WO2002019090A1

WO2002019090A1 - Apparatus and method for collecting data from various sources and organizing the collected data

Info

Publication number: WO2002019090A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/025613
Authority: WO
Inventors: David A. Dushkin
Original assignee: Dushkin Intermedia, Llc
Priority date: 2000-08-25
Filing date: 2001-08-16
Publication date: 2002-03-07
Also published as: AU2001284961A1

Abstract

A method is described for constructing a database (16) of a server (14) with addresses of data sites where data related to at least one of a plurality of subjects selectively resides. The server (14) and the computer sites (18) are commonly coupled to a network to permit communication therebetween. The method comprises the steps of categorizing the plurality of subjects in a hierarchy, identifying which of the plurality of data sites retains data related to each of said plurality of subjects, and inputting to the server database an indication of each of the addresses where data related to a particular categorized subject resides and of the particular categorized subject. In a further aspect of this invention, a user may operate its computer to access and organize data from a plurality web sites. In a still further aspect of this invention, the user may select data from any of a plurality of data sites and insert it into an E-book.

Description

APPARATUSANDMETHODFORCOLLECTINGDATAFROMVARIOUS SOURCE AND ORGANIZINGTHE COLLECTEDDATA

BACKGROUND OFTHEINVENTION

THEFIELDOFTHEINVENTION The method and apparatus of the present invention relate to the search for and selection of data, goods and services on the Internet, and to electronic publishing.

RELATED APPLICATION

References is made to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/227,942, which was filed August 25, 2000 in the name of David A. Dushkin, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Collecting Data from Various Sources and Organizing the Collected Data into a Preselected Structure", and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

Consumer-oriented enterprises that currently offer Internet search capabilities do so from the supply side of the consumer/supplier equation. Their function is to respond to a previously unanticipated inquiry by culling through whatever may be available on the Internet and by collecting whatever may appear to be relevant in response to that unexpected inquiry.

They permit key word or other typically single inquiry searches of usually multiple, massive resources with little or no foreknowledge of what the consumer is searching for or any understanding of why the search is being conducted. They yield only items, often hundreds of them that match, or appear to match, the terminology of the inquiry, although many of the results often fail to do so, or only do so in ways that are irrelevant.

They do not provide the consumer with a coherent framework for a complex, multi-topic search of the Internet for interconnected results on a given subject and they have little or no ability to enable consumers to integrate one search result with others.

Consequently, such unanticipated, supply-driven search results are often inadequate or incomplete and even when the results are adequate they are not related to any coherently organized treatment of their subject area, or integrated with any other search results within that subject area. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides Internet search capabilities from the demand side of the consumer/supplier equation. Its function is to enable previously anticipated searches to find only what is specifically wanted in response to an expected inquiry within the parameters of a specific subject. It does so by permitting multiple, pre-defined searches of the Internet for interrelated results via pre-determined search topics pursued at pre-selected search sites with results gathered in a pre- developed, pre-integrated format.

It also does so by integrating pre-programmed search formulae into the search process, for search sites that require them, and by providing the user who conducts the searches with prepared topic- and site-related messages that facilitate, guide and support each search so that no particular skill is required to conduct any search.

It also does so by providing the consumer with a coherent structure for selecting complex, multi-topic, inter-connected search results.

It also does so by enabling the integration of search results into a software program which can contain an unlimited amount of related material in a pre-organized format and which can be kept continuously current.

Consequently, the highly predictable, demand-driven, customer-managed, subject-specific sequences of multiple searches made possible by the present invention are invariably successful and always as complete as the consumer conducting them wishes them to be within the prescribed subject matter of the searches and the available resources of the Internet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system for the pre-defined, subject-specific search and selection of data, goods and services available on the Internet which contains the above features and addresses the above-described shortcomings of the prior art and which may be adapted to and form the basis of electronic publishing as well as the servicing of consumers' information needs within any given industry whose providers of such information may employ the present invention for that purpose.

It is another object of the present invention to set forth a demand-driven, customer-managed system of electronic search and selection all of whose elements are pre-arranged and pre-qualified in such a way that successful results are predictable and no new or unusual skill is required for an ordinary consumer to conduct a timely, complete and satisfactory search for data, goods and services on the Internet, however complex the search may be or voluminous its results, within a chosen subject. Another object of the present invention is to allow the consumer or other user of the present invention's capabilities to shop for goods and services on the Internet and to engage in any aspect of electronic commerce that may be appropriate to a particular application of the present invention.

A further object of the present invention is to enable a consumer using it in a given subject area to interact with live, subject-related vendors, guides or other service providers who are enabled by the present invention -and invited by the consumer using it— to participate in some aspect of the consumer's search.

Yet another object of the present invention is to allow authors, subject experts and other content or communication professionals to employ the capabilities of the present invention to create informative, entertaining and/or educational products for commercial purposes by using the present invention and to furnish such products for sale.

It is yet another object of the present invention to enable instructors at whatever level of any institutional or non-institutional educational or training system to prepare and deliver instructional materials through the use of the present invention. It is still another object of the present invention to facilitate and enable scholarly research and to permit librarians and other information professionals to employ the present invention in the creation of specific resources or in the conduct of their regular duties.

It is yet another object of the present invention to enable subject-specific vendors and other providers of goods and services in a given subject area to incorporate or adapt the present invention to the conduct of their businesses and to use the present invention to deliver their goods and services over the Internet or to present their businesses at websites on the Internet.

It is a further object of the present invention to enable qualified individuals or groups anywhere within the global reach of the Internet to receive instruction via a specialized application of the present invention in the methods, systems, technology and techniques of the present invention so that they may create and make available new, subject-specific applications of the present invention, whether as commissioned contributors or as independent commercial authors.

It is another object of the present invention to introduce and maintain through its applications in any and all appropriate subjects the opportunity for the user to explore and pursue non-electronic search modalities and resources where the user may wish to supplement or supplant electronic options.

It is yet another object of the present invention to make any resultant information product of the present invention capable of delivery over any medium or device, electronic or otherwise, into which Internet materials can be imported or upon which they can be displayed, including the presentation of any such information product as a website.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for any individual, in whatever capacity, to conduct an exhaustive sequence of searches of Internet resources within a given subject area under predetermined conditions so thoroughly organized and well prepared that every search topic within that subject area is already linked to the search sites on the Internet most likely to be optimally productive of that search topic's requirements and that the entire sequence of searches can be conducted within an extensively organized, subject-specific format that fully accommodates the entire range of the subject's topics and enables the search results to be integrated into a coherent end product.

Additionally, the present invention is constructed with pre-programmed, site-specific search strategies and provided with prepared topic-specific and site-specific search instructions and information in such quantity and variety that no skill is required to use the present invention other than the ability to read messages and click on or type responses.

Furthermore, the book-like organization of the present invention makes it relatively easy for the average literate user to understand and operate the present invention simply by recognizing its analogy, for example, to a practical reference book on its given subject, with two important differences. First, unlike a printed reference book that already contains its fixed amount of content, the present invention's search capability contains only tables of contents whose items are linked to the contents of the Internet. Second, again unlike a printed reference book whose contents are determined by its authors, the present invention's search capability allows the individual user him or herself to determine what content to select from the Internet, and to select only what is uniquely relevant to that user at that time, and to decide whether to put the selected content in the present invention's collection capability, thus allowing the present invention's collection capability to be uniquely constructed to serve only that particular user's own specific needs and interests.

The present invention's search capability is referred to here as a Net Search Plan ("NSP"). The NSP is accessed by a user via the present invention's website. The NSP operates on the present invention's server at that website. A user interacts with an NSP via a graphical user interface referred to here as the Net Search Plan Page ("NSP page"). The present invention's content collection, organization and distribution capability is referred to here as a Live eBook™. The Live eBook is a software program available on the system server but typically installed as a separate application on the user's client computer. A user employs the Live eBook program to organize, integrate, store and distribute whatever resources the user may collect from the Internet in the process of conducting an NSP.

The combination of the present invention's search capability, the NSP, with its content collection, integration, storage and distribution capability, the Live eBook, together with the functionality that furnishes these capabilities, is, collectively, the Netmaster System ("the system").

An NSP is composed of a configuration of subject databases. There are five types of subject database, identified as A through E in the accompanying drawings, each of which brings a particular range of search capabilities to an NSP configuration. The variety of subject database functions enhances NSP flexibility in meeting user search needs and promotes the optimal integration of search results in a live eBook.

The most common type of subject database, as will be shown and described below, contains a hierarchy of its subject's contents, similar to the very detailed table of contents of a reference book having many subordinate levels of increasingly specific detail. This most common type of subject database organizes its subject's contents in categories and sub-categories and sub-sub-categories of increasing detail until the subject is exhausted. A plurality of these categories, sub-categories and sub- sub-categories are pre-defined search topics. Every search topic is linked to a plurality of pre- qualified search sites on the Internet.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, whatever the main subject of an NSP search may be, (for example "Travel"), the NSP user will typically start the uniquely personal search process by opening a database that elicits user-defined information (for example an "Itinerary") to focus the search process and that provides introductory explanations and instructions for the use of that particular NSP.

After completing the sequence in which the user's initial search objectives are identified and incorporated into the NSP, the user may then move freely between subject databases, selecting search topics and their search sites according to personal needs and preferences. The user will have obtained access to use of the system under conditions that permit the user to leave the NSP on the system server as a work in progress and to return to it at any time.

From subject database to subject database within an NSP, and from NSP to NSP regardless of its main subject, the basic format for user interface with the Internet, and with the system of the present invention, is always the same NSP page. The NSP page is divided into five frames, each of which employs a complement of functionalities for its assigned purposes. There are three vertical frames, left, middle and right, and two horizontal frames on top of the three vertical frames, as will be shown and discussed.

The left frame of the NSP page is the NSP's "control panel". It displays the clickable titles of the NSP's subject databases and provides access to glossaries and indexes as well as other clickable text and icons whose activation by the user operates the NSP. For example, the user opens the subject databases that constitute an NSP's content capability by selecting them from this left panel of the NSP page.

The middle frame of the NSP page is the user's "work space". When a user clicks open a subject database listed in the left frame of the NSP page, that subject database's contents hierarchy will be displayed in the middle frame of the NSP page where the user will expand the hierarchy's category, sub-category and sub-sub-category menus and scroll through them to find a desired search topic, and when the user selects and clicks on that search topic, the plurality of search sites to which that search topic is linked will also appear in the middle frame of the NSP page. The middle frame of the NSP page is also where the user can request information about a particular search site by clicking on a defined area of its displayed listing. A call-out will appear that defines and briefly describes the search site. A lengthier message about the site may also appear at the same time in the right frame of the NSP page. These messages enable the user to know what is available at each search site to meet the requirements of the chosen search topic and what the characteristics of each search site are in meeting those requirements.

It is from the middle frame of the NSP page that the user reaches the Internet by clicking on the LTRL of a search site being displayed in the middle frame. When the user clicks on a chosen search site to open it, the system server generates a search algorithm, if necessary, to find the required search site page, or displays navigation instructions, if necessary, to assist the user in finding the page manually so that the user never has to manipulate an unfamiliar search formula or learn any new search skill. When a search site opens, it overlays both the middle and the right frames of the NSP page and leaves only the left frame visible and available to the user.

The right frame of the NSP page is the user's "guide". It is a constant source of user support. The purpose of the right frame is to furnish the user with advice and guidance from the system provider in the form of a wide variety of prepared messages that support the user during every phase and aspect of the NSP process. Some of these messages explain how to use various features of the NSP. Other messages explain the differing functions and contents of the various subject databases within the NSP. But most of the user support messages provided by the system address specific search topics and specific search sites, providing advice, guidance and often detailed instructions to aid the user in understanding and navigating each search.

The right frame of the NSP page is also where selections from the public press may appear. Frequently the system provider will have found current or otherwise important information in any of innumerable online periodical or archival sources whose content the system, provider will have linked to an appropriate search topic or search site and will have thus made available to the user, if the user chooses to select it, when that search topic or search site appears in the middle frame of the NSP page.

