GB2329488A - Accessing information according to subject heading - Google Patents
Accessing information according to subject heading Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2329488A GB2329488A GB9719730A GB9719730A GB2329488A GB 2329488 A GB2329488 A GB 2329488A GB 9719730 A GB9719730 A GB 9719730A GB 9719730 A GB9719730 A GB 9719730A GB 2329488 A GB2329488 A GB 2329488A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- information
- database
- computer
- computer network
- subject
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/954—Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
- Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
- Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
Abstract
A computer network comprises a plurality of computers 10 connected to the Internet 11 via respective servers 12, which can store information provided by their respective computer 10 , at an address or so-called URL. Each computer 10 is selectively connectable via the Internet 11 to a remote database 13 containing a plurality of subject headings, under selected ones of which the URLs of relevant sources of information have been stored by the providers of the information. Each computer 10 an access the database to display a list of the subject headings and the URL of any information sources stored under a selected heading. The network has the advantage that the information providers are themselves able to categorise and update the URL of their own information on the database. Furthermore, users are able to directly access the subject headings which are of interest to them, with a view to accessing relevant sources of information located at the URLs listed under those headings.
Description
Computer Network
This invention relates to a computer network.
It is well known to network remote computers. One such computer network comprises the so-called internet, in which users are able to access information provided by providers that are located all over the world.
A disadvantage of the internet is that it can be difficult to locate the information that is being provided.
It is well known to use search engines to find information, wherein the user can enter keywords relating to the information which is being sought. However, a disadvantage of search engines is that very different results can be obtained merely by changing the order and/or spelling of the keywords. Another disadvantage of search engines is that the information that is available on the internet is identified and referenced by the search engines themselves, which means that new or updated information may not appear straightaway. Old references will remain on a search engine and will not automatically be removed. Thus, the user could be provided with list of information which is either out of date or unavailable.
Another disadvantage of search engines is that new providers of information can find it difficult to get their information referenced.
We have now devised a computer network which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a computer network comprising a plurality of computers including more than one provider computer and a least one user computer, each provider computer having an associated source of information residing at an address, said computers being selectively connectable to a remote database containing a plurality of subject headings, each provider computer being arranged to access said database and to display a list of the subject headings therein, each provider computer also being arranged to transmit the address of its associated information source to said remote database for storage therein under one or more of selected said subject headings, the or each user computer being arranged to access said database and to display a list of the subject headings therein, the or each user computer also being arranged to request the address of any information sources stored under a selected heading on the database.
In one embodiment at least one of the provider computers comprises an information source. Alternatively, at least one of the provider computers comprises a remote information source, say located at a network provider computer.
In use, the provider of information accesses the remote database, say via the internet, and stores the address or socalled URL of its associated information source, under one or more of the subject headings on the database.
When a user wants information on a particular subject, he accesses the database, again via the internet, and obtains a list of the available subject headings therein.
The user then selects which subject heading is of interest, whereupon the database preferably provides the URLs of information sources that are listed under that heading. The user can then access the information at each source directly by entering or selecting its URL.
The network has the advantage that the information providers are themselves able to categorise and update their own information on the database. Furthermore, users are able to directly access the subject headings which are of interest to them.
Preferably the database is arranged to store a text descriptor or so-called headline together with address that are stored on the database, so that the or each user can view the headline of the information sources that are listed under chosen subject headings. The or each user is thus able to more accurately select which of the information sources are to be accessed.
In one embodiment at least one of the provider computers is arranged to transmit the headline of its associated information source to said remote database for storage therein together with the address of its information source.
Alternatively, a portion of the information at an information source may form the headline for that information.
In this arrangement, each information source is preferably monitored, the database being updated in the event that the headline of that source changes. Thus, the database is constantly kept up-to-date. Preferably the information source comprises storage means and processor means arranged to monitor information in said storage means.
Preferably the processor means can be set to periodically monitor the information in said storage means.
Preferably the database is arranged to poll said information sources, in order to determine whether they are still active.
Preferably the or each user computer are arranged to request details of updated or new information on the database under one or more of said subject headings.
Preferably, the or each user computer comprises is arranged to search headline on the database, in response to keywords. Thus, the user can conduct keyword searches solely within the subject headings that he is interested in.
Preferably each subject heading comprises sub-headings, which enable subject matter areas to be accessed more accurately.
Preferably the database comprises storage means in each subject heading for storing messages transmitted by said user computers. Thus, if a user has a query regarding a particular subject, he can leave a message on the database under the relevant subject heading, so that other users or information providers who enter the heading can monitor the information.
