Method and apparatus for retrieving information from semi-structured, web-based data sources
US6725425B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2119
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An Internet search system is structured for efficient data retrieval from semi-structured data sources. The configurable Internet WEB search system has a browser module for navigating to and displaying a WEB page, a block selection and configuration function having input tools for a user to select at least one block portion of a displayed WEB page for data retrieval, a data-type input function for a user to denote data type to be extracted from a selected block portion, and a search implementation function for implementing a search under the search system. The data type entered by the data input function is associated with a WEB page block selected, and upon search implementation the block selected is searched for the data type requested, and data found is retrieved to be provided to the user. In a preferred embodiment portions of the system are executed on a user station, and other portions on a Portal server to which the user may subscribe.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.