Abstract:
The present invention relates to a searching system, and more specifically to a system for obtaining, storing, organizing and locating content in response to a user request. The system interacts with academic and professional research providers to obtain content on a variety of different topics which are stored and made available to users. The content is fully searchable and contains links to other related content.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 11/412,447 filed 27 Apr. 2006. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a searching system, and more specifically to a system for obtaining, storing, organizing and locating content in response to a user request. The system interacts with academic and professional research providers to obtain content on a variety of different topics which are stored and made available to users. The content is fully searchable and contains links to other related content. The searching system further provides a peer review function to the provided content whereby users can rate the relevance of the content. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Numerous other content systems exist in the prior art. However, these systems are only able to reach out and search for content based on a user entered keyword. None of the existing systems provide a centrally located and accessible storage system that is fully searchable by users thereby allowing users to obtain published material for a plurality of different uses. Therefore, a need exists to provide a system that operates to remedy the deficiencies associated with existing content systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a searching system, and more specifically to a system for obtaining, storing, organizing and locating content in response to a user request. The system interacts with academic and professional research providers to obtain content on a variety of different topics which are stored and made available to users. The content is fully searchable and contains links to other related content. 
         [0007]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. 
         [0008]    Another, secondary object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that interacts with content providers to obtain topic-specific content that is accessible by remote users. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the content providers are research organizations including at least one of universities and professional research corporations and organizations. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the system classifies content in a plurality of academic subject areas. 
         [0011]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the content is further sub-classified within each respective academic subject area. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that allows users to search the stored content to find desired content. 
         [0013]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that provides fee-based access to the searchable content. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that automatically creates fee structures to be used with different content providers based on frequency of access by users of the provided content. 
         [0015]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the content is on at least one of applied sciences, business, arts and education, health and medicine and engineering. 
         [0016]    Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the content in each area is linked to related content by a relation factor. 
         [0017]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system wherein the linking relation factor is at least one of topic-based, content based, author, and origin of content. 
         [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that allows a user to create and edit a user profile to facilitate searching of stored content. 
         [0019]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that allows a user to rate the usefulness and/or relevance of the content providing feedback to other users. 
         [0020]    Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that is simple and easy to use. 
         [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a searchable content system that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate. 
         [0022]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0023]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a screen shot for accessing a searchable content system of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the searchable content system of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a storage record of the searchable content system of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the organizations accessible by the searchable content system of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system of the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system of the present invention with an integral peer review function. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the peer review function of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
       [0032]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the searchable content system of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 searchable content system of 
               
               
                   
