Patent Application
20110179108
This invention relates in general to the field of computer systems and data management and in particular to the field of aggregating and delivering user specific content relevant to a particular user in a network environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,389 issued to Weber discloses method, apparatus and article of manufacture for filtering a notification message from a database. A database is received by the system. The database is logically partitioned into a first partition and a second partition, the first partition having a first object instance, the second partition having a second object instance. The notification message is transmitted from the database to a message recipient. The notification message is filtered based upon a notification message type and a viewage table. In one embodiment, a message channel can be created having a database identifier attribute and a message type attribute. The notification message is transmitted between the database and the message channel if the notification message matches the message channel database identifier attribute and the message type attribute. The notification message is transmitted between the message channel and the message recipient if the target partition ID of the notification message matches a partition ID in the viewage table.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,555 also issued to Weber discloses a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for enabling a view of data across a database. A database containing data to be viewed is received by the system. The database is logically partitioned into a partition based upon a characteristic of the data to be viewed, the partition having a partition viewage table and a set of objects. An entry point is defined in the database for the view of data, the entry point having an entry point viewage table. The view of data is enabled by generating a set of partitions by recursively following the entry point viewage table and the partition viewage table to referenced partitions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,894 issued to Barth et al., discloses 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.
Published Japanese Patent Abstract JP2008-060772-A discloses a contents distribution system and distribution method in which concerned parties can view and listen to secret contents, and others except the concerned parties can not view and listen to, by easily distinguishing the concerned parties in an information network in which open contents and secret contents are mixed. The contents distribution system and its distribution method are composed so that viewing and listening restriction of charged contents is released by a first release means which requires a viewing and listening restriction release code, and viewing and listening restriction of secret contents is released by a second release means which requires an identification code consisting of an ID and a password in the receiving servers.
Disclosed is a system for aggregating information and delivering user specific content having at least one system server computer having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled thereto through which the system receives new content and at least one content storage device coupled to a plurality of client computers through the server computer. The system further includes at least one system cache type storage device coupled to the plurality of client computers through the server computer and a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscriber having a unique user account through which the subscriber uses one of the plurality of client computers to access particular content stored in the content storage device, the user account specifying the subscriber's preference data as well as a user index associated with each the unique user account, the user index containing content data specifying particular content according to the subscribers' preferences.
The system server processes the new content received through the data feed by searching, classifying and aggregating the new content received by the system server contained in the system cache and in the at least one content storage device, based on each subscriber's preference data, and delivers user specific content to each subscriber through a client computer coupled to the network when the subscriber logs on to the network.
Also disclosed is a method for aggregating selected information and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including storing content received from at least one external source to a plurality of content storage devices coupled to the network server, storing content received from at least one external source to a system cache memory and associating a specific user account to each of a plurality of users. The method also includes defining a user account interest model for each of the plurality of users, populating a user index associated with each user account with content data based on the account interest model, searching the cache memory for content identified in each the account interest model and retrieving content identified in each the account interest model from the cache memory as well as content identified by the account index data from the plurality of storage devices and merging the content retrieved from the cache memory with the content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices for each user account, as well as presenting to each user merged content, associated with the user's particular account interest model, when the user logs on to the network.
Also disclosed is a method aggregating selected information and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including storing content received from at least one external source to a plurality of content storage devices coupled to the network server, storing content received from at least one external source to a system cache memory and associating a specific user account to each of a plurality of users. The method also includes defining a user account interest model for each of the plurality of users, populating a user index associated with each user account with content data based on the account interest model, searching the cache memory for content identified in each the account interest model and retrieving content identified in each the account interest model from the cache memory as well as content identified by the account index data from the plurality of storage devices and merging the content retrieved from the cache memory with the content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices for each user account, as well as presenting to each user merged content, associated with the user's particular account interest model.
Also disclosed is a method for aggregating selected information and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including storing content received from an external source on a content storage device coupled to the network server, associating a specific user account to the user, defining at least one user account content delivery preference and storing at least one user account content delivery preference on a server computer. The method further includes receiving a plurality of new content from the external source and storing the new content data to a system cache memory as well as sorting the content and new content according to at least one user account preference stored on the server computer and storing new content data specified in the user account delivery preferences in a user index file associated with the user account on the server computer.
