System and method for enabling a user to subscribe to updates from information sources

A system for enabling a system user to request a subscription of at least one non-web document from at least one database, comprising:

• a subscription requesting object that enables a user to request a subscription of at least one non-web document from at least one database, the subscription requesting object including a selection formula, wherein the selection formula is programmed by the user, the selection formula including search criteria corresponding to the subscription, wherein the search criteria identify information to be searched for and presented to the user at various intervals;
• a subscription parameter receiving object that receives at least one subscription parameter from the user that refines the information identified by the search criteria, wherein the subscription parameter indicates a type of information to retrieve;
• a search performing object that performs a search of the at least one database for information matching the subscription at one or more of the various intervals without user intervention;
• a subscription retrieving object that retrieves the information matching the subscription;
• and
• subscription notification means for notifying the user of the retrieved information.

A method for enabling a system user to request a subscription of at least one non-web document from at least one database, comprising the steps of:

• requesting a subscription for at least one non-web document from at least one database, wherein the request includes a selection formula programmed by a user, the selection formula including search criteria corresponding to the subscription, wherein the search criteria identify information to be searched for and presented to the user at various intervals;
• receiving at least one subscription parameter from the user that refines the information identified by the search criteria, wherein the at least one subscription parameter indicates a type of information to be retrieved;
• performing a search of the at least one database for information matching the subscription at one or more of the various intervals without user intervention;
• retrieving the information matching the subscription;
• and
• notifying the user of the retrieved information.

A processor readable medium having processor readable code embodied therein for enabling a system user to request a subscription of at least one non-web document from at least one database, comprising:

• subscription requesting processor readable code for causing a processor to request a subscription of at least one non-web document from at least one database, the subscription requesting processor readable code including a selection formula programmed by a user, the selection formula including search criteria corresponding to the subscription, wherein the search criteria identify information to be searched for and presented to the user at various intervals;
• subscription parameter receiving processor readable code for causing a processor to receive at least one subscription parameter from the user that refines the information identified by the search criteria, wherein the at least one subscription parameter indicates a type of information to retrieve;
• search performing processor readable code for causing a processor to perform a search of the at least one database for information matching the subscription at one or more of the various intervals without user intervention;
• information retrieving processor readable code for causing a processor to retrieve the information matching the subscription;
• and
• subscription notifying processor readable code for causing a processor to notify the user of the retrieved information.

A method for enabling a system user to request a subscription of at least one document from at least one database, comprising the steps of:

• enabling a user to input a selection formula, said selection formula including search criteria corresponding to a subscription, wherein said search criteria identify information to be searched for and presented to the user at various intervals without user intervention that refines the information identified by the search criteria;
• performing a search in said at least one database to identify the information corresponding to said search criteria of said selection formula;
• retrieving said identified information;
• and
• presenting said retrieved information to the user.