The topmost horizontal frame of the NSP page is the location of the various system tool bar configurations, for which four purposes are predominant: one is to govern activity on the home page of the netmaster system's website; another is to provide navigation and other functionality for the

NSP; a third is to facilitate collection, transaction and interactivity functionality when the user it at a search sites; and the fourth is for use by NSP developers, as will be shown and discussed.

The lower horizontal frame of the NSP page is the location of database information when a user is working in an NSP and it is the location of navigation information when the user is working at an Internet search site.

A user will terminate the NSP process whenever in that user's judgment it has met that particular user's unique needs at that time. A user may resume that same NSP process whenever those needs change. A user may employ an NSP extensively without creating a Live eBook from its results, or a user may complete a substantial Live eBook from the resources found via an NSP. If a user does create a Live eBook out of NSP search results and store it on the user's computer hard drive or on the system server, the user may then return to the same NSP some time latter to revise the Live eBook.

The Live eBook software is available on the system server but, typically, it is accessed by the user from an application on the user's own computer. The Live eBook software is extensively integrated with the software of other venders, notably, by way of example, with office suites and similar applications that include Internet enabled word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software, audio- visual processing software, communications software, and the like. The functionality of these other vender applications is integral to the functioning of the Live eBook software. Because of such close integration of the Live eBook software with such other vender software any user in possession of, and familiar with, the functionality of such other vender software will be able to employ it via the Live eBook application to create a state-of-the art information product from the results of an NSP search. The user can open the Live eBook program at a number of stages within the NSP. In order to create a Live eBook the user will typically open the Live eBook application after the user has opened a search site and wishes to collect Internet content or to conduct an activity over the Internet that will be retained in the Live eBook. The Live eBook software provides a flexible, extensively structured process for collecting and organizing Internet content, and the results of Internet activities, that is closely related to the organization of the NSP process. The Live eBook's software provides a wide variety of formatted page templates which the user may employ to collect textual, graphic or audiovisual content, for example, and to retain such content in a Live eBook organized in any of a number of pre-arranged or modifiable ways. The same preformatted page templates permit the user to provide a Live eBook with materials from other than Internet sources, including text, graphics and audio- visual materials produced as original work by the user.

Like the NSP, the Live eBook software supports live interaction between individuals over the Internet and is capable of keeping time sensitive material up to date. The number and variety of NSP search titles that can be generated by the present invention is essentially limitless. The number and variety of search titles that are available from the system provider for use by individuals or organizations over time will be determined by public acceptance of the present invention and by demand for those search titles. By way of example only, many such titles might be included under each of the headings of Art & Entertainment; Automobile Acquisition & Maintenance; Beauty & Grooming; Career & Employment; Clothing & Fashion; Computers & Consumer Electronics; Education & Training; Financial Services & Management; Food, Drink & Nutrition; Gardens & Grounds; Health & Wellness; Home Acquisition & Maintenance; House ware & Furnishings; Parenting & Parent Care; Recreation & Entertainment; Sports & Fitness; Travel & Relocation; and so on. And then there is the realm of literary endeavor (professional or not), which may be supported by Internet resources via an NSP. The productive potential of the present invention is virtually infinite.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the components of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of the computing devices comprised by the components of the present invention.

FIG. 3 A is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention's modular subject database configuration. FIG. 3B is an illustration of one embodiment of the five types of modular subject database.

FIG. 3 C is an illustration of one embodiment of the interchangeability and interconnectability of the modular subject database.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a process for organizing one embodiment of a type A subject database structure into categories and various sub-categories of search topics.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process of qualifying search topics for linkage to search sites.

FIG. 4C is an illustration of one embodiment of a search topic program employed to qualify search topics for linkage to search sites. FIG. 5 A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process of qualifying search sites for linking to search topics.

FIG. 5B is an illustration of one embodiment of the search site profile program employed to qualify search sites for linking to search topics.

FIG. 5C is an illustration of one embodiment of a subject database's search topic hierarchy and its relationship to tables of search site showing one embodiment of how they are integrated by the system.

FIG. 5D is an illustration of the contents of the system server showing one embodiment of the components of the system database.

FIG. 5E is an illustration of one embodiment of the process of creating of creating an NSP. FIG. 5F is an illustration of one embodiment of the system's internal search method.

FIG. 5 G is an illustration of one embodiment of the system's method of enabling interpersonal communication.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process by which search algorithms and navigation instructions are created to facilitate user access to search sites. FIG. 6B is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the decision process of creating search algorithms.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process by which user support messages are created for a search site and informational articles are attached to a search site.

FIG. 7B is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the decision process of creating user support messages and attaching informational articles. FIG. 8 A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process by which subject databases are prepared to be interconnected.

FIG. 8B is a flow chart showing one embodiment of the decision process for determining subject database interconnections. FIG. 9A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the process by which subject databases are configured into an NSP.

FIG. 9B is an illustration of one embodiment of a configuration of NSP subject databases being displayed in the NSP page.

FIG. 10A is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a process by which an NSP page may be employed by the user.

FIG. 10B is an illustration showing one embodiment of an NSP page.

FIG. IOC is an illustration showing one embodiment of system tool bars.

FIG. 11 A is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a process of how a user might progress through the NSP process to find Internet content. FIG. 1 IB is a flow chart showing one embodiment of how a new user might obtain access to use of the system.

FIG. 11C is a flow chart showing one embodiment of how an advanced user might modify the system.

FIG. 12A is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a process of how a user might acquire Internet content in a Live eBook.

FIG. 12B is an illustration showing one embodiment of a sequence of actions on a Live eBook page.

FIG. 12C is an illustration and block diagram showing illustrative embodiments of how a user might create a Live eBook. FIG. 12D is a block diagram and illustration showing illustrative embodiments of how a user might distribute a Live eBook.

FIG. 12E is an illustration showing one embodiment of the Live-e-Book application database.

APPENDIX

FIG. A is a summary flow diagram of the essential events of the system process by which a user employs a Net Search Plan to produce a Live eBook. FIG. B is an summary illustration of some of the ways in which a Live eBook may be used and distributed.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, in one illustrative embodiment, the present invention may utilize components to enable one or more users of a selected data gathering system 11 participating in the inventive method to achieve the following:

1. conduct a series of subject-defined, or otherwise specified, searches of Internet resources;

2. obtain or acquire the desired results of those searches; 3. retain and maintain those results in a coherent format for personal or commercial use.

The user may access a central server 14 at its website 12 on a network 10, which, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, is the Internet. However, other connectivity, e.g., via a modem in a point-to-point connection or networks other than the Internet are within the contemplation of this invention.

The system 11 comprises one or more computing devices 18 for connecting users to the network 10. The users may be connected by means other than the network 10 including communication systems such as mail and telephone. The central server 14 is host to the inventional system's website 12 and executes the inventive programs, and manages data storage and retrieval for a database 16 where information of various sorts and on many different topics is stored.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the server 14 of the system 11 that implements the present invention is a dedicated website that is addressable at a given URL.

Additionally, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, software 13 of the system 11 enabling the collection, organization, integration and distribution of Internet 10 resources is resident on the participating computing devices 18.

Further, a plurality of computing devices 18 is able to connect throughout the network 10 to permit users to gain access to the server 14 and thereby participate in the activities leading to the search for and selection of or engagement with data, goods and services from the Internet 10 in a manners and by methods as will be described below. Referring now to FIG. 2, in one illustrative embodiment of this invention the computing devices that comprise the central server 14 and the user computing devices 18 may comprise a bus 30 which is connected directly to each of the following: 1. a central processing unit ("CPU") 32;

2. a memory 34;

3. a system clock 36;

4. a peripheral interface 38 ; 5. a video interface 40;

6. an input/output ("I/O") interface 42;

7. a communications interface 44; and

8. a multimedia interface 46. The common bus 30 is further connected 9. by video interface 40 to a display 50;

10. by the I/O interface 42 to a storage device 52, which may, illustratively, take the form of memory gates, disks, diskettes, compact disks ("CD")s, digital video disks ("DVD")s, etc.

11. by the multimedia interface 46 to any multimedia component 56; 12. by a peripheral interface 38 to peripherals 58 such as the keyboard, the mouse, navigational buttons, e.g., on a digital phone, a touch screen, and/or a writing screen on full size and/or hand held devices,

13. by the communications interface 44 e.g., a plurality of modems, to a network connection 60 e.g., an Internet Service Provider ("ISP"), and to other services, which is in turn connected to the network 10 whereby a data path is provided between the network 10 and other computing devices and, in particular, the common bus 30 of these computing devices; and

14. furthermore, by the communications interface 44 to a wired and/or wireless telephone system 54. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interaction between its user and the Internet's resources is conducted by the data gathering system 11 (FIG. 1) that includes the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) website 12 (FIG. 1) and the server 14 (FIG. 1). An individual who wishes to conduct a series of predetermined, subject-specific searches of Internet resources accesses the remote server 14 (FIG. 1) at the website 12 (FIG. 1) via the graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1). The individual then obtains access to the system 11 (FIG. 1), either on a per use basis or as a subscriber, and selects an NSP whose subject the user wishes to search on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) via search topics in the NSP that are linked to subject-related websites on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIG 3A, when the user selects an NSP search subject the server 14 (FIG. 1) generates the series of subject databases shown in one basic version 100 that constitute that NSP. The system's 11 (FIG. 1) subject databases 100 are the building blocks of any of its NSP titles. They define the contents and organization of the title. For example, the organization of an NSP may be thought of as a book that is divided into chapters that, in an NSP, are its subject databases 100. In that example, each subject database 100 would define the content and organization of a particular chapter and the total of the subject databases in an NSP would define the content and organization of that NSP title.

The entire array of integrated subject databases 100 in an NSP enables the user to go from subject database to search database within that NSP to conduct the search process and to find the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources or engage in the activities that are called for or enabled by the NSP.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention the subject database 100 is the fundamental building block and essential structural feature of the system 11 (FIG. 1) but the system

11 (FIG. 1) imposes a new functionality upon of a database such that a completed subject databases

100 of the system 11 (FIG. 1) will contain not the subject matter itself but only the programmed capability to acquire that subject matter from the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and/or other resources. This programmed data location capability of system 11 (FIG. 1) subject databases 100 comprises the principal means by which one or more users of the user computing devices 18 (FIG. 1) with access to the server 14 (FIG. 1) at the website 12 (FIG. 1) of the present invention can obtain pre-identified resources of the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) by eliciting the system's server 14 (FIG. 1) to generate from its database 16 (FIG. 1) any one of many previously prepared combinations of such interconnected subject databases 100 and by searching that combination of databases for the predetermined topics that are linked to those pre-identified resources.

Such capability of a subject database 100 to locate electronic or other files, data or information in any medium available on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) is programmed into the subject database's content hierarchy 110 which is an organizational structure whose topical entry items depend from a main or high level subject 111 and descend through topical categories 112 to topical sub-categories 113 and topical sub-sub-categories 114 of that main subject 111 thereby breaking down the main subject 111 in increasingly narrow topical increments and ever finer topical detail as may be necessary to completely identify and name every content topic subsumed under that main subject. Variations on this method of creating subject databases 100 programmed with the capacity to locate various kinds of data, goods or services on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) or elsewhere or to obtain or provide various types of functionality from or over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) or to perform various tasks via the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) by electronic or other means are shown in FIG. 3B. Referring now to FIG. 3B, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention there are five primary types of subject database: types 100A through 100E.

