System, method, and software for inserting hyperlinks into documents

Patent 7003719 Issued on February 21, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 25, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

West Publishing Company, DBA West Group

Application

No. 09237219 filed on 01/25/1999

US Classes:

715/500.1, Synchronization of diverse media715/513, Structured document (e.g., HTML, SGML, ODA, CDA)707/3, Query processing (i.e., searching)704/4, Based on phrase, clause, or idiom235/380, Credit or identification card systems707/104.1, Application of database or data structure (e.g., distributed, multimedia, image)382/309, EDITING, ERROR CHECKING, OR CORRECTION (E.G., POSTRECOGNITION PROCESSING)707/5, Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access)604/66, Sensor responsive to body condition250/584, With image read-out182/193, Occupant-actuated brake705/14, Distribution or redemption of coupon, or incentive or promotion program326/41, Significant integrated structure, layout, or layout interconnections707/6, Pattern matching access707/10, Distributed or remote access704/3, Having particular Input/Output device711/202, Address mapping (e.g., conversion, translation)711/201, Slip control, misaligning, boundary alignment705/2, Health care management (e.g., record management, ICDA billing)707/100, DATABASE SCHEMA OR DATA STRUCTURE707/1, DATABASE OR FILE ACCESSING707/102, Generating database or data structure (e.g., via user interface)707/4, Query formulation, input preparation, or translation707/200, FILE OR DATABASE MAINTENANCE707/201, Coherency (e.g., same view to multiple users)709/217, REMOTE DATA ACCESSING379/88.22, Message management715/501.1, Hypermedia382/305Image storage or retrieval

Examiners

Primary: Bashore, William
Assistant: Nguyen, Maikhanh

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

Foreign Patent References

0848337 EP 12/01/1996
0817099 EP 01/01/1998
2154344 GB 09/01/1985
96/18959 WO 06/01/1996
WO-01/33432 WO 05/01/2001
WO-01/35714 WO 05/01/2001

International Class

G06F 15/00

Abstract

On the Internet, millions of documents are electronically linked via embedded hyperlinks. The hyperlinks, which function as network addresses for specific documents, can be selected by a user to “jump” electronically from a document on one computer to a document on another computer. One problem with conventional hyperlinks is that they occasionally become out dated and ineffective, as documents are deleted, for example. Accordingly, the inventors devised software that automatically locates and marks specific portions of a document and defines hyperlinks including at least a portion of the marked text. An exemplary implementation, tailored for legal citations, processes the portion of the marked text as a search term, and allows completion of hyperlinks without the necessity of including complete file addresses. This implementation also defines a portion of the hyperlinks based on the cost or time of executing the hyperlink, to reduce the cost or time of executing the hyperlink.

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