Method and apparatus for defining data of interest
US7584120B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q40/04
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention include tools for extracting data of interest from the World Wide Web (WWW) using descriptions of data of interest. The descriptions of data of interest can include computer programs comprising a sequence of instructions and extractor patterns. The extractor patterns can be developed interactively using a web browser integrated into the graphical development environment for creating the descriptions. The instructions can be selected from a predetermined list of instructions designed for extracting information from the WWW. The descriptions of data of interest can be grouped into categories sharing common query elements. Multiple descriptions in the same category can be executed simultaneously using the same query. The descriptions can be accessed by a client computer using a web browser to initiate a query. In some embodiments, the descriptions of data of interest are used to provide information about products available for sale over the WWW.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.