The type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) is employed by the system 11 to provide "encyclopedic" coverage of a particular subordinate subject 111 (FIG. 3 A) to be found under the main subject title of an NSP just as a chapter may be a subordinate subject to be found under the title of a book. For example, "Transportation" might be a subordinate subject database 100 within the main NSP search subject title of "Travel". Thus, where an NSP search title might be "Travel", the organizational structure of a subordinate type A subject database's content hierarchy 110A might illustratively be "Transportation", and a topical main category 112 (FIG. 3B) in that subject database's content hierarchy might be "By Air" and a topical sub-category 113 (FIG. 3B) might be "Airlines" and a topical sub-sub-category 114 (FIG. 3B) might be "Singapore Airlines" .

A type B subject database 100B (FIG. 3B) is employed by the system 11 to provide any of a given type of software application 115, as well as a plurality of similar alternative software applications 116, and includes a content hierarchy HOB that lists the one particular type of software application 115 and the choice of alternative applications 116. For example, the particular type of software application 115 provided by a type B subject database 100B might be used for recording expenses or for scheduling appointments and might be useful in a given NSP. The type B subject database might offer proprietary software applications developed for NSP use by system 11 engineers or it might incorporate other vendor's software applications, which might originate on the Internet 10 or be installed on the server 14 of the system 11 or elsewhere for access by the server 14 and may be licensed to, or marketed through and delivered by the system 11 to the user's computer devices 18 via type B subject databases 100B.

A type C subject database 100C (FIG. 3B) is employed by the system 11 to provide "encyclopedic" coverage of the opportunities on the Internet 10 for a particular behavior that a user may wish to engage in during the conduct of an NSP, or independently of an NSP, regardless of whether the behavior is specifically related to the subject matter of the user's NSP. Such behavior might be, by way of example but not limitation, shopping 117, or collecting 118, or monitoring an interest 119, or posting the continuous transmission of a request for data, goods or services obtainable via the Internet 10 with particulars and specific terms and conditions of the request 120. Type C subject databases 100C are essentially identical in architecture and functionality with type A topic folders and differ only in content and user purpose.

A type D subject database 100D (FIG. 3B) offers a variety of options 122 of a service 121 such as, by way of example but not limitation, the custom design of subject databases for scholarly or commercial research or the presentation of development tools for NSP developers.

A type E subject database 100E (FIG. 3B) is a catalog 123 that can be employed for the management of an inventory or the organization of a plurality of items 124. Such items might, for example, comprise a bibliography or other cataloged collection of data or they might comprise an organized collection or a compendium of instructions and such a catalog 123 might be created by the user to support or supplement the main NSP search subject or a subordinate search subject within a given NSP.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, another functionality of the subject database methodology of the present invention is the interoperability of subject databases 100 of all types with each other as shown here and more fully described in FIGS. 8 A and B below. Subject databases 100 are modular and capable of being rearranged and interconnected in a wide variety of configurations in response to a given search subject's requirements, as shown in 904 (FIG. 11A), or in response to the user's preferences, as shown in 904A (FIG. 11C). The modularity of the programmed subject database methodology of the present invention, combined with the wide range of subject database functionality, ensures the present invention's flexibility in adapting NSP capability to the needs and purposes of Internet users such that there can always be some combination of subject databases 100 that can be configured to optimize any search objective or other activity of any individual accessing the Internet 10 for any purpose that can benefit from assistance from the capabilities of the system 11.

Referring now to FIG 4A, a process 199 is described for determining the composition of a programmed type A subject database (FIG. 3A) in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now because it may be representative of typical user experience with this preferred embodiment of the present invention.

When a type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3 A) is first opened by a user at a computing device 18 (FIG. 1) via the graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) it contains nothing except the capacity to find and deliver the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources that are linked to search topics in the subject database's 100 A topical content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B). That topical content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) consists only of the names of the search topics that have been organized into the categories and sub-categories and sub-sub-categories of the type A database's 100A (FIG. 3B) subordinate subject matter. Those search topic names, and their organization into the subject database's 100 A content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) are arrived at by a process 199 of extensive research and decision-making, as follows.

In step 200, the entire subject of an NSP is decided upon by subject experts and, in the process 199 of their researching the contents of the NSP, all of its subordinate subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) are named.

In step 210, the construction of a type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) begins with a methodical and exhaustive examination of the component contents of the intended database's identified subject as they may be found in the most extensive data sources available online, or in print and/or obtainable from expert informants in order to insure that this type A subject database's 100 A (FIG. 3B) coverage of its subject is the broadest and most detailed account possible commensurate, for example, with the widest range of interests and needs to be found among average, non-expert consumers of that subject.

In step 220, subject experts, relying on principals of logic, convenience and subject area tradition, organize the totality of the type A subject database's 100A (FIG. 3B) component topics into a content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) thereby creating categories 112 (FIG. 3B), sub-categories 113 (FIG. 3B) and sub-sub-categories 114 (FIG. 3B) of topics so that when completed the content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) contains every detail of the subject database's subject mater organized alphabetically. Thereafter, subject experts regularly maintain the subject database's content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) and regularly examine and revise its contents for currency and accuracy of coverage. In step 230, every entry item in the completed content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) of the type

A subject database 110A (FIG. 3B) is examined by subject experts to determine whether it will be designated an NSP search topic to be linked to search sites on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

In step 240, each content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) entry item that has been identified as a search topic is further identified by the data, goods or services that may be found on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) or via the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) for linkage to that item and the data, goods and services that will be linked to the identified search topics are examined for the type and variety of Internet 10 (FIG.

1) resources that are known, or may be discovered, to provide them.

In step 250, the completed content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) of the type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) is programmed, together with qualifying information about the linkage of its search topics to search sites on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1), and that program is stored in the table of subject databases 630 (FIG. 5D) in the system database 16 (FIG. 5D).

Referring now to FIG. 4B and in greater detail to the process of profiling search topics as descried above in step 240 (FIG 4A). In step 240 A, system 11 (FIG. 1) personnel identify the data, goods and services available on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) that meet the content requirements of every entry item in the content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) of the type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) that has been designated a search topic.

5 In step 240B, the types of Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources that provide such data goods or services are identified whether or not those resources are identified with the search topic by name or, instead, contain relevant data that is not so identified and information about those resources is added to the profile program 335 of the system 11 (FIG. 1) Database 16 (FIG. 5D) of the search topic, as will be more fully described in FIG. 4C below.

10 In step 240C, the search topic profile, together with the identification of the plurality of types of search site that meet that search topic's information needs, is entered into the table of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 1).

In step 240D, any particular search technique or method of accessing the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) that the preceding analyses revealed that a search topic might require in order to find its intended 15 Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources is also added to the search topic's profile 270 (FIG 4C) by the profiling program 335 of the database 16 (FIG. 5D) and stored in the table of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D). It is a feature of the current invention's search topic profiling method that search topics are identified by the type of technique that must be employed to gain access to the search site or search sites that contain data relevant to the search topic.

20 Referring now to FIG. 4C, the illustrative search topic profile 270 supports the search topic profiling program 335 (FIG. 5D0) and is used to collect, by way of example but not limitation, 1) information concerning types of Internet 10 resources that meet search topic requirements for a given NSP, which are processes of profiling search topics collected in a types file 270A; 2) keywords associated with the search topic, which are collected in a keyword file 270B; and 3) an evaluation of

25 the search topic's information needs, which is entered in a commentary file 270C, when appropriate, by the search topic profiler. This information is maintained in the tables of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D)..

The search topic profiling method and technology 335 (FIG. 5D) of the present invention may be automated, semi-automated or manual and it may be employed over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1), 3.0 by individuals with computing devices 18 (FIG. 1), where it may be accessed via the website 12 (FIG. 1) on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) or may be employed by other electronic or nonelectronic means for the purpose of furnishing search topic information.

Referring now to FIG. 5 A, and a process 299 of identifying and qualifying search sites. This process is conducted simultaneously with and in parallel to the profiling 335 (FIG. 5D) of search topics and it employs the same profiling program 335 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) that is a used in another version for search topic profiling 720 (FIG. 4C).

In step 300, research into an NSP subject's available resources on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) or elsewhere begins with a process 299 of methodically and exhaustively searching all available media, both electronic and print, for the location of and information about any resource with content relevant to an NSP's main subject. Surveys of potential search sites with relevant subject content are conducted electronically and manually, and may include the employment of aggregating methods or technologies available on the Internet 10. Such search site research is carried out continuously for all existing NSP's in order to maintain the currency, accuracy and quality of the search sites linked to the NSP's search topics.

In step 310, subject experts select search sites on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and from other resources by a screening process that imposes such criteria as, for example, assessments of content quality, relevance and utility; site stability; site accessibility; business methods, and such other concerns as permit the clear identification of a source's appropriateness for linkage to NSP search topics as a search site.

The search site meeting these and similar criteria in the opinion of subject experts is then entered into a search site profiling database 310A (FIG. 5B), in a programmed process 335 (FIG. 5D) that breaks the search site's characteristics down either manually or by a browser or both into the metadata fields 310B (FIG. 5B) of the profiling database 310A FIG. 5B). In step 320, subject experts compare search site profile files 310A (FIG. 5B) to search topic requirements recorded in search topic profiles 270 (FIG. 4C) to access optimal methods of linkage.

In step 330, the subject experts identify the profiled search sites by the methods or technology required to access them and create the optimal link between search topic and search sites. That information is stored in the search site profiles 310A (FIG. 5B) in the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 340, the linkage between profiled search topics and profiled search sites, as recorded in the tables of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) and the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) is continuously tested by "spider" programs on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to insure that good links are maintained and thaffailed links are repaired or removed.

At this completed stage in the inclusion of search topics and their linked search sites in an NSP a profiled search topic will have the programmed functionality to access the content it requires at any and all of the profiled search sites to which it is linked, requiring only that a user click on the search topic name.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, the search site profiling database 310A contains a table of metadata fields 31 OB which is populated with data obtained manually from an informant or automatically by means of a data source such as a browser and the data is used for a variety of functions in the NSP process. For each search site that qualifies for linkage to a search topic, by way of example but not limitation, the profiling database 310A receives and stores for continuous upgrading in its table of metadata fields 310B: 1) identification data, such as universal resource locator address (URL) and paths 310E and name and proprietor fields 30 IF, which are required for an adequate knowledge of the search site; 2) content data that includes content fields 310G, which specify the data to be found at the search site and are essential for linking the search site to search topics; internal self-description fields 31 OH which are text obtained verbatim from the site and are used in support messages to describe the site, and external description fields 3101 which are obtained from the public press or created by expert informants and are used to develop support messages and make linking decisions; 3) evaluation data, such as evaluation fields 310J, which include commercial and other rankings and rating of the search site and online or print reviews and critiques of the search site which are used to qualify the search site for linkage to a search topic and to prepare support messages about the search site; 4) use history fields 31 OK, which maintain a records of the ways in which the search site is or has been employed in NSPs and is useful in determining additional or improved uses of the search site; 5) accessibility characteristics, such as search navigation algorithm fields 310L, which record the written instructions and/or programming codes devised for accessing search topic data at the search site and other information pertinent to linking search topics to data at the search site; 6) management data, such as maintenance criteria fields 310M, which contain information from the search site and about the search site regarding how frequently and in what ways its content changes and which is important to maintaining up-to-date links to the search site; 7) support message fields 3 ION, that collect a record of all support messages devised for and used at the search site or in subject databases 100 (FIG 3 A) in relation to the search site and that are important to maintaining accurate information about, and guidance concerning, the search site; 8) article fields 310O, which identify items from the public press that describe and explain or evaluate the search site: and 9) business relationship fields 31 OP, which itemize in detail the commercial or other relations owners of the search site or other parties interested in the search site have had with NSP operations.

The search site profiling database 310A also contains a table of keyword fields 310C, which is populated with data obtained manually from an informant or automatically by means of a data source such as a browser, and the data is used for a variety of functions in the NSP process. For each search site that qualifies for linkage to a search topic, by way of example but not limitation, the profiling database 310A receives and stores for continuous upgrading in its table of keyword fields 3 IOC: 1) keywords that qualify search topics, making it possible to match them more precisely to search sites or to find them more easily in NSP indexes; 2) keywords that qualify NSP main subject content, location or functionality, making it possible for match such considerations to search topics or to find such qualified search topics more easily in NSP indexes; and 3) keywords that qualify user needs and interest with respect to an NSP's main subject, making it possible to match such concerns to search topics or to find such qualified search topics more easily in NSP indexes.

