System and method for searching information stored on a network
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsJoseph R. Barrera, William Andrew Boyajian, Leonard Mark Canale, Don Fichter, William R. Kamm
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Abstract
A system and method for searching websites that use category information to narrow the range of a website content search. Website content is retrieved through a network and stored. A user starts a search by selecting a category or categories in which information Pertinent to the user's needs is likely to be found. The user then performs a keyword search on the content of websites that fall within the selected category or categories. The results of this category-content search are sent and displayed to the user.
Claims21
A method for searching for information stored at websites, comprising the steps of:
- a. retrieving website content through a network;
- b. correlating a piece of retrieved website content with a category;
- c. receiving a category selection;
- d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category;
- and
- e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
An apparatus for searching for information stored at websites, comprising:
- a. a processor;
- b. a memory that stores category-content search instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to retrieve content from websites, store the retrieved content, correlate a piece of stored content to a category, receive a category selection, receive a content search request, perform a content search of stored website content that is correlated with the selected category, and to send the results of the content search to a user, said memory coupled to said processor;
- and
- c. a port adapted to be coupled to a network, said port coupled to said processor and said memory.
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method steps for searching for information stored at websites, the method steps comprising:
- a. retrieving website content through a network;
- b. correlating a piece of stored website content with a category;
- c. receiving a category selection;
- d. receiving a content search request for content in the selected category;
- and
- e. performing a content search on retrieved website content that is correlated with the selected category.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.