US 6,789,073 B1Granted

Client-server multitasking

OwnerHarvey Lunenfeldinventor

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Abstract

A client-server multitasking process comprising: receiving a request comprising searching criteria, comprising n search queries, at least two of which comprise different query values directed to different server addresses, request grouping criteria, and display criteria specifying for which request group information is to be returned; processing n search query and server address pairs into m request groups; for the search queries in the specified request group, sending to the server designated by the server address a query derived from the corresponding search query; receiving response information from the servers; processing the response information into a plurality of return groups by associating a different query value with a different one of the return groups and merging into the return group the response information from the servers that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group; consolidating the return groups into a consolidated response; returning the consolidated response.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A client-server multitasking process comprising the steps of:

(a) Receiving a request from a client at a server comprising searching criteria, request grouping criteria, and display criteria, wherein (1) the searching criteria comprise n search query and server address pairs, (2) each search query comprises at least one query value, (3) at least two of the n search queries comprise different query values and are directed to different server addresses, (4) n is greater than one, (5) the request grouping criteria comprises information for splitting the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups, (6) m is less than n and m is greater than or equal to 1, (7) the display criteria specifies for which request group information is to be returned;
(b) Processing the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups;
(c) For only the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned, opening a connection with the server specified by the server address and sending to the specified server a query derived from the corresponding search query comprising at least one query value, wherein the connections to the specified servers are opened substantially simultaneously;
(d) Receiving response information from the servers in the specified request group;
(e) Processing the response information from the servers into a plurality of return groups by (1) associating a different query value from the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned with a different one of the return groups and (2) merging into the return group the response information from the servers in the specified request group that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group;
(f) Consolidating the return groups into a consolidated response;
(g) Returning the consolidated response to the client.

4 more elements

A client-server multitasking system comprising:

(a) Means for receiving a request from a client at a server comprising searching criteria, request grouping criteria, and display criteria, wherein (1) the searching criteria comprise n search query and server address pairs, (2) each search query comprises at least one query value, (3) at least two of the n search queries comprise different query values and are directed to different server addresses, (4) n is greater than one, (5) the request grouping criteria comprises information for splitting the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups, (6) m is less than n and m is greater than or equal to 1, (7) the display criteria specifies for which request group information is to be returned;
(b) Means for processing the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups;
(c) Means for only the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned, opening a connection with the server specified by the server address and sending to the specified server a query derived from the corresponding search query comprising at least one query value, wherein the connections to the specified servers are opened substantially simultaneously;
(d) Means for receiving response information from the servers in the specified request group;
(e) Means for processing the response information from the servers into a plurality of return groups by (1) associating a different query value from the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned with a different one of the return groups and (2) merging into the return group the response information from the servers in the specified request group that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group;
(f) Means for consolidating the return groups into a consolidated response;
(g) Means for returning the consolidated response to the client.

4 more elements

A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions for causing one or more computers to:

(a) Receive a request from a client at a server comprising searching criteria, request grouping criteria, and display criteria, wherein (1) the searching criteria comprise n search query and server address pairs, (2) each search query comprises at least one query value, (3) at least two of the n search queries comprise different query values and are directed to different server addresses, (4) n is greater than one, (5) the request grouping criteria comprises information for splitting the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups, (6) m is less than n and m is greater than or equal to 1, (7) the display criteria specifies for which request group information is to be returned;
(b) Process the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups;
(c) For only the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned, open a connection with the server specified by the server address and send to the specified server a query derived from the corresponding search query comprising at least one query value, wherein the connections to the specified servers are opened substantially simultaneously;
(d) Receive response information from the servers in the specified request group;
(e) Process the response information from the servers into a plurality of return groups by (1) associating a different query value from the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned with a different one of the return groups and (2) merging into the return group the response information from the servers in the specified request group that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group;
(f) Consolidate the return groups into a consolidated response;
(g) Return the consolidated response to the client.

4 more elements

An apparatus for client-server multitasking, comprising:

(a) A receiver receiving a request from a client at a server comprising searching criteria, request grouping criteria, and display criteria, wherein (1) the searching criteria comprise n search query and server address pairs, (2) each search query comprises at least one query value, (3) at least two of the n search queries comprise different query values and are directed to different server addresses, (4) n is greater than one, (5) the request grouping criteria comprises information for splitting the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups, (6) m is less than n and m is greater than or equal to 1, (7) the display criteria specifies for which request group information is to be returned;
(b) A processor processing the n search query and server address pairs into m request groups;
(c) A transmitter, for only the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned, opening a connection with the server specified by the server address and sending to the specified server a query derived from the corresponding search query comprising at least one query value, wherein the connections to the specified servers are opened substantially simultaneously;
(d) The receiver receiving response information from the servers in the specified request group;
(e) The processor processing the response information from the servers into a plurality of return groups by (1) associating a different query value from the search query and server address pairs in the specified request group for which information is to be returned with a different one of the return groups and (2) merging into the return group the response information from the servers in the specified request group that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group;
(f) A consolidator consolidating the return groups into a consolidated response;
(g) The transmitter returning the consolidated response to the client.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.