Abstract: A hand tool adapted to mechanically remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from surfaces such as automobile window glass comprises a longitudinally-extending handle having a front end and a rear end, a scraper disposed adjacent the front end of the handle, a rear grip disposed adjacent the rear end of the handle, and a front grip disposed adjacent the front end of the handle. The rear grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally parallel to the length of the handle to move the scraper along a surface to be scraped, and the front grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the handle to urge the scraper against the surface to be scraped.

Abstract: A hand tool adapted to mechanically remove material such as snow from surfaces such as automobile exterior body or window glass surfaces includes a longitudinally-extending handle and a head that extends generally transversely to the handle and is secured to one end of the handle. The head includes a forward plow portion that is adapted to move material when the tool is pushed in a direction that is generally parallel to the handle, and includes a rear plow portion that is adapted to move material when the tool is pulled in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A hand tool adapted to mechanically remove materials such as ice, frost, and/or snow from surfaces such as automobile window glass comprises a longitudinally-extending handle having a front end and a rear end, a scraper disposed adjacent the front end of the handle, a rear grip disposed adjacent the rear end of the handle, and a front grip disposed adjacent the front end of the handle. The rear grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally parallel to the length of the handle to move the scraper along a surface to be scraped, and the front grip is adapted to facilitate a user applying force to the scraper in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the handle to urge the scraper against the surface to be scraped.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing and storing a co-marketer identification symbol representing an identity of an entity that has referred a user on a user station to a computer service, wherein the user station is coupled to the computer service by a communications path. A database is provided for storing a plurality of user records. Each of the user records includes a user identification field for storing information uniquely associating each of the user records with a user, and a co-marketer identification field for storing identity information representing the identity of an entity that directed the user to the computer service. An enrollment means is coupled to the communications path and the database, and is provided for enrolling a user on the computer service. The enrollment means includes means for determining a co-marketer that directed the user to the computer service, and means for assigning a unique user identification number to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redirecting a user from a first location on the WWW to a second location on the WWW, wherein relative URL addressing is used during the redirecting process. A signal is received from the first location indicating that the user wishes to move from the first location on the WWW to the second location on said WWW. In response to the signal, a current URL representing an address of the first location on the WWW and a destination URL portion representative of an address of the second location on the WWW are passed to a redirecting means. The current URL includes first and second portions. A destination URL is formed with redirecting means by substituting the destination URL portion in place of the second portion in the current URL, wherein the destination URL represents a relative address of the second location on the WWW. The user is then moved from the first location on the WWW to the second location on the WWW in accordance with the destination URL formed by the redirecting means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying textual documents and multi-media files corresponding to a search topic. A plurality of document records, each of which is representative of at least one textual document, are stored, and a plurality of multi-media records, each of which is representative of at least one of multi-media file, are also stored. The document records have text information fields associated therewith, each of the text information fields representing text from one of the plurality of textual documents. The multi-media records have multi-media information fields for representing only digital video or audio information and associated text fields, each of the associated text fields representing text associated with one of the multi-media information fields. A single search query corresponding to the search topic is received. The single search query is preferably in a natural language format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking the navigation path of a user that has been directed to a second site on the World Wide Web (WWW) from a first site on the WWW. The first site has a universal resource locator (URL) symbol for uniquely identifying an address of the first site on the WWW, and the second site has a URL symbol for uniquely identifying an address of the second site on the WWW. A composite URL symbol is received at the second WWW site when the user is directed from the first site to the second site. The composite URL symbol has a first portion corresponding to the URL symbol of the second site, and a second portion that includes information corresponding to the identity of the first site. Information representative of the identity of the first WWW site is captured at the second WWW site from the second portion of the composite URL.

Abstract: A method for storing input information in an information retrieval system database wherein a plurality of information subject categories are provided. A plurality of subject lexicons are provided, each subject lexicon of the plurality of subject lexicons corresponding to an information subject category of the plurality of information categories. Each subject lexicon contains information representative of its corresponding information subject category. The input information is compared with the subject lexicons and the input information is stored in a selected information subject category according to the comparing of the input information with the subject lexicons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking the navigation path of a user that has been directed to a second site on the WWW from a first site on the WWW. A URL is received at the second WWW site when the user is directed from the first site to the second site. At the second WWW site, information representative of an identity of the first WWW site is captured by identifying a first code in the URL. A destination web page is determined for the user, and a revised destination web page is formed by attaching a second code representative of the identity of the first WWW site into at least one selected web page link associated with the destination web page. The revised destination web page is then transmitted to the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for composing a composite document on a selected topic from a plurality of information sources by searching the plurality of information sources and identifying, displaying and copying files corresponding to the selected topic. A plurality of records, each of which is representative of at least one information file, are stored in a database. A single search query corresponding to the search topic is received. The database is searched in accordance with the single search query to identify records related to the single search query. A search result list is then generated having entries representative of information files identified during the database search, and the search result list is displayed in a first display window open on a user display.