A search site profile entry 310 A is maintained for each search site as an active file in the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) and is regularly updated with more information or with revised information about its site as such information becomes available.

These tables 330 (FIG. 5D) of the search site profiles may be constructed by system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers or compiled from institutional resources or by other means and may be programmed so that the data may be collected electronically by a proprietary adaptation of browser technology or it may be gathered manually for data entry to the database 16 (FIG. 5D) of the present invention by individuals with computing devices 18 (FIG. 1) and access over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) via the system's 11 (FIG. 1) website 12 (FIG. 1) to the system's server 14 (FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIG 5C, the linkages between search topics and search sites in an NSP rely for their construction both on the search topic profile data 330, which is indexed and stored in a search topic index 330A (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) and on the search site profile data 340 which is indexed and stored in a search site index 340A (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) in order to activate the search and retrieval capabilities of NSP subject databases 100 (FIG 3A), illustratively in the case of type A and C subject databases 100A (FIG. 3B) and 100C (FIG. 3B). By way of example in one embodiment of the present invention, an NSP user at a computing device 18 (FIG. 1) will access a type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) via the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG 1) and obtain via the type A subject database's content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3B) a display of the search topics whose profiles are stored in tables 330 (5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D). The user will select a search topic and the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) will read that search topic's profile 270 (FIG. 4C) in the tables of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) and, in this example, the server 14 (FIG. 1) will find in the keyword table 270B (FIG. 4C) of that profile 270 (FIG. 4C) a keyword that links that search topic to a plurality of search sites. When the user clicks on the search topic, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) will display one or more groups of search sites whose profiles 310A (FIG. 5B) contain in their keyword tables 3 IOC (FIG. 5B) the identical keyword found in the search topic's profile 270B (FIG. 4C), thereby insuring that when clicked on during a user's conduct of an NSP a search topic will always generate a plurality of appropriately associated search sites. Referring now to FIG 5D, the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 contains the components of the system 11 (FIG. 1) from which programs in the server 14 (FIG. 1) retrieve and generate configurations of subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) that are accessed via the subject database index 650 to the table of modular subject databases 630 and that are interconnected for a given NSP by data contained in the master inventory of subject database contents, operations and interconnections 640, whose contents are alternatively accessible to system 11 (FIG. 1) inquiry via tables 350B of NSP indexes. The system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 furnishes the subject databases 100 (FIG. 3A) in such configurations with search topics via a search topic index 330A to a search topic table 330 which links each search topic to its plurality of search sites via a search site index 340A to a search site table 340 by matching, for example, identical keywords found both in the search topic and in the search sites, and those search topics are displayed, according to the subject database's subject matter in content hierarchies 110 (FIG. 3A).

As more fully explained in FIG. 6A below, the required content to be found on any selected search site is provided, as may be necessary, with easy user access by search algorithm programs and/or navigation instructions from a database 440 of search algorithms and navigation instructions which are executed when necessary to ensure that users will find the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content that each search topic is linked to at each search site. As more fully explained in FIG. 7 A below the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 also contains tables of message files for each NSP that are accessed via an index of message files 540A and tables of article files 570 for each NSP that are accessed via an index 570A of article files. Referring now to FIG. 5E, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described here, an index 350 is created for every NSP maintained by the system 11(FIG. 1). All of the search topics in an NSP's entire configuration of subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) are collected via their search topic indexes 330A (FIG. 5D) from their tables of search topic profiles 330 (FIG. 5D) and their profiles 270 (FIG. 4C) are reviewed for those of their descriptors 270A (FIG. 4C) and keywords 270B (FIG. 4C) that, in the judgment of subject experts, belong in an index entry 350A in the NSP index as an aid to the NSP user.

Similarly, all of the search sites with linkages to search topics in an NSP's entire configuration of subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) are collected via their search site indexes 340A (FIG. 5D) from their tables of search sites 340 (FIG. 5D) and their profiles 310A (FIG. 5B) are reviewed for those of their descriptors 310B (FIG. 5B) and keywords 3 IOC (FIG. 5B) that, in the judgment of subject experts, belong in an index entry 350A in the NSP index as an aid to the NSP user.

Referring now to FIG. 5F, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described here the NSP contains an internal search engine 360 whose functionality may be visualized as a cube, which is the form that provides the visual image for the NSP search engine's graphical interface 360A, and, to reinforce user recognition, supports the descriptive name "QuickCube" given it when it appears in the graphical user interface 12A of the system 11 (FIG. 1).

In every NSP of the type currently being described, the NSP search engine 360 has, by way of example but not limitation, at least two uses. In one use, as illustrated in FIG. 5F, the NSP search engine 360 is a device for searching the NSP indexes 350 (FIG. 5E). In another use, as illustrated and further discussed in FIG. 5G, the NSP search engine 360 is a device that facilitates communication between an NSP user and a live expert in the NSP's subject matter.

As an index device, the NSP search engine 360 permits a multiple term search of the NSP indexes 350 (FIG. 5E) by presenting the NSP user with a cubiform graphical user interface (the "QuickCube") each of whose three visible faces permits the entry into the search engine of a search term selected from a separate and distinct group of search terms.

In the embodiment of the present invention being described here, the first group of such search terms 360B is invariably taken from the content hierarchies 110 (FIG. 3A) contained in the NSP's subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) whose terms may be selected electronically by the user from the search terms database 110A-E and clicked into the search topic face of the graphical user interface 360A of the NSP search engine.

By way of example but not limitation, the second group of search terms 360C might be terms relating to features or determining characteristics of the NSP's main subject which have defining value for the NSP user when combined with certain search topics as search terms. Terms from this second group of search terms 360C may be selected electronically by the user from the database 360E and clicked into the second search term face of the graphical user interface 360 A of the NSP search engine.

By way of example but not limitation the third group of search terms 360D might be terms that identify the personal needs and interests of the user in relation to the subject matter of the NSP. Such terms may be selected electronically by the user from the database 360F and clicked into the third search term face of the graphical user interface 360A of the NSP search engine. When the user has made the desired selection of search terms and has entered them into the NSP search engine, the user can then click on a search instruction that causes the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to conduct a double or triple term search of the system 11(FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 1) that yields only those index entries 350A for that NSP that match all of the search terms used to find them.

Referring now to Fig. 5G and the use of the NSP search engine 360 as a communication device, the graphical user interface 360A (FIG. 5F) is employed as a data input vehicle 370C by which an NSP user 370A may identify needs for personal assistance to a subject expert 370B and a subject expert 370B may exhibit the competence to meet those needs.

The NSP user 370A employing a user computing device 18 (FIG. 1) accesses the NSP tool bar 720B (FIG. IOC), as more fully discussed in FIG IOC below, via the NSP graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1) and selects the "My [Subject] Agent" command 720B3 (FIG. IOC) on that tool bar 720B (FIG. 10C) and then selects access to the interpersonal profiles directory 370 from among the options that the command 720B3 (FIG. 10C) displays. Thereupon the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays the NSP search engine 360 (FIG. 5F) graphical user interface 360 A (FIG. 5F) for use as a data input vehicle 370C. The user 370A may then follow the same procedures as explained for FIG 5F to select and enter, for example, search topic terms plus NSP subject characteristics terms plus personal needs and interests terms into the graphical user interface 360 A of the NSP search engine 360 thereby creating a profile 370F of personal needs for expert assistance to be stored via the data input device 370C in the NSP interpersonal profiles directory database 370G.

The NSP subject expert 370B employing a user computing device 18 (FIG. 1) accesses the system 11(FIG. 1) server 14(FIG. 1) via the website 12 (FIG. 1) and exercises assigned access to the "Templates" command 7203 (FIG. 10C) on the NSP tool bar 720D (FIG. 10C), as more fully explained in FIG 10C below, and selects the NSP data input device 370C from among the options that command displays. Thereupon the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays the NSP search engine 360 graphical user interface 360A for use as the data input vehicle 370C. The subject expert 370B may then follow the same procedures as explained in FIG 5F above to select and enter, for example, search topic terms plus NSP subject characteristics terms plus customer needs and interests terms into the graphical user interface 360A of the NSP search engine 360 thereby creating a personal profile 370E of the expert's 370B expertise to be stored via the data input device 370C in the NSP interpersonal profiles directory database 370G.

By employing functionality of the NSP available at the NSP tool bar 720B (FIG. 10C) "My [Subject] Agent" command 720B3 (FIG. 10C), the user 370A may search the NSP interpersonal profiles directory database 370G for the personal profiles 370E of experts 370B whose specialized knowledge and experience best matches 370D the needs profile 370F of the user 370A.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a process 399 develops any program, as mentioned above, needed for the algorithm or set of navigation instructions employed by the selected data gathering system 11 (FIG. 1) to facilitate the linkage of a search topic with a search site for the purpose of making search site content readily accessible. Such a program created for the purpose of linking a search topic to specific search site data at a specific location on the search site may be either a search algorithm that gains access to the desired search site location automatically or a set of navigation instructions that provide the user with the guidance to access that desired location manually.

In step 400, creation of the search algorithms or navigation instructions programmed into the search site link is based on an assessment made by NSP editorial personnel and system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers to determine the accessibility of each chosen search site to the average unskilled user via a computing device 18 (FIG. 1). Such analysis relies on the search site's profile 310A (FIG. 5B) in the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 410, the search site's profile 310A (FIG. 5B) is examined to determine ease of use and the reliable availability of desired content. System 11 (FIG. 1) engineers test that data and perform a simple access procedure by going on line to the search site in question.

In step 420, the system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers determine, with the aid of representative intended users or their equivalent, whether a search algorithm or a set of navigation instructions is necessary.

In step 430, if a search algorithm or a set of navigation instructions are deemed to be necessary, system engineers or editorial personnel write a dedicated program or set of instructions whose purpose is to actuate the link between a search topic and the desired content at this search site with no more effort on the user's part than to click on the search topic when it appears in a subject database content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3 A) and, if necessary, click at indicated places on the site. For example, such a search algorithm, which enables direct access to data resources on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1), or such a set of navigation instructions which lead manually to the same resources, might incorporate a precise combination of words and/or numbers unique to the imprecise navigational search formulae of a given Internet data source and might so configure that precise combination of words and/or numbers as to cause a specific item of data within that data source to be located instantly.

In step 440, the completed search algorithm or set of navigation instructions is stored as part of the link of search topics to the search site in the database 16 (FIG. 5D). With further reference to FIG 6A it is an important objective of the current embodiment of the present invention that search topic content at search sites on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) or elsewhere will be linked by an NSP to a search topic in such a way that the average unskilled user will invariably gain direct access to that search topic content simply by clicking on the search topic where it appears in the content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3 A) of a subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A) in the NSP. Some Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources, especially commercial websites seeking to attract customers, meet the present invention's one-click standard of accessibility, but many valuable Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources do not. In the case of all Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources whose desired content is not readily accessible by a single click, however, there is always some sort of search strategy that can be devised to arrive at that desirable but difficult-to-access content. It is a primary objective of the present invention to develop such search strategies for any difficult-to-access Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resource containing desirable search topic content and to transform those search strategies into search algorithms or navigation instructions that link such search sites to NSP search topics so that the site's desired content becomes available to the NSP user in a single or only a few clicks. Referring now to FIG. 6B, the process step 420 (FIG. 6A) for determining that a search algorithm or set of navigations instructions is necessary will now be described in greater detail.

In step 420A system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers examine the search topic and determine whether the search site it is linked to is accessible to the NSP user without requiring any special user skills.

In step 420B, the engineers decide that special skills are not required. In step 420C, the engineers decide that a user can access the desired search topic content on this search site with the aid of only support messages. If providing support messages is sufficient aid to the user at this search site then step 420C terminates the process 420 (FIG. 6A).

In step 420D, the system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers, having decided in step 420 A that a search algorithm or set of navigation instructions is required, identify the special action required to search the site, for instance the construction of a sequence of Boolean operators.

In step 420E, that special path requirement is analyses.

In step 420F, system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers decide whether that path can be programmed in an algorithm.

In step 420G, the engineers decide whether that path can be reliably provided in a set of manually clickable navigation steps. If not, then this search site is dropped from inclusion in the NSP.

In step 430A, the system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers decide that the required path can be provided and they either write it in an algorithm or describe it in clickable navigation instructions.

In step 430B, the provided path is tested.

In step 430C, the system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers make whatever revisions to the path may be necessary. In step 440A, the provided path is integrated with the search topic's link to the search site and then stored in the search site's profile 310A (FIG. 5B) in the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D).

Referring now to FIG 7A, communications provided by the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to the user via the graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1) at the website 12 (FIG. 1) that support the user's use of a system 11 (FIG. 1) NSP are called support messages. Any communications provided to the user from a source other than the system 11 (FIG. 1) are called information articles. A decision making process 499 for determining whether a support message is necessary or may be otherwise worthwhile in the case of a particular search topic or search site in a given NSP is shown in FIG. 7A together with a parallel process of determining whether to provide information articles.

In step 500, content experts analyze a search topic or search site to determine whether a user might need or benefit from additional information relating that search topic's or search site's meaning or content. Such analyses might be comparable, for example, to the focus panel process or to similar consumer research in which a representative sample of intended users reports experiences with a product.

In step 510, editorial and technical personnel conduct discussions to evaluate the meaning or content of that search topic or search site to determine if an ordinary user might require or could benefit from some form of assistance in understanding or using that search topic or search site.

In step 520, system 11 (FIG. 1) researchers, writers and editors decide to provide support messages containing an appropriate amount of instructive, supportive or otherwise informative content, whether created by them or acquired from other sources.

In step 530, system 11 (FIG. 1) programmers write the code necessary to call upon those messages at the right time in a user's employment of the search topic or exploration of the search site and to place the messages in the right sequence and location on the NSP page in relation to the search topic or search site.

In step 580, the support messages are integrated with the profile 270 (FIG. 4C) or 310 (FIG. 5B) of the search topic or search site in question and stored in the tables of message files 540 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 550, simultaneously with the above-described process for creating support messages, system 11 (FIG. 1) researchers, writers and editors determine the availability of information from online newspapers, magazines and other publications or from digitized books or other electronic sources that is about the search topic or search site under consideration and that might be of particular value to the NSP user in understanding the meaning or content of the particular search topic or search site.

In step 560, appropriate articles are discovered, obtained and formatted to appear in an NSP with the search topic or search site in question. In step 570, the formatted articles are programmed to be available to the user at appropriate points in the NSP.

In step 580, the information articles are integrated with the profile 270 (FIG. 4C) or 310 (FIG. 5B) of the search topic or search site in question and stored in the tables of article files 570 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D). By the same process 499 as just described above, support messages may be created for and employed at any level of the present invention. At the introductory level of the system 11 (FIG. 1) itself, support messages explain the system 11 (FIG. 1) and guide the user's access to it via a computing device 18 (FIG. 1). At any level of an NSP, support messages clarify the NSP process and facilitate a user's management of it. At any level of a given NSP subject database 100 (FIG. 3A), support messages explain its contents and guide the user's exploitation of them.

In the case of information articles associated with subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A), the user support methodology of the present invention may supply information from the public press that supports the user's process of evaluating and selecting a search topic or of evaluating and selecting a search site. It is a unique feature of the present invention's user support methodology to provide edited or verbatim descriptions, explanations or critiques of a given search topic or search site obtained from current or recent electronic or print publications and to juxtapose them with the appearance of that search topic or search site when its name appears on the NSP page 12A (FIGS. 9B and 10B).

Illustratively, a user might click on a search site name, for example, "Oanda", which might appear in a plurality of search sites when the user clicks on the search topic "Currency Exchange Rates" which might appear in a subject database content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3A). The present invention's user support methodology might thereupon produce an information article about "Oanda" or "Currency Exchange Rates" in any or a variety of media and formats. For example, such an information article might comprise a verbatim or edited reproduction of a newspaper article, perhaps together with its accompanying graphics. This reproduced newspaper article might be a description or critique of the search site or search topic in question that appeared originally in an issue of, for example only, The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal.

Through this application of the present invention's user support methodology a user can have instant access to valuable information -descriptions and evaluations of a search site, for instance- simultaneously with online access to the search site itself, and such valuable information can be provided from any of innumerable respected publications upon whom, just at that moment and particularly under those circumstances, the user may wish to rely in evaluating a choice.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, the decision making process 510 (FIG. 7A) for determining the need or beneficial opportunity for a support message is now described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 7B.

In step 510A , system 11 (FIG. 1) researchers, writers and editors decide to create support messages for a search site and upload from the search site's profile 310A (FIG. 5B) in the tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D) a list of every item of the search site's content and operations relating to the search topic to which it is linked. In step 510B subject content experts and Internet 10 (FIG. 1) site navigation experts itemize the site content for which a user support message might be required or prove beneficial to the user.

In step 510C, these same experts determine whether the user will benefit from a support message or sequence of support messages for a given item in the profile 310A (FIG. 5B).

In step 510D, the content experts determine that a such support message should be provided, either created for the purpose or obtained from a pre-existing source of appropriate material, and editorial and technology personnel prepare the support message and program it to appear in the NSP.

In step 510E, the same editorial and technology personnel determine whether more than one such support message is required.

In step 51 OF the editors and engineers determine the multiple message sequence and create and program them to appear in the NSP.

In step 510G system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers test the support messages and the sequence of their automatic appearance during the user's process of exploiting the search site. The completed support messages and support message sequences are the stored in the tables of message files 540 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D). Referring now to FIG. 8A, a method 599 of integration that assures the interoperability of subject databases 100 (FIG. 3A) as illustrated in FIG. 3C, is now described with respect to FIG. 8A.

In step 600, system 11 (FIG. 1) personnel prepare an inventory describing each item of the contents and operations of any type of subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) when its composition is completed. The inventory contains every separable aspect of the subject database's content and functionality.

In step 610, system 11 (FIG. 1) personnel examine this inventory to identify those aspects of the subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A) that can and should be linked to other subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) to promote the interoperability of, or flow of information between, one subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) in an NSP and others in the NSP, thereby enabling the flexibility of an NSP's subject database configuration and enhancing the exchange of information between them.

In step 620, system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers program those inter-connections between subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) within an NSP or between NSPs. By way of example but not limitation, the purchase of a security made at a search site accessed from a search topic in the type A subject database 100A (FIG. 3B) of a given NSP might require or suggest the connection of the price of that security with a type B subject database 100B (FIG. 3B) containing the user's choice of financial modeling software and, similarly, the date of that security's maturation might require or suggest the connection with another type B subject database 100B (FIG. 3B) containing the user's choice calendar software.

In step 630, after the appropriate aspects of subject database 100 (FIG 3A) interoperability are programmed, a record of them is kept in the tables of subject databases 630 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 database 16 (FIG 5.D). In step 640, an entry for each such item is made in the index of subject databases 640 in the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 650, the connectivity programs are stored in the master inventory 640 (FIG. 5D) of subject database contents, operations and interconnections in the system 11 database 16 (FIG 5D). Database programs recognizing all of this data make it possible for the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to generate a virtually limitless variety of subject database combinations and NSP configurations in order for system 11 personnel to create new NPS search titles and in order for the system 11 administration to allow authorized advanced users to create new NSP search titles.

Referring now to FIG 8B, the decision making process 610 (FIG. 8 A) of determining connectivity from the itemized inventory of a completed subject database's content and functionality, as first illustrated in FIG. 3C and then described above in FIG. 8A, is now explained in detail with respect to FIG. 8B.

In step 610A, content experts and system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers determine the probably utility of connecting any separable aspect of a subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) with other subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) by matching inventory lists of subject database contents. In step 610B, the content experts and system 11 (Fig. 1) engineers make lists of the likely connectability of a given subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) feature to other subject databases 100 (FIG. 3A) and determine whether that feature can be connected to other subject databases either automatically or manually at the user's election. In particular the subject experts identify the search results obtained by that feature of a subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) of a given NSP which can be made more useful or meaningful to the user by their inclusion in one or more other subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A), for instance, as illustrated above, by sending the valuation of a security purchased through the functionality of one subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A) in an NSP to the financial modeling software in another subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A) of the same NSP and by sending the dates and times of that security's dividend payments or maturation to a calendar in yet another subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) in the same NSP.

In step 610C, system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers determine a method of transmitting the search results of that feature from the originating subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) into the other subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B), which may involve either automated or manually made connections between the subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B).

In step 610G, where the connection is to be made manually, system 11 (FIG. 1) personnel determine whether support messages exist in the tables of message files 540 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) to aid the user in masking the connection.

In step 61 OH, needed support messages are created, as explained more fully in FIG. 7A above.

In step 6101, the new support messages are indexed in the message file index 540 A of the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D) and stored, together with the programming for their display, in the table of message files 540 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 610D, following a determination in step 610C that the connection can be made automatically, system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers determine whether a program exists with the capability to interconnect this feature with other appropriate subject databases 100 (FIG. 3A).

In step 610E, If such a program does not exist, system 11 (FIG. 1) engineers analyses the search results to be transferred, together with the location and functionality of those subject databases to which the feature's results are to be transferred, and then write the program to make the transfer. In step 61 OF, that connectivity program is stored in association with both the originating and the destination subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) in the master inventory of subject database contents, operations and connections 650 (FIG. 5D) of the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D).

Referring now to FIG. 9 A, there is shown a method 699 of facilitating the use of subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) to achieve the interoperability and interconnectivity of this invention. In step 700, subject experts compose, and system 11(FIG. 1) engineers program, combinations of subject databases 100A-E (FIG 3B) to enable complete searches for specific subjects in data sources on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and to comprise subject-specific NSPs that can be selected by users of the system 11 (FIG. 1) as search titles for that purpose. In step 710, such NSP configuration programs are recorded by their search titles in the index of the file of subject databases 640 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D).

In step 720, the indexed NSP titles are made available to system 11 (FIG. 1) users in an alphabetical listing accessible at the "Subjects" command 720A2 (FIG. 10C) on the system 11 (FIG. 1) home page tool bar 720A (FIG. 10C), as will be described in detail with respect to FIG. 10C below.

In step 730, the user's choice of an NSP by clicking on its search title causes the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to actuate that NSP's program on a computing device 18 (FIG. 1).

In step 740 the activated NSP program automatically assembles the subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) that constitute the NSP and displays them as a sequenced set of subject database names or icons 125 (FIG. 9B) that appear on the NSP's graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1) and more fully 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B).

In step 750, this set of the NSP's subject database names or icons 125 (FIG. 9B) and 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B) represents the total search capability of the NSP that enables a user to conduct searches of the data sources on the Internet 10 that are within the NSP's subject. Referring now to FIG 9B, the process of selecting an NSP in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now is illustrated in FIG. 9B.

In step 720A, the user reviews a choice of NSP titles by clicking on the "Subjects" command 720A2 (FIG. 10C) of the system's 11 home page tool bar (720A (FIG. 10C) and after scrolling the list of available titles. In step 730A, the user selects the NSP title of the desired search subject.

In step 740A, the NSP's programmed configuration of subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) is displayed by name 125 (FIG, 9B) in the left frame 870 (FIG. 9B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 9B).

