Patent EA-004664-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and system for accessing information on a network
Inventor: OSAKU TEIZO
IPC: G06F17/30
Filed: 1998-10-27
Abstract: 1. A server-based, network-searchable database system, comprising: a) a platform providing a communications connection to the network; b) means for receiving a search request via the communications connection, the received search request including a simplified network address; c) a correspondence relation table defining correspondence relations between network Uniform Resource Locators and simplified network addresses, a correspondence relation having a simplified network address portion and a corresponding Uniform Resource Locator portion; d) a search engine responsive to the search request for searching the table for a correspondence relation having a simplified network address portion matching the search request simplified network address, and for returning the Uniform Resource Locator portion of that correspondence relation as the result of the search; and e) means for returning the result of the search to the originator of the search request, via the communications connection, whereby the database system accepts a simplified network address and returns a corresponding Uniform Resource Locator to a search requester. 2. The server-based system of Claim 1, further including a client system originating the search request and receiving the result of the search via the network. 3. The server-based system of Claim 1, further including: a) means for receiving an update request via the communications connection, the received update request including an update simplified network address and a corresponding update Uniform Resource Locator; and b) means responsive to the update request for forming a correspondence relation between the received update simplified network address and the corresponding update Uniform Resource Locator and for inserting the formed correspondence relation into the correspondence relation table. 4. The server-based system of Claim 3, further including means for determining whether an existing correspondence relation is based upon the update simplified network address, and if so, for modifying the update simplified network address so that the formed correspondence relation is unique. 5. The server-based system of Claim 3, further including means for converting the update simplified network address to a number having at least one digit, the number defining a URL numeric code. 6. The server-based system of Claim 5, further including means for collecting URL numeric codes into a list and for distributing the list via the network. 7. The server-based system of Claim 5, further including means for collecting URL numeric codes into a list and for distributing the list via electronic broadcast, including at least one of TV and radio. 8. The server-based system of Claim 5, further including means for collecting URL numeric codes and corresponding URLs into a list and for distributing the list. 9. The server-based system of Claim 5, further including means for defining a description of network accessible information addressed via the URL numeric code, and for pairing the URL numeric code with a corresponding description, and for forming the pairs into a list, and for distributing the list. 10. The server-based system of Claim 5, further including means for randomly informing users of URL numeric codes. 11. The server-based system of Claim 3, wherein the update simplified network address includes a portion defining a sequence of musical tones selected from a predetermined set of musical tones, and includes another portion defining a corresponding update URL, the system further including means for converting the update simplified network address to a URL numeric code and for forming an update correspondence relation for updating the database of stored correspondence relations. 12. The server-based system of Claim 1, further including: a) means for receiving an assign-string request via the communications connection, the received request including an update Uniform Resource Locator; and b) means responsive to the assign-string request for creating an update simplified network address, for forming a correspondence relation between the created update simplified network address and the update Uniform Resource Locator, for inserting the formed correspondence relation into the correspondence relation table, and for returning a copy of the created update simplified network address to the requester via the communications connection. 13. The server-based system of Claim 12, further including means for returning a copy of the update Uniform Resource Locator to the requester via the communications connection. 14. The server-based system of Claim 12, wherein the created update simplified network address defines a number having at least one digit, the number defining a URL numeric code. 15. The server-based system of Claim 14, further including means for determining that the number has not been previously assigned as the URL numeric code corresponding to the update Uniform Resource Locator. 16. The server-based system of Claim 15, wherein the created number is a random number. 17. The server-based system of Claim 40, further including: a) means for receiving and displaying a string of letters; b) a ten-key pad wherein each key is marked with an operator viewable digit ranging from zero through nine; c) each key additionally being marked with one or more operator viewable letters selected from an alphabet; d) the viewable key markings defining a letter-digit correspondence; e) means for assigning the number as the URL numeric code; f) means for receiving digits from the key pad; g) each received digit corresponding to a letter of the received string as defined by the letter-digit correspondence; h) means for forming the received digits into a received number; i) means for determining whether the received number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; j) means for assigning the received number as the URL numeric code when it is determined that the received number has not previously been assigned; and k) means for modifying the received string of letters to form a new string, for displaying the new string and for awaiting a key pad input of digits corresponding to the displayed new string when it is determined that the received number has previously been assigned. 18. The server-based system of Claim 15, including means for automatically creating the URL numeric code, said means further including: a) means for generating a string of letters; b) means for generating a first digit; c) means for using the string of letters to form a four digit first derivative number; d) means for using the first derivative number to form a four digit second derivative number; e) means for concatenating the first digit and the four digit second derivative number to form a five digit number; f) means for determining whether the five digit number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; g) means for assigning the five digit number as the URL numeric code when it is determined that the five digit number has not previously been assigned; h) means for providing first and second random digits and for concatenating the first random digit, the second random digit, and the five digit number to form a seven digit number when it is determined that the five digit number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; i) means for determining whether the seven digit number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; j) means for assigning the seven digit number as a URL numeric code when it is determined that the seven digit number has not previously been assigned; k) means for providing third, fourth and fifth random digits and for concatenating the third random digit, the fourth random digit, the fifth random digit and the seven digit number to form a ten digit number when it is determined that the seven digit number has previously been assigned; l) means for determining whether the ten digit number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; and m) means for assigning the ten digit number as the URL numeric code when it is determined that the ten digit number has not previously been assigned. 19. The server-based system of Claim 1, further including a firewall interposed between the network communications connection and the search engine, and requiring the received search request to be authenticated before it is executed by the system. 20. The server-based system of Claim 1, further including means for defining, storing and maintaining access data, the access data further defining at least one of: a) the number of times a specific search requester has accessed the database; b) the number of times a specific search requester has submitted a specific registered simplified network address; c) the total number of search requests received for each registered simplified network address; and d) the total number of search requests received by the database. 21. The server-based system of Claim 20, further including means for providing the access data to a requester upon a successful requester authentication. 22. The server-based system of Claim 21, wherein the access data defines an audience rating. 23. The server-based system of Claim 21, further including means for distributing predetermined portions of the access data. 24. A method for accessing network information using simplified network addressing, comprising the steps of: a) providing a platform having network access and accepting inputs for accessing network information; b) accepting a simplified network address corresponding to a network address of the network information; c) converting the simplified network address to a URL defining the network address of the information; d) using the URL to form a network access command as a http://URL/ command, or alternatively, to another TCP/IP command; and e) using the formed network access command to access the network information via the platform for retrieving the network information. 25. The network a