The method also includes removing the new content, from the system cache memory when the content data associated with the new content, is loaded onto the user index file and presenting the content specified in the user index and new content consistent with the user account preferences contained in the cache memory, to the user when the user logs on to the network.
In order to describe the manner in which the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.
Various embodiments are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations of the disclosed technology are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for aggregating information, and delivering to a plurality of subscribers user specific content based on or relating to content specified in each subscriber's account. The content aggregation and delivery may anticipate or be in response to requests for the deliver of content. The subscriber account specifies the content needs of each user and may or may not be unique to each user. The system pre processes newly received content, by storing the content as well as aggregating and storing metadata relating to new content in a plurality of subscriber indices containing content metadata determined relevant to individual user accounts. Each subscriber index is constructed, based on the user preferences as set fourth in the subscriber data. This subscriber data is typically specified prior to the server receiving a user's request for the delivery of new content. When the subscriber log onto his or her account, the metadata stored in his or her user index is retrieved and the new content relating thereto stored in the memory unit and the cache memory is presented to the user.
In other embodiments, when the user is active on the system, new content received by the system is again pre-processed to determine if the new content received is consistent with the subscriber preference data. Content determined to be consistent with the active user's subscriber preference data is retrieved, sorted, and indexed, for quick and efficient delivery to the user upon receipt of a request for content.
Pre processing content, prior to receiving a request for the delivery of content, allows the system to efficiently use periods of low system demand, or user account inactivity, to sort and aggregate information relevant to the various subscribers thus maximizing the system search efficiency during peak demand periods.
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference number denote like elements,
The content received can be any information, data, or reports received by the server over the network, through a grid, or from a reporting agency.
The system 100 features at least one content storage device 120 coupled to a plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160 through the server computer 110. The system 100 further includes at least one system cache type storage device 130 coupled to the plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160 through the server computer 110 and a plurality of subscribers. As, conventional, each subscriber has a unique user account through which he or she uses one of the plurality of client computers to access particular content stored in the content storage device 120. In other embodiments a plurality of user accounts may be associated with a single subscriber.
The user account specifies the particular subscriber's content preference data from which a user index is created. The server 110 creates a user index associated with each the unique user account. The user index is loaded with content data specifying the particular content contained in the content storage device 120, determined by the server 110 to be consistent with the subscriber's preferences as set forth by the subscriber content preference data according to that particular subscribers' interest or content requirements. This is performed for each user account. In at least one embodiment the content data includes a plurality of data pointers that specify the location of particular content stored in one or more content storage devices 120. Content data stored in each user index may include metadata, which may include dates, scores, ranking, etcs, as well as pointers to the data in the storage system. New content is received by the server 110 through one or more data feeds 150, 152, 154 and 156 that are operatively coupled to the server. The form and throughput of the data feeds may vary.
Referring now to
Preferably, each subscriber has a unique user account through which the subscriber uses one of the plurality of client computers 140, 142, 144, 160 to access particular content stored in the content storage device. The user account specifies each subscriber's content preferences via subscriber preference data, as well as a user index associated with each the unique user account. (Exemplarily user indices A, B, and C). Each user index 265, 275, 285 contains content data specifying particular content according to the subscribers' content preferences. The system server 110 pre-processes new content received through the data feed 150, 152, 154, 156 by searching, classifying and aggregating the new content received by the system server 110 contained in the system cache 130 and in the at least one content storage device 120, based on each subscriber's preference data, and delivers user specific content to each subscriber through a client computer coupled to the network when an active subscriber request content, or when an inactive subscriber logs on to the network.
In other embodiments the system may feature a plurality of servers coupled in a grid or other network and/or a plurality of cache type memory devices, and/or a plurality of content storage devices operatively coupled to one or more server computers.
Referring now to
The server 110 removes the new content and content data, from the global cache memory 130 when the content data associated with the new content, is loaded onto the user index files 340. Content designated popular content, may be retained in the global cache memory 350. Popular content retained in the global cache memory 130 need not be written to the content storage device 120 or the user indices. The popular content designation may be based on frequency of use, content commonality, or other factors.
When each subscriber logs on to the system particular content, content specified in the user index, and new content contained in the global cache memory consistent with the user preference data is presented to the subscriber.