The typical user cannot alter that search subject database configuration for the chosen NSP title. But the present invention does permit experienced users to reconfigure prepared NSPs, as will be explained respect to FIG. 11C below

A net search "plan" (NSP), in accordance with this invention, is not in fact a fixed, preexisting strategy for an Internet 10 (FIG. 1) search of the chosen subject area, but rather it is the present invention's optimally flexible capacity to permit users themselves to determine and pursue search strategies of their own. Thus, any fixed set of subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) in an NSP for a given search subject can be employed by as many different search strategies in that subject area as there are users of that NSP. Through the various combined methodologies of the present invention and its NSPs' encyclopedic coverage of their subject areas, the present invention enables users to create and pursue search plans that are unique to their own interests and always optimally productive of results that satisfy those interests.

Referring now to figures 10A and 10B, a method 799 of using the NSP page 750A (FIG. 9B) will now be further described. In step 800, In particular, after the user selects an NSP search title 730A (FIG. 9B) and the system 11(FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) generates the NSP page 750A corresponding to the selected title to appear on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1), the user opens one of that NSP's subject databases 100A (FIG. 10B) by clicking on its topic name or subject in the left frame 870 (FIGS. 9B and 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B). In step 810 and 810A, the server 14 (FIG. 1) responds to the user's opening the subject database 100A (FIG. 10B) by displaying the main categories or subjects 112 (FIG. 3 A) of its content hierarchy 110A (FIG. 3A) in the left frame 870 (FIG. 10A) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B).

In step 820 and 820A, the server 14 (FIG. 1) simultaneously displays in the right frame 890 (FIG 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) whatever introductory support message or initial instructions may be available to guide the user in the exploitation of that subject database 100A (FIG. 10B).

In step 830, the user reviews the names of the subject database's 100A main topic categories 112 (FIG. 3A) displayed in the left frame 870 (FIG 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) and selects and clicks on the name of a main category 112 (FIG. 3A). In step 840 and 840A, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) responds to the user's main category 112 (FIG. 3A) selection by displaying that main category's content hierarchy 110A1(FIG. 10B) of search topics in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) together with whatever support message 520 (FIG. 7A) or information article 570 (FIG. 7A) may be available 840A1(FIG. 10B) for display in the right frame 890 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B). In step 850 and 850A, the user reviews the display of search topics 110A1 (FIG. 10B) in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) and selects and clicks on a search topic and the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) responds by displaying, from the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) tables of search site profiles 340 (FIG. 5D), the names and URLs of a group of search sites 310A1 (FIG. 10B) in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B).

In step 860, the user selects a search site from among those displayed in the plurality of search sites 310A1 (FIG. 10B), clicks on the search site's URL address and, by activating the browser on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1), gains access to the desired search topic content on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

While subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3C) are the building blocks of the present invention, the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B) is its operating platform. The left frame 870 of the NSP page 750A (Fig 10B) functions as the NSP's electronic table of contents which manages the interactions between the user and the system server 14 (FIG. 1) while all interactions between the user and the Internet 10 (FIG. 1), and all advice and guidance provided by the data gathering system 11 (FIG. 1) to the user, illustratively occur in either the middle frame 880 or the right frame of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) which are usually bounded by a design feature indicating that they may be regarded as the left and right pages of an open book 750A2 (FIG. 10B) and which, regardless of the subject matter of an NSP is in its entirety the standard format of the system's 11 (FIG. 1) graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1).

Referring now in particular to FIG 10B, it shows the graphical user interface 12A (FIG. 1) of the system 11(FIG. 1) as an NSP page 750A divided into a vertical left frame 870, a vertical middle frame 880 and a vertical right frame 890, beneath a horizontal frame, alternately 720 E and 720D, as will be further explained in FIG 10C, and a horizontal frame 720B (FIG. 10C).

The middle 880 and right 890 frames of the NSP page may be bounded by either a vertical or horizontal scroll bar or both 750A1 as frame dimensions or content requirements vary with the activities the frames support. The user soon learns to expect that interaction with the data gathering system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) and with the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) will occur in one illustrative embodiment of the present invention in the left 870 and middle 880 frames of the NSP page 750A and that help with the NSP process, in the form of support messages and information articles, will frequently be available in the right frame 890 of the NSP page 750A. Usually when a user begins to use the contents of a subject database 100 (FIG. 3A) by clicking on its name or icon 125 (FIG. 9B) in the left frame 870 of the NSP page 750A, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) will automatically furnish, as in step 820 (FIG. 10A) a support message in the right frame 890 of the NSP page 750A providing instructions for exploiting the contents or functionality the user has just selected from the subject database 100 (FIG 3A). Invariably, when a user opens a subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A), the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) also provides, as in step 830 (FIG. 10A), its unexpanded list of main categories in the left frame 870 of the NSP page 750A. As shown in FIG. 10A the user may thereupon expand, as in step 840 (FIG. 10A) the main category's content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3 A) to select a particular search topic which the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) may display as in step 850 (FIG. 10 A) with an indicator that a support message or information article about that search topic is available whose text will further define the search topic and may be selected to appear in the middle 880 or right 890 frames of the NSP page 750A in response to the user's clicking on the indicator.

Further, as in step 850 (FIG. 10A), the user may click on a search topic and the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) will produce in the middle panel 880 of the NSP page 750A a plurality of search sites linked to that search topic. In response to the user's clicking on the name of one of the search sites, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) may produce in a window in the middle 880 frame of the NSP page 750A in a box labeled "Thumbnail Description" 310A2 a call-out that provides a brief description of that search site while at the same time the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) might also produce in the right frame of the NSP page 750A a magazine or newspaper review of that same search site.

Depending upon the purpose they are intended to serve, such support messages and information articles as may appear in the right frame of the NSP page 750A may be comprised of explanations, instructions, guidance, advice, animated demonstrations, suggestions for alternative choices, consumer alerts, announcements, opportunities for live interactions with subject area providers or other interlocutors, news, excerpts of articles or books, photographs or other graphics, video clips, or any other instructional, illustrative or exemplary material that may provide assistance to the user of the present invention in any of its various embodiments.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data collecting system 11 (FIG. 1) employs a variety of combinations of the NSP middle frame 880 and right frame 890 functionality to elicit and act upon user information, for instance, via questions for the user to answer and options for the user to choose among that permit the user to interact with the system 11 (FIG. 1) and with the given NSP with which the user is working and that permit the user to manage his or her use of the NSP. Such user/system interaction is an essential feature and operating method of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 10C, in another embodiment of the present invention, the user's ability to manage the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B), or a chosen search site, or the introductory features of the data collecting system 11 (FIG. 1) on the home page of its website 12 (FIG. 1), is provided by the array 720 of tool bars 720A, B, C and D, as shown in FIG. 10C, which permit utilization of the data collecting system 11 (FIG. 1) by the user and which provide an expandable array of buttons, for example 720A1-5, Bl-5, Cl-5 and Dl-5, each with an extensive menu of options, whereby the user has a wide range of functionality with which to operate the system 11 (FIG. 1).

The home page tool bar 720A (FIG. 10C) of the website 12 (FIG. 1), with such buttons as, by way of example but not limitation, "My Netmaster" 720A1, "Subjects" 720A2, "My Live eBook" 720 A3, "Tutorial" 720 A4, and "Fix It" 720 A5, provides access to a few of the many aspects of the data collecting system 11 (FIG. 1) that are available on its home page 720A and to the various activities that support or derive from the system 11 (FIG. 1). Many other home page tool bar buttons, such as, illustratively but not shown, buttons 720A6-8 that might deal with the user's personal privacy in conducting an NSP, or illustratively but not shown, buttons 720A9-11 that might deal with decisions and services concerning security and identity management on the Internet 10, or illustratively but not shown, buttons 720A12-15 that might deal with participation in the community of users of the system 11, or with the management's business principles or with criteria for selecting search sites, and many other topics such as are well known to those skilled in the art of Internet 10 (FIG. 1) applications.

By way of example but not limitation, the "My Netmaster" button 720A1 of the home page tool bar 720 employs one embodiment of the data collection system's 11 Internet 10 domain name and provides the user with access to the system's 11 administration and to current information about the system 11. The "Subjects" button 720A2 of the home page tool bar 720A provides the user with a scrollable list 720A1 (FIG. 9B) and 903 (FIG. 11A) of all the NSP titles available on the system 11, as more fully described in FIG. 9B above and FIG. 11A below. The "Live-e-Books" button 720A3 of the home page tool bar 720A facilitates the interface between the NSP, which is provided by the system 11 server 14 (FIG. 1) and the user's client Live eBook, whose software is typically accessed on the user's own computer and it gives the user access to the file on the system server 14 (FIG. 1) where the user's current NSP-in-progress is located and where it may be retained as a completed Live- e-Book 950 (FIG. 12D) at the user's election. If the user has completed other Live-e-Books and has elected to retain them on the system server 14 (FIG. 1), this also button gives access to those other Live-e-Books as well. The "Tutorial" button 720A4 of the home page tool bar 720A (FIG. 10C) gives the user access to an audiovisual program 901 A (FIG. 11B) as more fully described in FIG. 11B below, which introduces the system 11 (FIG. 1) and demonstrates for a prospective user how to use an NSP and create a Live eBook. The "Fix It" button 720A5 on the home page tool bar 720A is a utility specific to the home page's 720A functionality and enables the user to adjust it.

The home page tool bar 720A is automatically replaced by the net search plan toolbar 720B whenever the user initiates an NSP. Even so, a button on the net search plan tool bar can retrieve the home page tool bar 720 A. The ability to switch from one system 11 (FIG. 1) tool bar to any other is a function of all system 11 (FIG. 1) tool bars. The net search plan tool bar 720B contains the tools that permit management of an NSP with such buttons as, by way of example but not limitation, "World Press *~* Desk" 720Bl(where the symbol "*~*" would be replaced by the title subject of the NSP) which gives access to subject-related reference material from the public press; "My *~* Directory" 720B2 (where the symbol "*~*" would be replaced by the title subject of the NSP) which has subject directory service functionality; "My *~* Agent" 720B3 (where the symbol "*~*" would be replaced by the title subject of the NSP) which has functionality to connect the user with the services of subject area professionals via the interpersonal profiles directory 370 (FIG. 5G) described above; "My *~* Live-e-Book" 720B4 (where the symbol "*-*" would be replaced by the title subject of the NSP) which has the same features and functionality as 720 A3 above, and "Fix It" 720B5 which has utility functionality for managing the NSP itself.

By way of example but not limitation, the "The World Press *~* Desk" button 720B1 of the NSP tool bar 720B (FIG. 10C), where illustratively the subject is "Travel", may offer the user both read-only and also interactive question-and-answer access to travel reference material and facilities obtainable through the system 11 from various online publications in various parts of the world. The "*~* Directory" button 720B of the NSP tool bar where illustratively the subject is "Travel", may offer the user listings of travel services. The "My *~* Agent" button 720B3 of the NSP tool bar 720B (FIG. 10C), where illustratively the subject is "Travel", is a specific feature of the NSP through which, where the illustrative subject is Travel, the Travel NSP user 370A (FIG. 5G) may elect to provide a profile 370F (FIG. 5G) of needs and interests via a profiling device 370C (FIG. 5G) so that that user profile 370F (FIG. 5G) can be matched 370D (FIG. 5G) with the knowledge profile 370E (FIG. 5G) of a travel expert 370B (FIG. 5G) capable of meeting the user's needs with the result that the user engages the travel expert. Further, this service of the system 11 (FIG. 1) allows both user 370A (FIG. 5G) and expert 370B (FIG 5G) to communicate and collaborate on the user's NSP via the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1), as further described in the discussion of 720C3 below. The "My *~* Live-e-Book" button 720B4 of the NSP tool bar 720B, where illustratively the subject is "Travel", is one modality by which the user can immediately call up an NSP in progress and it is the button that gives immediate access to the completed Live-e-Book of that NSP if the user elects to store it on the system 11 server 14 (FIG. 1). The "Fix It" button 720B5 of the NSP tool bar 720B provides the user with an array of navigation and screen adjustment utilities that allow the user, via an extensive menu, to adjust and control the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B).

