System and Methodology for Real-time Content Aggregation and Syndication

Abstract

A system and methodology for real-time content aggregation and syndication is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for assisting a user with extracting items relevant to search queries from documents including items of various types, the method comprises steps of: receiving a search query specifying a search phrase and a particular item type; identifying documents matching the search phrase; for each matching document, determining whether the document includes an item having the particular item type; and extracting items having the particular item type from the matching documents for display to the user. The solution enables a user to aggregate and syndicate content without a professional content manager or complicated content management software tools.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is related to the following commonly-owned, presently-pending application(s): application Ser. No. 10 / 709,475 (Docket No. SYB / 0090.04), filed May 7, 2004, entitled “System and Methodology for Extraction and Aggregation of Data from Dynamic Content”; application Ser. No. 10 / 708,187 (Docket No. SYB / 0094.01), filed Feb. 13, 2004, entitled “Information Messaging and Collaboration System”. The disclosures of each of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, including any appendices or attachments thereof, for all purposes.COPYRIGHT STATEMENT [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves al...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] A system and methodology for real-time content aggregation and syndication is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method of the present invention is described for assisting a user with extracting items relevant to search queries from documents including items of various types, the method comprises steps of: receiving a search query specifying a search phrase and a particular item type; identifying documents matching the search phrase; for each matching document, determining whether the document includes an item having the particular item type; and extracting items having the particular item type from the matching documents for display to the user. The solution enables a user to aggregate and syndicate content without a professional content manager or complicated content management software tools.

Problems solved by technology

The challenge posed to users is how to efficiently locate, access, and use information and applications that are relevant to them from amongst the huge quantities of materials that are available in a variety of different formats.

However, the capabilities of current Web browsers for collecting and presenting information of interest are limited and place much of the burden or collecting and organizing information on the user.

Another complication is that the information may no longer be available when the user attempts to return to the previously-viewed item.

However, current portals are much less effective in delivering personalized content to users, particularly if the personalized content is not of general interest to a larger community (e.g., lower volume or lower traffic content).

However, current solutions only provide limited customization capabilities and generally require users to select from items available in the catalog or repository of the portal operator.

This is, in fact, a significant limitation of current portals.

However, other types of information that are not of wide, general interest are usually not available through current portals.

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