                 the present invention 
               
               
                 12 
                 web browser 
               
               
                 14 
                 user access button 
               
               
                 16 
                 search field 
               
               
                 18 
                 first content category 
               
               
                 20 
                 first content sub-categories 
               
               
                 22 
                 second content category 
               
               
                 24 
                 second content sub-categories 
               
               
                 26 
                 third content category 
               
               
                 28 
                 third content sub-categories 
               
               
                 30 
                 fourth content category 
               
               
                 32 
                 fourth content sub-categories 
               
               
                 34 
                 fifth content category 
               
               
                 36 
                 fifth content sub-categories 
               
               
                 38 
                 sixth content category 
               
               
                 40 
                 sixth content sub-categories 
               
               
                 42 
                 alphabetical search function 
               
               
                 44 
                 access processor 
               
               
                 46 
                 search processor 
               
               
                 48 
                 storage device 
               
               
                 49 
                 payment processor 
               
               
                 50 
                 organization processor 
               
               
                 51 
                 display generator 
               
               
                 52 
                 input processor 
               
               
                 54 
                 first classification field 
               
               
                 56 
                 second classification field 
               
               
                 58 
                 third classification field 
               
               
                 60 
                 fourth classification field 
               
               
                 62 
                 fifth classification field 
               
               
                 64 
                 sixth classification field 
               
               
                 66 
                 first content provider 
               
               
                 68 
                 second content provider 
               
               
                 70 
                 third content provider 
               
               
                 72 
                 fourth content provider 
               
               
                 74 
                 fifth content provider 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
         [0034]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 6  illustrate a searchable content system of the present invention which is indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 . 
         [0035]    The searchable content system  10  provides research-based content creators and distributors to have the created content organized and accessed for commercial gain. The system seeks out the research-based content providers and acquires the content for use by users of the system. Access to the content system  10  is made via a communication network such as the Internet. However, any communication network that allows for remote users to access a central system may be employed. The system  10  allows the content providers to offer for sale the published research results. Users of the system are able to obtain the research results via a plurality of different economic models such as subscription-based service whereby the user pays a predetermined fee to access the content or a pay-per-use system whereby the user pays for each individual content piece viewed and/or downloaded. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a screen shot for accessing the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. Typically, the system  10  is operated on a central sever or computer system that is simultaneously remotely accessible via a communication network by a plurality of users. The screenshot depicted in  FIG. 1  is an exemplary display made to a remote user accessing the system  10 . The system  10  is accessed by entry of the website address into a web browser  12 . The web browser  12  displays a home page that includes a visual representation of data stored, organized and accessible by the system  10 . The browser window  12  displays a plurality of different ways that a user may access the content of the system  10 . The content is fully searchable and the browser provides different mechanisms to accomplish this search. 
         [0037]    A free form search can be performed by entry of a text string in a search field box  16 . Alternatively, a search can be performed by selection of one of a plurality content category buttons including but not limited to a first content category button  18 , a second content category button  22 , a third content category button  26 , a fourth content category button  30 , a fifth content category button  34  and a sixth content category button  38 . The content categories that may be represented by these buttons,  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30 ,  34  and  38  may be applied science, business, health, natural sciences, engineering, and arts and education respectively. However, this is for purposes of example only and the content category buttons  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30 ,  34  and  38  may represent other content categories. 
         [0038]    A more focused search can be performed by selection of one of a plurality of sub-category buttons corresponding to the content category buttons. A first content sub-category button  20  corresponds to the first content category button  18  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to agriculture, astronomy and chemistry. A second content sub-category button  24  corresponds to the second content category button  22  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to accounting, finance and management. A third content sub-category button  28  corresponds to the third content category button  26  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to dental, pediatrics and pharmacy. A fourth content sub-category button  32  corresponds to the fourth content category button  30  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to economics, philosophy and sociology. A fifth content sub-category button  36  corresponds to the fifth content category button  34  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to energy, mechanical and electrical. A sixth content sub-category button  40  corresponds to the sixth content category button  38  and may represent a sub-category including but not limited to languages, literatures and music. 
         [0039]    Alternatively, a search can be performed using an alphabetical search function  42 . The alphabetical search function  42  lists the letters of the alphabet enabling the selection of the first letter of the content category to be searched. After the search is performed, a plurality of papers is provided, as discussed hereinafter with specific reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0040]    Selection of a “log in” button  14  enables a user who has set up an account to access the system. Alternatively, the user can search for content before depressing the “log in” button  14 . However, the access provided to the user who does not log in via log-in button  14  is limited. For example only a summary of the content may be made available on a further provided webpage which would also provide the user with options on how to obtain full access the selected content. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. Shown herein, the system  10  includes an input processor  52  for at least one of receiving and actively acquiring content from content sources. The input processor  52  connects, via a communication network (not shown) to at least one content provider. The input processor  52  may use an algorithm based on a pre-existing relationship with the at least one content provider in order to acquire content for the system  10 . Additionally, content providers not having a relationship with the system  10  may access the system  10  via the input processor  52  in order to at least one of establish a relationship and provide content able to be accessed by a user of the system. 
         [0042]    The system  10  includes an organization processor  50  and a storage medium  48 . The organization processor  50  is connected to each of the storage medium  48  and the input processor  52 . The organization processor  50  uses a plurality of algorithms to organize the content that is acquired and/or received by the input processor  52 . The algorithms employed by the organization processor  50  parses and analyzes the acquired content and adds a plurality of classification tags, which will be discussed hereinafter with respect to  FIG. 3 , to be associated with each respective content item obtained via the input processor  52 . Upon organizing the content, the organization processor  50  causes data representing the content to be stored within the storage medium  48 . Alternatively, the storage medium  48  may be a pre-programmed database that, upon access by the organization processor  50 , provides information thereto to be used to organize the acquired content. In this embodiment, the organization processor  50  parses the content for flags that correspond to the fields of the database  48 . 
