Real-time search engine

Patent 7165071 Issued on January 16, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 19, 2021. 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

Napster, Inc.

Application

No. 10025443 filed on 12/19/2001

US Classes:

707/10, Distributed or remote access707/2, Access augmentation or optimizing707/3, Query processing (i.e., searching)707/4, Query formulation, input preparation, or translation707/5, Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access)709/215, Partitioned shared memory709/217, REMOTE DATA ACCESSING414/273, With control system responsive to changeable operating instructions360/92, Tape in container340/825.52, Addressing379/93.17, Having station display704/9, Natural language707/8, Concurrency (e.g., lock management in shared database)707/9, Privileged access709/238, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER DATA ROUTING707/6, Pattern matching access709/218, Using interconnected networks705/8, Allocating resources or scheduling for an administrative function709/213, MULTICOMPUTER DATA TRANSFERRING VIA SHARED MEMORY345/440, Graph generating705/4, Insurance (e.g., computer implemented system or method for writing insurance policy, processing insurance claim, etc.)701/201, Determination of travel data based on the start point and destination point370/352, Combined circuit switching and packet switching709/233, Transfer speed regulating709/219, Accessing a remote server705/27, Presentation of image or description of sales item (e.g., electronic catalog browsing)707/102, Generating database or data structure (e.g., via user interface)705/26, Electronic shopping (e.g., remote ordering)709/221, Reconfiguring709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING705/10, Market analysis, demand forecasting or surveying709/203, Client/server705/14, Distribution or redemption of coupon, or incentive or promotion program709/207, Priority based messaging707/100DATABASE SCHEMA OR DATA STRUCTURE

Examiners

Primary: Coby, Frantz

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Martine Penilla & Gencarella, LLP

Foreign Patent References

09288608 JP 11/01/1997
WO 9103024 WO 03/01/1991

International Classes

G06F 17/30
G06F 15/167
G06F 15/16

Abstract

A search engine operates substantially in real time through instant updates by the servers on a file sharing network. A server coming on-line in the network and comprising a first data object such as an audio file, video file, executable file, or text file, is configured to upload a description, such as a song title or file name, of the first data object, to the search engine during the log-in process. The search engine comprises a data-object description table for storing and correlating various data object descriptions to respective server identifiers identifying servers currently on line that store the data objects defined by the data object descriptions. During the log-in process, the search engine is configured to correlate the identifier of the server coming on-line with a data-object description of a data object stored in the server coming on-line. A requesting server seeking a specific data file is configured to identify a data object description of the requested data file in a request transmitted to the search engine. In response to a request, the search engine is configured to download to the requesting server the server-identifiers that are stored within the data-object description table in a relationship with the data-object-description of the request. The requesting server is configured to select a source server from among the server identifiers provided by the search engine, and to download the requested data file from the select source server. A server notifies the search engine when the download is complete. The search engine is configured to update the relationships within the data-object description table to reflect that the requested file is now within the requesting server. The search engine is further configured to purge from the data-object description table any relationships between a server and a data-object or data file when that server has gone off line, or when that data file has been removed from the server.

Other References

“Gnutella News—Gnutella News and Information,” Aug. 10, 2000, www.gnutella.com.
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Ian Clarke. et al. “A Distributed Decentralized Information Storage and Retrieval System”. Division of Informatics, XP-002177459, 1999, pp. 1-43.
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