System and Method for Providing Requested Information to Thin Clients

Abstract

A system for, and method of, providing requested information to a client. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a core information database that contains core information gleaned from the Internet and restructured according to a predetermined taxonomy and (2) a client communications interface, coupled to the core information database, that receives a request message from a client containing a request for some of the core information, derives a database query from the request message, causes the some of the core information to be retrieved from the core information database, formats the some of the core information into a response message according to display limitations of the client and transmits the response message to the client for display thereby.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 197,065, entitled “System and Method for Providing Requested Information to Thin Clients,” filed Jul. 17, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,301,503, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 306,127, entitled “System and Method for Providing a Range of Information on Demand for a Commercial Item, Identifiable Subsystem, Commodity or Individual,” filed Jul. 17, 2001, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed, in general, to computer systems and, more specifically, to a system and method for providing requested information to thin clients.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Presently, individuals seeking timely and relevant, decision quality product data are only able to get it by individually contacting providers of such products, physically traveling to multipl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution effectively provides quality information in a timely manner to users, tailored to the capabilities of their devices, reducing information overload and enhancing usability on bandwidth-limited connections.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, search results often overload the user with too much data while providing only limited viewing potential of a product.

Physically visiting “brick-and-mortar” facilities allow the actual products to be viewed, but can be severely limited in detailed specification and alternative selections.

While the concept is good, it is also fundamentally flawed, as the necessary limitations of wireless devices will only exacerbate the situation described above.

This results in a substantial unmet need.

The systems presently in place, which connect the user directly with the Internet, are fundamentally flawed for several reasons.

One reason is that the Internet, and many current data providers, have too much information.

Users often find it difficult to find the specific desired items on the Internet because all of the information is there.

Advanced searches that are often used to reduce the number to a manageable level are time consuming, non-standard, difficult to use without considerable practice, and tend to be more art than science.

In addition, none of this searching is compatible with spontaneous interaction and is aggravated when the interface medium is a mobile device connected by wireless means because of the bandwidth limiting nature of mobile wireless devices.

Typically, searches on present systems, which only provide access to the Internet, result in the user getting a large amount of raw data.

More recent systems do little more than provide a cross correlation table to existing URL pages and do not address the heart of the problem.

For example, a personal digital assistant (PDA) cannot view a web page that is normally intended for a conventional office computer system.

One obvious reason is that the screen on the PDA cannot display as much information as on an office computer system.

Another problem associated with a PDA is the size of the keyboard.

PDA keyboards may not have a full keyboard and, as such, are harder to use.

Current systems don't effectively allow users of PDAs to find information while providing output consistent with the capabilities of the PDAs.

Just setting up a direct relationship with the Internet is insufficient and can actually add to a confusing situation as it is prone to cause far too much, unsorted, unqualified and often incomprehensible data and options to descend upon the user and his limited handheld terminal causing delay, extraneous data, information deluge, and overload.

The result is a frustrated user without the necessary information needed to perform a task.

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