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US6865568B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for searching and navigating a document database
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 2001-07-16
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Granted: 2005-03-08
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Expires: 2021-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for searching and navigating a document database is provided. Document categories are assigned unique numeric category identifiers. Each document in a database is assigned to one of the document categories. Metadata is associated with each electronic document that includes the numeric category identifier corresponding to the category assigned to the document. The database may be searched or browsed based on category by utilizing the metadata. URLs may also be embedded in a Web page that includes a list of document identifiers and an index. The list of document identifiers is a list containing the identities of an arbitrary number of search results. The index identifies one of the documents in the list of document identifiers to be retrieved. When such a URL is selected, a Web server computer utilizes the list of document identifiers and the index to identify the document to be returned.
Inventors
- 👤 Bill Chau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/954; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for searching a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, said method comprising: assigning a unique numeric category identifier to each of a plurality of document categories; assigning each of said electronic documents to one of said document categories, said assigned category based upon the content of each of said electronic documents; associating metadata with each of said electronic documents, said metadata comprising said unique numeric category identifier corresponding to said document category assigned to each of said electronic documents; receiving a request to search said database, said search limited to documents assigned to a specified document category associated with said request; searching said metadata associated with each of said electronic documents; returning an identity of each of said electronic documents associated with metadata having a numeric category identifier associated with said specified document category, said identities returned as a list of document identifiers and an index into said list corresponding to a one of said electronic documents; receiving a request to display a second document, the second document identified in said list; and utilizing said index and said list to identify said second document and to retrieve said second document from said database without performing a second search of the metadata associated with each of said electronic documents.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for searching a database comprising a plurality of electronic documents, said method comprising: assigning a unique numeric category identifier to each of a plurality of document categories; assigning each of said electronic documents to one of said document categories, said assigned category based upon the content of each of said electronic documents; associating metadata with each of said electronic documents, said metadata comprising said unique numeric category identifier corresponding to said document category assigned to each of said electronic documents; receiving a request to search said database, said search limited to documents assigned to a specified document category associated with said request; searching said metadata associated with each of said electronic documents; returning an identity of each of said electronic documents associated with metadata having a numeric category identifier associated with said specified document category, said identities returned as a list of document identifiers and an index into said list corresponding to a one of said electronic documents; receiving a request to display a second document, the second document identified in said list; and utilizing said index and said list to identify said second document and to retrieve said second document from said database without performing a second search of the metadata associated with each of said electronic documents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said metadata for each of said electronic documents is stored in an indexed catalog.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said request to search said database further comprises a search term and wherein returning an identity comprises returning an identity of each of said electronic documents associated with metadata having a numeric category identifier associated with said specified document category and containing said search term.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said electronic documents comprise document templates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said unique numeric identifier may further comprise numeric information describing one or more sub-categories.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said metadata further comprises an identity of an author or provider of each of said electronic documents.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said metadata further comprises a text description of said document category to which each of said electronic documents is assigned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said metadata further comprises a title for each of said electronic documents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 1 .
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for navigating between documents stored in a database without performing a document search each time a document is requested, each of said electronic documents identified by a unique document identifier, said method comprising: receiving a request for one of said electronic documents, said request comprising a list of document identifiers and an index into said list corresponding to said requested electronic document, said list and said index provided previously with a second one of said electronic documents; and in response to said request, utilizing said index and said list of document identifiers to identify said requested electronic document from said plurality of electronic documents without performing a search of said database, and transmitting said requested electronic document.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for navigating between documents stored in a database without performing a document search each time a document is requested, each of said electronic documents identified by a unique document identifier, said method comprising: receiving a request for one of said electronic documents, said request comprising a list of document identifiers and an index into said list corresponding to said requested electronic document, said list and said index provided previously with a second one of said electronic documents; and in response to said request, utilizing said index and said list of document identifiers to identify said requested electronic document from said plurality of electronic documents without performing a search of said database, and transmitting said requested electronic document.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said requested electronic document comprises one of said plurality of electronic documents identified in said list of document identifiers previous to a previously transmitted electronic document.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising: decrementing said index; generating a hypertext link comprising said decremented index and said list of document identifiers; and transmitting said hypertext link with said second electronic document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising: incrementing said index; generating a hypertext link comprising said incremented index and said list of document identifiers; and transmitting said hypertext link with said requested electronic document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said requested electronic document comprises one of said plurality of electronic documents identified in said list of document identifiers and subsequent to a previously transmitted electronic document.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of documents in said database is named consistently with a corresponding document identifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said list of document identifiers is generated in response to a single search of said database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said list of document identifiers is generated in response to a single request to browse said database.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 11 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing the method of claim 11 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-03-07 | 2008-09-06 | 2009-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-03-07 | 2012-09-06 | 2013-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-03-07 | 2016-09-06 | 2017-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |