Patent ID: RE42413

Claim:
A method for processing data files stored at distributed addresses on a data processing network, at least some of the data files having text and graphic content, the method comprising: analyzing at least a subset of the data files to produce a database of information characterizing aspects of the data files that tend to distinguish the data files from one another, and cross referencing said information to addresses of the data files; generating an image of at least a portion of the subset of data files, and storing a graphic file of said image in a manner cross referenced to the addresses of the data files, whereby the graphic file represents an image of the data files at a time of generation; receiving search queries and applying the search queries to the database for selecting a hit list from among the data files; reporting the hit list in a search report including the addresses of each of the data files selected and the image corresponding to the data files in the hit list at the respective time of generation.