Patent ID: 7058726

Claim:
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 connections, 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 a result of the search; e) means for returning the result of the search to the originator of the search request, via the communications connections; f) the system also including means for receiving an assign-string request via the communications connection, the received assign-string request including an update Uniform Resource Locator; g) 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; h) the created update simplified network address defining a number having at least one digit, the number defining a URL numeric code; i) the means for creating an update simplified network address also including means for receiving and for displaying a string of letters; j) a ten-key pad wherein each key is marked with an operator-viewable digit ranging from zero through nine and marked with one or more operator-viewable letters selected from an alphabet such that each key defines a letter-digit correspondence; k) the viewable key markings permitting an operator to view the displayed string of letters, and to operate a key corresponding to each displayed letter in sequence; l) means for receiving digits from the key pad; m) means for forming the received digits into a received number; n) means for determining whether the received number has previously been assigned as the URL numeric code; o) means for assigning the received number as the URL numeric code when it is determined that the received number has not previously been so assigned; and p) 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.