Directly beneath the NSP tool bar 720B on the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B), in one embodiment of the present invention, is the NSP page navigation frame 720E. This frame may be used by the system 11 (FIG. 1), by way of example but not limitation, as a tracking window that displays cumulatively the words clicked on and, successively by accumulation, the levels at which they occur in a subject database 100 (FIG. 3 A) content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3 A) as the user pursues a successively more refined search for a particular search topic, thus providing a complete path of the user's "drill down" into the content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3A).

The net search plan tool bar 720B is automatically replaced by the search site toolbar 720C when the user opens a search site. The search site tool bar 720C provides the functionality for navigating and exploiting any search site when opened by the user and provides such buttons as, by way of example but not limitation, "Selection" 720C1 which provides a wide range of options for managing the selection and disposition of search results; "Transaction" 720C2 which provides a wide range of options for effecting and securing a purchase; "Interaction" 720C3 which provides a wide range of options for contacting and interacting with interpersonal services which may be either live or simulated as, for example, by voice recognition technology and which provides other options for communicating including by voice and visually as well as in writing; "My Live eBook" 720C4, which has the same features and functionality as 720A3 and 720B4 above; and "Fix It" 720C5 which is a utility for managing the functionality of the search site's browser session within the NSP. The appropriate tool bar, typically the NSP tool bar 720B, automatically replaces the search site tool bar 720C when the user leaves the search site.

In the current embodiment of the present invention, four features of the search site tool bar 720C, namely selection 720C1, transaction 720C2, interaction 720C3 and my live ebook 720C4, are fully incorporated in the client software 13 (FIG. 1) of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) which, typically, is installed on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) as one essential component of the system 11 (FIG. 1) and the recommended way to create and manage Live eBooks. Although these features and their extensive functionality are available to the user via the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1), their preferred use in the current embodiment of the present invention is made by the user from the live ebook software 13 (FIG. 1) on the hard drive of the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1), as is discussed more fully in FIG. 12A below.

By way of example but not limitation, the "Selection" button 720C1 of the search site tool bar 720C enables the user to select search site content at its location on the Internet 10 or elsewhere and move it, in whole or in part, to a page or other feature of the user's Live-e-Book 950 (FIG. 12E) which may be on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1), or, preferably, on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1). The "Transaction" button 720C2 on the search site tool bar 720C enables the user to make purchases or similar commitments while remaining within the functionality of the NSP. The "Interaction" button 720C3 on the search site tool bar 720C enables the user to enter into contact with other individuals or entities who are among the services available via a given NSP's interpersonal profiles directory 730 (FIG. 5G) and whom the user may wish to make party to an appropriate portion of the user's NSP through such system 11 (FIG. 1) resources as video conferencing, telephony and/or inter-system messaging or instant messaging over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) so that the user can obtain the services of one or more of those individuals or entities in order to complete the user's NSP, as more fully described above regarding "My *~* Agent" 720B3. The "My Live eBook" button 720C4 on the search site tool bar 720C (FIG. 10C) has the same functionality as 720 A3 and 720B4. The "Fix It" button 720C5 on the search site tool bar provides the user with an array of navigation and screen adjustment utilities that allow the user to remain within the NPS while exploring a search site or "surfing" the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and that equip the user, via an extensive menu, with the ability to adjust and control the presentation of search site pages.

The developer's tool bar 720D is only accessed by special arrangement with the provider of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1). These tools are employed by employees of the system 11 (FIG. 1) provider or by persons who are appropriately permissioned to develop NSPs. The developer's tools may also be employed by individuals engaged in research or in the creation of products based on Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content and intended for professional or commercial use. The developer's tool bar 720D buttons include, by way of example but not limitation, "Management" 720D1 which permits access to the personnel network of the enterprise that is the provider of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1); "Tool Sets" 720D2 which is a collection of NSP and other product development tools; "Netmaster Browser" 720D3 which is a proprietary application of browser technology to the process and procedures of data collection from the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and elsewhere for use in NSPs; "Templates" 720D4 which is an inventory of frequently used pre-formatted development units; and "This Project" 720D5 which gives direct access to a work in progress or the completed work.

By way of example by not limitation, the "Management" button 720D1 on the developer's tool bar 720D enables a permissioned user to communicate with system administrators and to obtain, from a menu of options and/or appropriate individuals, a wide variety of advice, guidance, instructions and support in the development of an original NSP or other product of the system 11 (FIG. 1) such as a commercially authored educational product or a product of interest to the general public. The "Tool Sets" button 720D2 of the developer's tool bar 720D enables a permissioned user to obtain from an extensive menu a wide range of proprietary software applications created by system 11 programmers and maintained on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) for use in the development of NSPs and other products of the system 11 (FIG. 1), as illustratively described above. The "Netmaster Browser" button 720D3 of the developer's tool bar 720D provides access to a proprietary application of system 11 (FIG. 1) technology that enables a permissioned user to design and implement electronic data collection procedures for searches of Internet 10 (FIG. 1) and other resources and to incorporate the results of such searches in NSPs or other products of the system 11 (FIG. 1), as illustratively described above. The "Templates" button 720D4 of the developer's tool bar 720D enables the permissioned user to select from an extensive menu, and to employ in his or her development process, a wide range of pre-developed subject databases 100A-E (FIG. 3B) and system 11 (FIG. 1) utilities that can be readily adapted to a permissioned user's NSP or other development plan. The "This Project" button 720D5 of the developer's tool bar enables a permissioned user to obtain a personal file on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) in which to maintain, protect and access a work-in-progress such as an NSP or other product of the system 11 (FIG. 1), as illustratively described above.

Referring now to FIG. 11 A, the method and system of the present invention will now be discussed with reference ito an illustrative method as shown in FIG. 11A of how a user would use the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) to find desired resources on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1). This description will follow that presumed sequence of illustratively typical events in a user's process of pursuing an NSP and creating a Live eBook and will refer to the preceding drawings as the various features or functionality of the present invention that they illustrate are discussed.

In step 900, the user initially actuates a computing device 18 (FIG. 1) to log on to the website 12 (FIG. 1) which is implemented by the system 11 server 14 (FIG. 1).

In step 901, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) transmits the system's home page and home page tool bar 720A (FIG. 10C) to the user's computer 18 (FIG. 1) together with introductory support messages as described in step 500 (FIG. 7A).

In step 902 the user initiates a search on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) for a specific subject area by selecting an NSP search title from those displayed when the user clicks on the "Subjects" button 720A2 (FIG. 10C) on the home page tool bar 720A.

In step 903 (FIG. 11A) the user selects a subject title from the scrollable list of titles produced by the home page tool bar's "Subjects" button 720A2.

In step 904, and 904A (FIG. 10B), the server 14 (FIG. 1) of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) generates, based on the chosen NSP subject title, a configuration of subject databases 125 (FIG. 9B) for display on the users' computer 18 (FIG. 1) in the left frame 870 (FIG. 9B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 9B).

In step 905, and 904A (FIG. 10B), the user clicks on and the server 14 (FIG. 1) opens a subject database 100A (FIG. 3A). In step 906, and 906A (FIG. 10B), displays the main categories 112 (FIG. 3A) of the subject database 100A (FIG. 10B) content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3 A) in the left frame 870 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A together with an introductory support message 500 (FIG 7A) in the right frame 890 of the NSP page 750A.

In step 907, and 907A (FIG. 10B), the user clicks a main category 112 (FIG. 3A) displayed in the left frame 870 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A.

In step 908, and 908A (FIG. 10B), the server 14 (FIG. 1) displays the main category's content hierarchy 110A1 in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A. In step 909 the user expands the content hierarchy 110A1 opening sub-categories 113 (FIG. 3A) and sub-sub-categories 114 (FIG. 3 A) and scrolls through the search topics until the user finds a desired search topic whereupon the user clicks on the desired search topic name.

In step 910, and 910A (FIG. 10B), the server 14 (FIG. 1) displays the name of the selected search topic, together with the name of the main category of the content hierarchy 110 (FIG. 3 A) in which the search topic was found in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A together with a plurality of the search site entries 310A1 (FIG. 10B) whose URLs are linked by identical keywords 330 and 340 (FIG. 5C) to the search topic.

In step 911, and 911A (FIG. 10B), the server 14 (FIG. 1) simultaneously displays a thumbnail description window 310A2 (FIG. 10B) in the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) and in the right frame 890 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) a support message 510 (FIG. 7A) explaining how to exploit the search site entries.

In step 912, the user examines the plurality of search site entries, each of which consists of the site's name and its URL as provided by the search site's profile 310A (FIG. 5B) and selects an entry, whereupon, after reading the accompanying support message, the user clicks on the search site's name.

In step 113, and 913A (FIG. 10B), the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays a thumbnail description of the search site in the thumbnail description window 310A2 (FIG. 10B) at the top of the middle frame 880 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B). In step 914, and 914B (FIG. 10B), the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) simultaneously searches its tables of message files 540 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 database 16 (FIG. 5D) and displays any further description of the search site that may be available from that source.

In step 915, the user observes an indication next to the search site name, illustratively the word "Article", and, having learned from the accompanying support message in the right frame 890 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) that indicator e.g. "Article" means the availability of commentary on the search site from, illustratively, the current public press, the user clicks on the indicator, e.g. on the word "Article".

In step 916, and 916A (FIG. 10B), the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) searches the tables of article files 570 (FIG. 5D) in the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) and, if only one such article exists, displays it with its citation in the right frame 890 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page

750A (FIG. 10B). If a choice of such articles exists, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays a choice of citations of the information articles 570 (FIG. 7A) about the search site. Each such citation lists in uniform order and as fully as possible gives the source, title, date and author of the article and may include a graphic image identifying the publication or characterizing the article.

In step 917, and 917A (FIG. 10B), the user selects an information article citation and clicks on it whereupon the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) downloads the article from the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) tables of articles 570 (FIG. 5D) into the right frame 890 (FIG. 10B) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B) or, if greater space is required, into a wider frame that overlays the middle 880 (FIG. 10B) and right 890 (FIG. 10B) frames of the NSP page (FIG. 10B).

In step 918, and 918A (FIG. 10B), after consulting the information article, the user clicks on the search site's URL. In step 919, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) searches its database of search algorithms 440 (FIG. 5D) and, if one exists for the search site, sends it to the browser on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) which thereupon opens the search site in the NSP page 750A (FIG 10B) in a frame provided by the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) which overlays the middle 880 (FIG. 10B) and right 890 (FIG. 10B) frames of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B). In step 920, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) simultaneously displays the search site tool bar 720C (FIG. 10C) and searches the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) database of navigation instructions 440 (FIG. 5D) for navigation instructions for locating search topic content on this search site.

In step 921, and 921A (FIG. 10B), if such navigation instructions exist, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays them in the navigation frame 720D (FIGS. 10B and 10C) of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 9B).

In step 922, the user navigates the search site and finds the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content that the system 11 (FIG. 1) has linked to the selected search topic.

Referring now to FIG. 1 IB, the user who is new to the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) is invited by one of the messages displayed in step 901 (FIG. 11 A) on the home page to play an audiovisual tutorial that explains and demonstrates the entire process of conducting a net search plan and creating a Live eBook.

In step 901 A the new user clicks on the "Tutorial" command 720A4 (FIG. 10C) from the home page tool bar 720A (FIG. 10C) and views the tutorial, at the end of which the tutorial displays the suggestion that the new user review the system's 11 (FIG. 1) choice of search titles and then click on the "Get Started" command in the left frame 870 (FIG. 1 IB) of the home page 749 (FIG. 1 IB). In step 902A the new user clicks on the "Subjects" command 720A2 (FIG. IOC) on the home page tool bar 720A (FIG. IOC) and reviews the choice of system 11 (FIG. 1) search titles by scrolling the list of titles that is displayed.