         [0043]    The system further includes an access processor  44 , a payment processor  49  and a search processor  46  each connected to one another. The search processor  46  is further connected to the storage medium  48  and the organization processor  50 . Users of the system  10  attempting to gain access to the content stored on the storage medium  48  connect via the access processor  44 . The access processor  44  determines, in response to use input, the type of access that each respective connecting user will have to the content stored in the storage medium  48 . The access processor  44  determines if the user has at least one of full or partial access to the content in the storage medium  48 . The access processor  44 , in response a determination of partial access, signals the payment processor  49  to request payment from the connecting user for a higher level of access to the system  10 . 
         [0044]    In response to the determination made by the access processor  44 , the user may search the storage medium for content using the storage processor  46 . Prior to the search, the search processor  46  detects from at least one of the organization processor  50  and the storage medium  48  parameters used to organize the stored content. The detection performed by the search processor  46  includes obtaining data representing the classification fields that are used to organize and store the content. The user is then able to perform a search by inputting a search criteria. The search criteria includes at least one of inputting a search term, selecting from a plurality of search terms and selecting an alphanumeric character for use by the search processor  46 . The search processor  46  compares and analyzes the search criteria with the classification data to select content from the storage medium  48  to be presented to the user. 
         [0045]    Upon presenting the searched content to the user, and a prior determination that the user has full access to the system  10 , the content may be available to be at least one read, viewed, printed and downloaded by the user. The retrieved content is fully available to the user. If the determination by the access processor  46  results in a partial access determination, only a summary of the retrieved content is made available to the user. The payment processor  49  causes a message to be displayed to the user requesting payment to obtain full access to the content. The user may input payment information in the form of a credit card and an online payment system such as PAYPAL. Payment methods provided by the payment processor  49  may allow for at least one of access to a single stored item, access to a predetermined number of stored items, full service subscription to the system  10 . 
         [0046]    Additionally, the payment processor  49  is able to remit payments to content providers based on a contract rate established between the system  10  and the respective content provider. Specifically, upon selection of a desired item, the search processor  46  may store, in the storage medium, a log representing the number of times each specific item is at least one of returned in search and selected by a user. The payment processor  49  may actively and automatically adjust a term of the contract between the provider and the system  10  based on threshold access values that are included within the contract. The payment processor  49  automatically remits payment according to the terms of the modified contract. This active and automatic modification provides incentives to the content providers to provide highly useable and desirable content to the system  10 . 
         [0047]    A display generator  51  is connected to each of the access processor  44 , the payment processor  49  via the access processor  44 , the search processor  46 , the organization processor  50  and the input processor  52 . The display generator  51  receives instructions in the form of machine executable code that generates a display for display to a user that allows the user to perform and access the system  10  in the manner discussed above. 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the storage device  48  of the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. The storage device  48  may include a plurality of classification fields. These fields are represented herein as a first classification field  54 , a second classification field  56 , a third classification field  58 , a fourth classification field  60 , a fifth classification field  62  and a sixth classification field  64 . The classification fields  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62  and  64  may correspond to the content categories,  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 , respectively, and represent how the papers are stored and classified in the storage device  48 . Alternatively, the classification fields may represent different identification items that may be associated with the respective content. The identification items include at least one of author, subject matter, type of content, date of content creation, author provided keywords, related subject matter and related content by same author. This list of identification items is provided for purposes of example only and the classification fields  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  may include any information selected by at least one of a system operator and content provider to identify the content. The number of classification fields  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  are further provided for exemplary purpose and may include any number of fields to further enhance the classification of the acquired content. These classification fields are used by the search processor  46  for comparison with the user entered search criteria in order to return content that best matches the user request. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the organizations accessible by the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. The system  10  can selectively contract with and receive content from a plurality of content providers, including but not limited to a first content provider  66 , a second content provider  68 , a third content provider  70 , a fourth content provider  72  and a fifth content provider  74 . A plurality of content providers may be represented and herein they are represented by universities as the first content provider  66 , political research as the second content provider  68 , economics research as the third content provider  70 , technology research as the fourth content provider  72  and individuals as the fifth content provider  74 . Varied providers enable the system  10  to include the most up-to-date and world wide research in the particular content area. 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. In step S 100 , the user logs into the system by selection of the “log-in” button  14  shown in  FIG. 1 . The user may enter and edit their preferences in step S 102 . In step S 104 , the user chooses the type of content area to search, such as by use of the plurality of content category buttons  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30 ,  34  and  38 , shown in  FIG. 1 . In step S 106 , the user is then able to further focus the search within the category by entry of a search term in the search field  16 , shown in  FIG. 1 . A search is then performed in step S 108 . The results of the search are output in step S 110 . If the results are insufficient, the user is returned to step S 104  to repeat the process. If the results displayed in step S 110  are sufficient, the appropriate paper is displayed in step S 112 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system  10  of the present invention. In step S 200 , a paper is provided for storage in the storage device  48 , shown in  FIG. 2 , to be searched for at a later time. In step S 202 , a user makes a payment to receive the paper. The amount of the purchase price for the provider is accounted for in step S 204 . The provider is reimbursed at predetermined intervals in step S 206  for the purchase of their papers from the system  10 . In step S 208 , the access to provide the paper is periodically reviewed. In step S 210 , the amount to be paid to the provider is recalculated based on the periodic reviews. 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the searchable content system  10  of the present invention with an integral peer review function. In step S 100 , the user logs into the system by selection of the “log-in” button  14  shown in  FIG. 1 . The user may enter and edit their preferences in step S 102 . In step S 104 , the user chooses the type of content area to search, such as by use of the plurality of content category buttons  18 ,  22 ,  26 ,  30 ,  34  and  38 , shown in  FIG. 1 . In step S 106 , the user is then able to further focus the search within the category by entry of a search term in the search field  16 , shown in  FIG. 1 . A search is then performed in step S 1108 . The results of the search are output in step S 110 . If the results are insufficient, the user is returned to step S 104  to repeat the process. If the results displayed in step S 110  are sufficient, the appropriate paper is displayed in step S 112  with the peer review displayed in step S 114 . In step S 116  the user is provided the option of placing a review as to the value and relevance of the content that when exercised allows the user to post a review in step S 118 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the peer review function of the present invention. In step S 212  the research content is displayed and if a user review is available, in step S 214 , it too is displayed, as shown in step S 216 . The user can choose to add a review of the content, in step S 216 . In step S 220 , the user can add a review as to the value and relevance of the content. The peer review can take the form of selecting a value from a provided number of values or assign a value from a predetermined range of values or enter a text evaluation of the research content. 
         [0054]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of devices differing from the type described above. 
         [0055]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0056]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.