Specifically, the server retrieves the content specified in the user index 265 unique to the subscriber (User A) from the content storage device 520. The server 110 also searches the global system cache 130 for new content 530 consistent with the preference data 262. Upon finding new content consistent with the data in the user index 265, the server retrieves the new content consistent with the content data in the user index from the global cache memory 540. If there is content retained in the global cache memory 130 as popular content, the server retrieves the popular content as well 550. The server 110 then merges the content retrieved from the content storage device 120 designated by the content data contained in user index 265, and the content retrieved from the global cache memory 560. The server 110 presents the merged content to the subscriber when the subscriber logs on 570.
The disclosed invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In at least one embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.
Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory, (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include a local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.
In another example embodiment the system for aggregating information and delivering user specific content including at least one system server computer having a plurality of data feeds operatively coupled thereto, at least one content storage device coupled to the server computer as well as at least one system cache type storage device coupled to the at least one server computer. The system also features at least one user, the user having a user account, the user account providing the user access to the content provided by the server, the user account containing user preference data and a user index associated with each the user account, the user index containing content data specifying content consistent with the user preference data. Upon receiving new content from the data feed, prior to receiving a request from the user for access to content, the at least one system server stores the content in the at least one content storage device coupled to the server, loads new content data into the system's global data cache, classifies the new content loaded into the global data cache based on the user preference data, loads each user index with new data pointers based on the user preferences contained in user account and deletes content from the global data cache as the content data is written onto the user indices.
The system server delivers to the subscriber new content specified in the user index, and new content contained in the global cache memory, when the user request new content. The content data includes data pointers specifying the location of content in the at least one content storage device or other content. In other embodiments the content data may include metadata, data pointers and/or the actual content.
In yet another embodiment the invention takes the form of a method for aggregating selected information and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including storing content received from an external source on a content storage device coupled to the network server, associating a specific user account to the user, defining at least one user account content delivery preference and storing at least one user account content delivery preference on a server computer. The method further includes receiving a plurality of new content from the external source and storing the new content data to a system cache memory as well as sorting the content and new content according to at least one user account preference stored on the server computer and storing new content data specified in the user account delivery preferences in a user index file associated with the user account on the server computer.
The method also includes removing the new content, determined to be consistent with the at least one user account preference, from the system cache memory when the content data associated with the new content, is loaded onto the user index file and presenting the content specified in the user index and new content consistent with the user account preferences contained in the cache memory, to the user when the user logs on to the network.
In other embodiments the method also includes receiving a request for the presentation of content from a user of the network. The method may also include delivering to the subscriber new content specified in the user index and new content contained in the global cache memory when the user request new content. The method may include populating the user index with content data consistent with the users prior content requests and designating new content stored in the system cache memory as popular content, and presenting the popular content contained in the system cache memory to the user when the user logs onto the network.
In yet another embodiment the method includes crawling or monitoring specific data sources or data feeds from a plurality, and sorting, storing and delivering new content from those specific data sources to one or more user indices.
In other embodiments the method includes presenting new content contained in the system cache memory and content similar to content specified by the content data stored in the user index to the user when the user logs onto the network.
In yet another embodiment the invention takes the form of a method for aggregating selected information and delivering user specific content from a server computer to a user via a client machine coupled to a computer network including storing content received from at least one external source to a plurality of content storage devices coupled to the network server, storing content received from at least one external source to a system cache memory and associating a specific user account to each of a plurality of users. The method also includes defining a user account interest model for each of the plurality of users, populating a user index associated with each user account with content data based on the account interest model, searching the cache memory for content identified in each the account interest model and retrieving content identified in each the account interest model from the cache memory as well as content identified by the account index data from the plurality of storage devices and merging the content retrieved from the cache memory with the content retrieved from the plurality of storage devices for each user account, as well as presenting to each user merged content, associated with the user's particular account interest model, when the user logs on to the network.
In yet another embodiment the method may also include receiving a request for the presentation of content from a user of the network.
In yet another embodiment the method also includes populating the user index with content data consistent with the user's prior content requests.
In yet another embodiment the method also includes designating content stored in the system cache memory as popular content, and presenting the popular content contained in the system cache memory to the user when the user logs onto the network.
It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams and combinations of those blocks can be implemented by computer program instructions and/or means.
Although specific example embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that other variations, aspects, or embodiments may be contemplated, and/or practiced without departing from the scope or the spirit of the appended claims.