Also, in accordance with this invention there is provided a method of providing information on a computer network, the method comprising storing the information at an information source, selecting, on a provider computer, a subject heading from a list of subject headings contained in a remote database and transmitting the address of said information source to said database for storage under said subject heading.
Also, in accordance with this invention there is provided a method of accessing information on a computer network the method comprising selecting, on a user computer, a subject heading from a list of subject headings contained in a remote database, transmitting details of information sources listed on the database under the selected subject heading to said user computer, selecting an information source to be accessed and accessing the source using the location address of the information source, which is provided by said database.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a block diagram of a computer network in accordance with this invention.
Referring to the drawing, there is shown a computer network comprising a plurality of computers 10 connected to the internet 11 via servers 12. Some of the computers 10 may be directly connected to their own server 12, whereas typically most of the computers 10 are connected to the internet 11 by remote servers 12, which serve a plurality of computers 10 that are selectively connectable thereto by telephone or data lines 14.
Each computer 10 is able to store a certain amount of information on its server 12, for accessing by other computers.
Each block of information is given its own address code or socalled URL, so that the information can be retrieved and viewed by any computer 10 connected to the internet 11, merely by entering the URL of the information to be viewed.
A disadvantage of this arrangement is that information can be difficult to find unless its URL is known. It has been proposed to overcome this problem using the aforementioned search engines. However, all of these have suffered from several disadvantages.
In accordance with this invention, the network further comprises a broker computer 13, which is connected to the internet 11 and which has its own URL. The broker computer 13 comprises a database which is split into a plurality of subject matter headings and sub-headings. For example, there may be a heading for recreational activities, under this there may be a heading for sports having a sub-heading for motorsports.
When an information provider wishes to provide information on the network, he stores the information on one of the servers 12 at a known URL. He then accesses the broker computer 13 from one of the computers 10 and requests a list of the available subject headings from the database.
The provider of information then selects the heading that he wants his information to be referenced under, although if necessary he can create a new heading. The provider of information then enters the URL of his information, together with a brief description of the information that he is providing. The broker computer 13 stores the URL and description in its database under the selected heading. In some instances, the brief description may actually comprise a portion of the information itself. This is useful for, say, news providers having information which is constantly being updated.
When a user wants information on a particular subject, he accesses the broker computer 13 via the internet 11, using one of the computers 10, and requests a list of all the general subject headings. From this, he selects the heading of interest and, if appropriate, the broker computer 13 provides a list of sub-headings. Once the user has made his final selection, the broker computer 13 sends a list of the URLs and associated descriptions which have been stored on the database under the selected heading. The user can limit the number of
URLs and associated descriptions that he finds by entering keywords. For example, under the motorsport heading, the user could enter the keywords "Formula 1", so that only the URLs and descriptions of information sources having those keywords in their description are displayed.
The user is then able to directly access the information via the internet, merely by entering the URL of the information that he wants to access.
The user is also able to leave a message on the database, under his chosen subject heading, so that users and providers who enter the heading can read and respond to the message.
Each of the information sources having descriptions which are taken from the information itself are preferably periodically monitored for any change in the date/time at which they were last changed. If the date/time has changed, then the database is preferably updated with the new description, so that the database is kept up-to-date.
The broker computer 13 may be arranged to periodically monitor each source of information, in order to verify that the
URL is still valid. Thus, any information sources that are no longer alive can be detected and removed.
The network in accordance with this invention allows information providers to index their own information on a database under the relevant subject heading. Users interested in that subject can then access all information under that heading, without having to search through information that might not be relevant or up-to-date.
Claims (19)
1) A computer network comprising a plurality of computers including more than one provider computer and a least one user computer, each provider computer having an associated source of information residing at an address, said computers being selectively connectable to a remote database containing a plurality of subject headings, each provider computer being arranged to access said database and to display a list of the subject headings therein, each provider computer also being arranged to transmit the address of its associated information source to said remote database for storage therein under one or more of selected said subject headings, the or each user computer being arranged to access said database and to display a list of the subject headings therein, the or each user computer also being arranged to request the address of any information sources stored under a selected heading on the database.
2) A computer network as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the provider computers comprises a said information source.
3) A computer network as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the provider computers comprises a remote said information source.
4) A computer network as claimed in claim 3, in which the remote information source is located at a network provider computer.
5) A computer network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the database is arranged to store a text descriptor headline together with each address that is stored on the database, so that the or each user computer can display the headline of the information sources that are listed under chosen subject headings.
