Abstract: A system and method for accessing, extracting, filtering, organizing, and rendering statistical records on electronic systems is provided. Statistical information available on disparate electronic systems, and/or other e-commerce environments such as online shopping sites, can be gathered, extracted and presented to determine market trends.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an integrated matching service and calendaring system. Calendar events are utilized as a bridge between an electronic calendaring system and a matching service. A calendar event represents an activity, e.g., job opening, tennis match, bicycle race, etc., the requirements to match the activity, the entity attributes, and any match results. An entity defines criteria and information for a matching activity which is stored as a calendar event in the electronic calendar system. Portions of the criteria and information are stored as attachments to the calendar event. The calendar events representing a matching activity and associated attachments are provided to a matching server which locates suitable matches for the activity based upon the criteria and information of the activity. If a suitable match is located, the matching server notifies the entities involved by listing the corresponding entities as attendees associated with the calendar event.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting framing of a network (such as the Internet or an intranet) resource identified by a target uniform resource locator (URL), by locating a suspect URL and an associated suspect page which reference the target URL, examining the suspect page for the existence of framing, if framing exists, then checking to see if the target URL is referenced within a frame, and if the target URL is referenced within the frame, then identifying the suspect URL and the associated suspect page as framing the network resource.

Abstract: A method for automatically limiting access of a client computer to data objects accessed through a server computer dynamically prevents robots or webcrawlers from obtaining too much of the server database and from dramatically reducing server performance. The method includes the steps of receiving a request for a data object, recording a log entry for the request, calculating client request values, and refusing the request if a client request value exceeds one of a set of corresponding predefined maximum request values. Each log entry contains a client identifier, timestamp, and at least one data object identifier for the request. The client request values preferably include a request frequency, which is compared with a predefined maximum request frequency, and a cumulative data request, which is compared with a data access threshold. If the client is refused access, the client identifier is added to a deny list, and future requests from the client are automatically denied.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided as a session search system and associated method that provide a novel type of query referred to as “session query”. In the context of a session query, a user issues a search query using, for example, a web-based form. This query is processed immediately by the search engine, yielding search result elements that are returned within the new context of a “dynamic search result set”. As long as the user is reviewing the “dynamic search result set” of the session query, the search result is updated automatically in almost real-time, when new information arrives. When the user is no longer interested in continuing the search, the session query is terminated. The session search system generally includes two modules: A client module that presents the “dynamic search result set” to the user, and a server module that manages the current set of active session queries.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing computer-based notifications of real world events over a network. The system includes client computers, proxy server computers, and device server computers. The proxy server computer receives notification profiles including both sensor conditions and associated actions from the client computers. The notification profiles are then stored in a user and profile database on the proxy server computer. The proxy server computer receives an indication from a sensor that a real world event has occurred, and then matches the received indication against the sensor conditions in the stored notification profiles. The associated actions are performed in response to a match between the received indication and the sensor conditions, wherein the associated actions include transmitting a notification message to one or more of the client computers and the notification message includes a digital image of the real world event.

Abstract: Protecting a searchable repository containing a document locator when a user searches the repository for the document locator, by replacing the document locator with a unique time-sensitive key. The document locator may be a uniform resource locator, or URL. A user search request is intercepted, each URL in the original search result is extracted and replaced with a key, and the altered result returned to the user. When the user selects the key from the search result within the expiration interval, the associated URL and document are able to be retrieved.

Abstract: An automatic method for rating data files for objectionable content in a distributed computer system includes preprocessing the file to create semantic units, comparing the semantic units with a rating repository containing entries and associated ratings, assigning content rating vectors to the semantic units, and creating a modified data file incorporating rating information derived from the content rating vectors. For text files, the semantic units are words or phrases, and the rating repository also contains words or phrases with corresponding content rating vectors. For audio files, the file is first converted to a text file using voice recognition software. For image files, image processing software is used to recognize individual objects and compare them to basic images and ratings stored in the rating repository.

Abstract: A system and method associates a label and description with a search query such that the query, label, and description can be stored in a shared query repository so that queries can be retrieved by multiple users for reuse. The shared query repository can be searched, so that an appropriate query can be located, retrieved, and then submitted for execution over a document database by a search engine. Retrieved queries can be combined with other retrieved queries or modified with new search terms, and the new combined search query can be used for a new search on the database. The database search system and method efficiently permits reuse of search queries and facilitates sharing of search strategies.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for controlling a remote device from a client computer using a digital image of a remote location associated with the remote device. Using graphical user interface (GUI) provided by a client computer, the user select areas in the digital image for mapping to control functions for the remote device. These control functions are associated with command objects downloaded from a server computer and displayed on the graphical user interface. The control functions for the remote device can then be selected by moving a cursor over the selected areas of the digital image. When a control function is selected, the client computer formulates a request that the server computer and/or remote device can understand. Instantaneous feedback is provided by the digital image for any control functions that may be invoked by the user.

Abstract: A system and method of distributed metadata searching is disclosed. The present invention permits an extension of the searching and retrieval functions of existing Internet web search engines by utilizing computational resources embodied in user computer systems and search browsers. By distributing the searching and scanning functions to the user level, the present invention reduces the computational and communications burden on Internet web search engines and crawlers, resulting in lower computational resource utilization by Internet search engine providers. Given the exponential growth rate currently being experienced in the Internet community, the present invention provides one of the few methods by which complete searches of this vast distributed database may be performed.

Abstract: A network repository service supplements the functions of a web server to enable an increase in the efficiency of web crawling. The repository service: (a) automatically maintains a file modification list that contains the names of files on the server that have been modified (i.e., added, deleted, or otherwise modified), together with the date and time of the file modification; and (b) provides a requesting crawler with the file modification list (or a portion of the list corresponding to a time period specified by the crawler). The repository service may also (c) limit or restrict access privileges of crawlers that do not request the file modification list prior to crawling, thereby protecting the server from overcrawling.

Abstract: A master repository service maintains a directory of web servers and the most recent times that their web contents were modified, and provides this information to web crawlers to increase their efficiency. The master repository service receives web content update reports from a plurality of web servers, updates the directory to keep it current, and provides crawlers with web site modification information. The web site modification information preferably comprises identifiers for new web sites, “dead” web sites, and modified web sites. Each crawler is preferably provided only with web site modification information received since it last received information from the master repository service. The information allows web crawlers to know immediately about new web sites, and allows them to spend time visiting only those web sites that are new or that have changed their content.

Abstract: A method for providing rated hypermedia content, in which the rating represents degrees of objectionable content, includes four steps: generating raw hypermedia content from a set of units containing data from external data files, obtaining content rating vectors associated with the external data files, deriving a composite content rating vector for the raw hypermedia content from the content rating vectors, and storing the composite content rating vector in the raw hypermedia content to produce rated hypermedia content. Preferably, the raw hypermedia content is a raw search result page created automatically by a search engine in response to a query from a client machine. A rated search result page is generated and transmitted to the client machine over a computer network. The units may represent external data files, preferably other Web pages, and the content rating vectors represent the degrees of objectionable content of the Web pages.