US6553310B1 — Method of and apparatus for topologically based r…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 60 words

A method for identifying resources, said method comprising: identifying a class of information to be retrieved; identifying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one resource of a data network; identifying a resource of said data network that satisfies said topological criteria; searching said resource for said class of information.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 60 words

A method for identifying resources, said method comprising: identifying a class of information to be retrieved; identifying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one resource of a data network; identifying a resource of said data network that satisfies said topological criteria; searching said resource for said class of information.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said location comprises a location of a requestor; and wherein said data path topology comprises closest resource on said data network to said location.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said location comprises a location of a requestor; and wherein said data path topology comprises least amount of network traversal between said location and a resource of said data network.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said class of information is identifiable by a key; wherein said method further comprises transmitting said key and said topological criteria to a remote server; and wherein said remote server performs said identifying of said resource satisfying said topological criteria.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises identifying another topological criteria; and wherein said searching comprises searching said resource for said class of information also satisfying said another topological criteria.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said class of information is identifiable by a key, and said method further comprises: transmitting said key and said another topological criteria to a remote server; and returning a result of said searching step to a requestor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said method further comprises establishing communications with said resource; and returning target data associated with respective physical facilities in response to said key and said another topological criteria.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said physical facilities are identified by respective street addresses.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 5 further comprising communicating location information to a remote server using a common gateway interface (CGI).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting to a client a list of facilities having said class of information and satisfying said another topological criteria.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

The method of claim 5 wherein said resource comprises a remote database of destinations; said step of identifying another topological criteria comprises a step of determining a current location of a requestor; and said step of searching said resource comprises selecting ones of said destinations satisfying a first proximity criteria to identify candidate ones of said destinations; comparing said current location of said requestor to at least one location of said candidate destinations using second proximity criteria; and displaying said candidate destinations together with associated results of said comparing step.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said step of determining said current location comprises computing a present position using a global positioning system (GPS).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying said topological criteria comprises computing said location using a global positioning system (GPS).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying said topological criteria comprises computing said location using vehicle sensor derived information.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said data network comprises the Internet.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of identifying resources, the method comprising identifying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one remote server of a data network; identifying a remote server of said data network that satisfies said topological criteria; accessing said remote server from a client; transmitting a displayable form to said client; encoding location information; transmitting a request for identification of a class of resources together with said location information to said remote server; searching a database for resources (i) contained within said class and (ii) satisfying proximity criteria based on said location information to identify a list of resources; and transmitting said list of resources to said client.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of identifying resources, the method comprising identifying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one remote server of a data network; identifying a remote server of said data network that satisfies said topological criteria; accessing said remote server from a client; transmitting a displayable form to said client; encoding location information; transmitting a request for identification of a class of resources together with said location information to said remote server; searching a database for resources (i) contained within said class and (ii) satisfying proximity criteria based on said location information to identify a list of resources; and transmitting said list of resources to said client.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said step of encoding comprises a step of: using a common gateway interface (CGI).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising calculating a position of said client.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said location comprises said position of said client.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising storing information in said database in connection with each of said resources in a form such that said resources are accessible based on said class and said proximity criteria.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said location information is in a format including one of: a street, address, a postal zipcode, city and state information, latitude and longitude values, an area code in accordance with the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), and Telephone Number Area Code and Prefix (NPA-NXX).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 96 words

A mobile navigation assistant comprising: positioning logic providing a current position of the assistant; a wireless communications system connected to a data network; resource identification logic for identifying a remote database of facilities of said data network, said remote database satisfying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one resource of said data network; an input device for receiving a search criteria; and a display providing an indication of ones of said facilities satisfying said search criteria together with positional information relative to said current position.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 96 words

A mobile navigation assistant comprising: positioning logic providing a current position of the assistant; a wireless communications system connected to a data network; resource identification logic for identifying a remote database of facilities of said data network, said remote database satisfying a topological criteria, said topological criteria comprising a data path topology between a location and at least one resource of said data network; an input device for receiving a search criteria; and a display providing an indication of ones of said facilities satisfying said search criteria together with positional information relative to said current position.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said positioning logic comprises a global positioning system (GPS); and wherein said apparatus further comprises a database of map information, said display providing a graphic representation of said ones of said facilities based on said map information and said current position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein: the search criteria comprises a category of said facilities; said display comprises a virtual image projection providing a heads-up display presentation; said input device comprises a manually activated switch mounted on a vehicular steering wheel; and said input device comprises a speech recognition system.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-04-21	2006-10-21	2007-04-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-04-21	2010-10-21	2011-04-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-04-21	2014-10-21	2015-04-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of and apparatus for topologically based retrieval of information

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