6) A computer network as claimed in claim 5, in which at least one of the provider computers is arranged to transmit the headline of its associated information source to said remote database for storage therein together with the address of its information source.
7) A computer network as claimed in claim 5, in which a portion of the information at an information source may form the headline for that information.
8) A computer network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each information source comprises storage means and processor means arranged to monitor information in said storage means.
9) A computer network as claimed in claim 8, in which the processor means can be set to periodically monitor the information in said storage means.
10) A computer network as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the database is arranged to poll said information sources, in order to determine whether they are still active.
11) A computer network as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, in which the or each user computer is arranged to request details of updated or new information on the database under one or more of said subject headings.
12) A computer network as claimed in claim 5, in which the or each user computer is arranged to search a headline on the database, in response to keywords.
13) A computer network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each subject heading comprises sub-headings, which enable subject matter areas to be accessed more accurately.
14) A computer network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the database comprises storage means in each subject heading for storing messages transmitted by said user computers.
15) A computer network substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
16) A method of providing information on a computer network, the method comprising storing the information at an information source, selecting, on a provider computer, a subject heading from a list of subject headings contained in a remote database and transmitting the address of said information source to said database for storage under said subject heading.
17) A method of providing information on a computer network, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
18) A method of accessing information on a computer network the method comprising selecting, on a user computer, a subject heading from a list of subject headings contained in a remote database, transmitting details of information sources listed on the database under the selected subject heading to said user computer, selecting an information source to be accessed and accessing the source using the location address of the information source, which is provided by said database.
19) A method of accessing information on a computer network, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9719730A GB2329488A (en) | 1997-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Accessing information according to subject heading |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9719730A GB2329488A (en) | 1997-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Accessing information according to subject heading |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9719730D0 GB9719730D0 (en) | 1997-11-19 |
| GB2329488A true GB2329488A (en) | 1999-03-24 |
Family
ID=10819181
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9719730A Withdrawn GB2329488A (en) | 1997-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Accessing information according to subject heading |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2329488A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2366887A (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2002-03-20 | Malcolm Macintyre Henry | Accessing electronic files over a network via keywords |
| GB2376543A (en) * | 2001-02-12 | 2002-12-18 | Hewlett Packard Co | Aggregation of services on network portals |
| US6546387B1 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 2003-04-08 | Transcom Software Inc. | Computer network information management system and method using intelligent software agents |
| GB2386440A (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2003-09-17 | Univ Hertfordshire | Searching and navigating an information source |
| US6847972B1 (en) | 1998-10-06 | 2005-01-25 | Crystal Reference Systems Limited | Apparatus for classifying or disambiguating data |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1997034221A1 (en) * | 1996-03-15 | 1997-09-18 | At & T Corp. | System and method for locating resources on a network using resource evaluations derived from electronic messages |
| WO1998001809A1 (en) * | 1996-07-09 | 1998-01-15 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Access system for distributed storage |
| EP0822502A1 (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1998-02-04 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | Data access system |
-
1997
- 1997-09-17 GB GB9719730A patent/GB2329488A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1997034221A1 (en) * | 1996-03-15 | 1997-09-18 | At & T Corp. | System and method for locating resources on a network using resource evaluations derived from electronic messages |
| WO1998001809A1 (en) * | 1996-07-09 | 1998-01-15 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Access system for distributed storage |
| EP0822502A1 (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1998-02-04 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | Data access system |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
| Title |
|---|
| http://www.excite.co.uk/directory pages http://excite.co.uk/info/add_url.dc * |
| http://www.yahoo.co.uk and /docs/info/include.htm http://add.yahoo.com/fast/ad * |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6847972B1 (en) | 1998-10-06 | 2005-01-25 | Crystal Reference Systems Limited | Apparatus for classifying or disambiguating data |
| US7305415B2 (en) | 1998-10-06 | 2007-12-04 | Crystal Reference Systems Limited | Apparatus for classifying or disambiguating data |
| US6546387B1 (en) | 1999-11-15 | 2003-04-08 | Transcom Software Inc. | Computer network information management system and method using intelligent software agents |
| GB2366887A (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2002-03-20 | Malcolm Macintyre Henry | Accessing electronic files over a network via keywords |
| GB2376543A (en) * | 2001-02-12 | 2002-12-18 | Hewlett Packard Co | Aggregation of services on network portals |
| GB2386440A (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2003-09-17 | Univ Hertfordshire | Searching and navigating an information source |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9719730D0 (en) | 1997-11-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |