System and method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorsDarryl Cynthia Moore, Sharon E. Carter, Kathryn D. King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a computerized system and method for searching heterogeneous electronic directories. An embodiment of the system includes a database, containing data necessary to perform a search, a user interface, and a component for performing the searches. Embodiments of the system provide a user with the ability to search directories in multiple locations and in multiple formats, both standard and non-standard, for contacts and to display the results of the search in one unified list. A system administrator or a user determines which directories the system searches and in what order the system performs the search.
Claims32
A system for searching for a contact comprising:
- a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises:
- a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and
- a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory;
- and
- a searching component in communication with said database
A method for searching for a contact comprising:
- receiving a search criterion;
- searching a database comprising a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises:
- a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and
- a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory;
- and
- iteratively performing the following steps a-c for each of said plurality of references:
- a. connecting to an electronic directory to which said reference refers,
- b. performing a search of said electronic directory, using said search criterion, and
- c. receiving a result of said search.
A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer program code for searching for a contact comprising:
- computer program code for receiving a search criterion;
- computer program code for searching a database containing a plurality of references to electronic directories, wherein said plurality comprises:
- a first reference to a first electronic directory, wherein said first electronic directory comprises a standard electronic directory format, and
- a second reference to a second electronic directory, wherein said second electronic directory comprises a non-standard electronic directory;
- and
- computer program code for iteratively performing the following steps a-c for each of said plurality of references:
- a. connecting to an electronic directory to which said reference refers,
- b. performing a search of said directory, using said search criterion, and
- c. receiving a result of said search.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.