a network server, comprising: receiving a template that includes static data and one or more indicators of variable data; automatically generating a request for information provided by the resource; transmitting the generated request to the network server over a network connection; receiving a response to the request; and determining whether a network access problem exists by comparing the static data of the template to data received in response to the generated request.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising determining whether human intervention is required based on the comparison.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the request comprises a request for information at a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-11-21 2004-05-22 2004-11-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-11-21 2008-05-22 2008-11-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-11-21 2012-05-22 2012-11-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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