Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods used to search for information (e.g., from multiple sources). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), such systems and methods may select a subset of available relevant Internet information sources, such as suppliers and/or purchasers of goods, services, and/or commodities. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), a system and method are provided for determining when to launch an information search and for determining the set of information sources to search.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection engine. User actions are detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination is made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information is extracted electronically from third party web sites, direct supplier connections, and intermediate databases. Potential information suppliers are automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries are formulated from the user search and transferred to each selected supplier over a network coupling. The queries include a request for information. Responses are received from the suppliers, and the responses are used to generate a result list for the user. The result list includes information and query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a web site of each supplier from which the information was derived.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array. The history array has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array. The history array has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream and encoding the variable length encoded date stream according to byte length. A 2 byte length is encoded by 2 bits having the values "00". Encoded lengths of 3 and 4 bytes are represented respectively by 2 bits having the values "01" and "10". Byte lengths of 5 to 7 are represented by 4 bits "1100" to "1110" and so on to thereby enable an efficient procedure for encoding the length of a bit string during compression.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array. The history array has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.

Abstract: An apparatus and method as disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array means. The history array means has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array means is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array means for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer means, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array means. The history array means has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array means is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array means for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer means, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.