In step 902B, based on the tutorial and on the choice of search titles the new user has seen, the new user determines whether to explore the conditions of obtaining full access to use of the system 11 (FIG. 1).

In step 902C the new user decides to obtain access to the system 11 (FIG. 1) and clicks on "Get Started" in the left frame 870 (FIG. 11B) of the home page 749 (FIG. 11B) and the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays a message 500 (FIG. 7A) asking the new user to review three requirements for access to the system 11 (FIG. 1).

In step 902D, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first new user requirement is for the new user to allow the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to evaluate the new user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) by clicking on "Test Your Computer" in the left frame 870 (FIG.

1 IB) of the home page 749 (FIG. 1 IB) to determine if the new user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) is adequately equipped and sufficiently powerful to support system 11 (FIG. 1) operations.

In step 902E the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) displays a message 500 (FIG. 7A) scoring the new user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) and providing an appropriate recommendation.

In step 902F, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second new user requirement is for the new user to review and respond to messages 500 (FIG. 7A) displayed by the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) when the new user clicks on "Secure Your Personal Data" in the left frame 870 (FIG. 11B) of the home page 749 (FIG. 11B) that explain the costs and conditions of system 11 (FIG. 1) access and that request the new user's identification and billing information.

In step 902G, the new user decides whether to accept the access terms and provide the required information. In step 902H, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third new user requirement is for the new user to click on "Assure The Privacy And Protection Of Your Net Search Plan" in the left frame 870 (FIG. 11B) of the home page 749 (FIG. 11B) and read the policy statements 500 (FIG. 7A) displayed by the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) with buttons for the new user to acknowledge acceptance. • In step 9021, the new user decides whether or not to accept the system 11 (FIG. 1) policies.

In step 902J, if the new user answers questions 902E, 902G and 9021 in the affirmative, then the new user obtains access to the system 11 (FIG. 1) with a user name, a password and a copy of the Live eBook software 13 (FIG. 1). Referring now to FIG. 11C, an advanced user of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) may wish to change the composition and or configuration of its subject databases 110 (FIG 3B).

In step 904A1, the advanced user selects an NSP and system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) provides the expected configuration of its subject databases 100 (FIG. 3 A) displays their names in the left frame 870 (FIG. 9B) of the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B).

In step 904B, the advanced user determines whether to accept that configuration or to reconfigure the number, variety or composition of the NSP's subject databases 100A-E (FIGS. 3B and 3C). If the advanced user has obtained the system 11 (FIG. 1) administrator's permission to do so, the advanced user may exercise that option. In step 904C, the advanced user decides to modify the NSP and requests the system 11 (FIG.

1) server 14 (FIG. 1) to display the developer's tool bar 720D (FIG. 10C) on the NSP page 750A (FIG. 9B).

In step 904D the advanced user selects tool sets 720D2 (FIG. 10C) and templates 720D4 (FIG. 10C) from the developer's tool bar 720D (FIG. 10C). The tool sets 720D2 (FIG. 10C) provide server 14 (FIG. 1) commands for searching the system 11 (FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) master inventory tables of subject database contents, operations and interconnections 650 (FIG. 5D) and for retrieving components preferred by the advanced user in the reconfigured NSP. The templates 720D4 (FIG. 10C) provide server 14 (FIG. 1) commands to search the system 11(FIG. 1) database 16 (FIG. 5D) index of subject databases 640 (FIG. 5D) and tables of subject databases 630 (FIG. 5D) for reconfiguration formats preferred by the advanced user in the reconfigured NSP.

In step 904E the advanced user reconfigures the NSP with the selected system 11 (FIG. 1) resources.

In step 904F the advanced user tests and revises the reconfigured NSP until it functions correctly. Referring now to FIGS. 12A and 12B, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, a method is shown by which a user employs the system 11 (FIG. 1) software 13 (FIG. 1) on the user's own computing device 18 (FIG. 1) to create a Live eBook and provide it with Internet 10 (FIR. 1) content obtained by the user via the pursuit of search topics in a net search plan. The description of this method is a continuation of the process 900 - 922 (FIG. 11 A) and 904A - 921 A (FIG. 10B) in which a user selects a net search plan and uses it to find the Internet 10 content now being collected in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Previously, in step 922 (FIG. 11 A), the user has navigated an Internet 10 (FIG. 1) search site that is open in the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B) and found the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content that the system 11(FIG. 1) had linked to the search topic the user was pursuing.

In step 923, the user has decided to collect that content and clicks on "My Live eBook" 720C4 (FIG. 10C) on the search site tool bar 720C (FIG. 10C) currently being displayed on the NSP page 750A (FIGS. 9B and 10B).

In step 924, the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) responds by displaying a message 500 (FIG. 7A) enumerating the user's options to create a Live eBook on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) or to create the Live eBook by using the user's own system 11 (FIG. 1) software 13 (FIG. 1) on the user's own computer 18 (FIG. 1). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the user selects the option to use the client-based Live eBook software 13 (FIG. 1) that is activated by clicking on an icon on the system tray of the user's computer 18 (FIG. 1) where the software 13 (FIG. 1) has previously been installed.

In step 925 and 925A (FIG 12B) the user clicks on the Live eBook icon on the user's computer 18 (FIG. 1) tray and opens the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) and the initial Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). In the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the initial Live eBook page 13A

(FIG. 12B) the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) provides the clickable options to "Open An

Existing Live eBook" 952 (FIG. 12B) or "Create A New Live eBook" 591 (FIG. 12B).

In step 926 and 926A (FIG. 12B), the user clicks on "Create A New Live eBook" 951 (FIG. 12B).

In step 927 and 927A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays a text entry box in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B) with instructions to add a title and further instructions appear in the middle frame 13A3 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B) requesting that a title for the new Live eBook be typed in the text entry box 952 (FIG. 12B) and entered into the table of existing Live eBooks 985 (FIG. 12E) in the Live eBook software 13 database 13B (FIG. 12E). The user provides a title 953 (FIG. 12B) for the new Live eBook and, upon being entered into the Live eBook database 13B, the title name appears as a clickable name 953 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13 A.

In step 928 and 928A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays a text entry box 952 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame, 134A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B) with instructions to add one or more chapters. Further instructions appear in the middle frame 13 A3 (FIG. 12B) of the of the Live eBook page 13A page (FIG. 12B) requesting that one or more chapters of the new Live eBook be typed in the text entry box 952 (FIG. 12B) and entered into the table of existing Live eBooks 985 (FIG. 12E) in the Live eBook software 13 database (FIG. 12E). The user provides one or more chapters 954 (FIG. 12B) for the new Live eBook and as a chapter is entered into the Live eBook database 13B (FIG. 12E) the chapter appears as a clickable name 954 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). The user has thereupon given a name to the chapter in which the user intends to collect the Internet 10 content selected in step 922 (FIG. 11 A).

In step 929 and 929A (FIG. 12B), the user clicks on the name of that chapter 954 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B).

In step 930 and 930A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays the user's Live eBook management options in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). The "Contents Tree" option 13A3 (FIG. 12B) allows the user to review Live eBook contents in an expandable contents hierarchy. The "Contents Columns" option 13A4 (FIG. 12B) presents the organizational structure of a Live eBook in the exact order of the NSP content hierarchies on which the Live eBook's organization is based, expanding rightward from the chapter level 954 (FIG. 12B) to the subject level 955 (FIG. 12B) to the main category level 956 (FIG. 12B) to the sub- category level 957 (FIG. 12B) to the sub-sub-category level 958 (FIG. 12B). The user can add Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content to the Live eBook at any of these levels of the Live eBook's organization by implementing the "Add Page" feature 954A-958A (FIG. 12B) at the bottom of each column appearing in the middle frame 13A3 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the user wishes to add a page to the new Live eBook in which to place the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content the user has found in step 922 (FIG. 11 A) and now wishes to collect 923 (FIG 12A). Therefore, to accomplish this purpose, the user clicks on "Contents Columns" 13A4 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B).

In step 931 and 931 A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays the first column 954 (FIG. 12B) of the contents columns array 13A4 (FIG 12B). The name of the Live eBook chapter selected by the user appears in this first column furthest to the left in the middle frame 13 A3 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). When the user clicks on that name, the Live eBook software 13 (FIG. 1) displays the next content column to the right 955 (FIG. 12B) which contains the names of all of the subject databases 100 (FIG 3 A) of the NSP that the user is currently employing to find Internet 10 resources.

In step 932, the user continues to expand the content columns array 13A4 (FIG. 12B) rightward by clicking on a subject database name 955 (FIG. 12B) to display the column of its main category names 956 (FIG. 12B) and by clicking on a main category name to display the column of its sub-category names 957 (FIG. 12B) and by clicking on a sub-category name to display its column of sub-sub-category names 958 (FIG. 12B). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the user finds in column 958 (FIG. 12B) the name of the search topic 909 (FIG. 11 A) that was linked to the search site currently open 919 (FIG. 11 A) in the middle 880 (FIG. 10B) and right 890 (FIG. 10B) frames of the NSP page 750A (FIG. 10B). In step 933 and 933A (FIG 12B), the user, wishing to add the Internet 10 resources now being collected to the new Live eBook at this sub-sub-category level of the Live eBook's organization, clicks on the words "Add Page" 958A (FIG. 12B) at the bottom of content column 958 (FIG. 12B), thus assuring that the page of Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content now being added to the Live eBook will be identified by this and all preceding levels of the contents columns array. In step 934 and 934A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays an instruction in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B) asking the user to select a formatted, Live eBook page 959 (FIG. 12B) from a plurality of formatted Live eBook pages 959E (FIG. 12C) in which to place the Internet resources now being collected. Simultaneously, the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B) a plurality of formatted page icons 959E (FIG. 12C) from which the user may select a preferred style or functionality of formatted Live eBook page.

In step 935 and 935A (FIG. 12B), the user clicks on the icon 595i (FIG. 12B) of a formatted page and the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) opens a document page in word processing software installed on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) that is pre-formatted with the features and functionality of the Live eBook page 595 (FIG. 12B) selected by the user. The Live eBook application opens the word processor's formatted Live eBook page in a window overlaying the middle frame 13A3 (FIG 12B) of the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B).

In step 936 and 936A (FIG. 12B), in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the Live eBook page thus displayed automatically contains the new Live eBook's title 959C (FIG. 12B) and this particular page's contents location path 959A (FIG. 12B), which lists, to whatever level may be required, the names in descending order of the specific chapter, subject, main category, sub-category and sub-sub category of the new Live eBook's organization to which the Internet 10 resources now being collected are being added.

Additionally, in step 937 and 937A (FIG. 12B), in the preferred embodiment of the present invention now being described, the formatted Live eBook page 959 (FIG. 12B) thus displayed also contains two activated spaces requiring the user to enter data into the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1). One activated space is a text entry box 959B1 (FIG. 12B) requiring the user to give this specific page a name 959B (FIG. 12B), illustratively, the name of the Internet 10 resources this page will contain. The other activated space is a text entry box 959D1 (FIG. 12B) requiring the user to enter the URL and path 959D (FIG. 12B) of the Internet 10 resources being collected, illustratively, by cutting the address from the search site and pasting it into the entry box 959D1 (FIG. 12B).

In step 938 and 938 A (FIG. 12B), after the user is satisfied that the selected formatted Live eBook page 959 (FIG. 12B) is correctly identified and thereby correctly programmed by the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) to appear in the desired place and at the desired level of the new Live eBook's organization, the user clicks on the words "Go To Search Site", illustratively at the bottom of the Live eBook page 595 (FIG. 12B).

In step 939 and 939A (FIG. 12B), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) positions the pre- formatted and user-prepared Live eBook page document 595 (FIG. 12B) beside the NSP page 750A (FIG. 12B) in which the search site is displayed 919 (FIG 11 A) from which, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the user wishes to collect Internet 10 resources.

In step 40, the user selects the desired Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content on the search site being displayed in the NSP page 750A (12B) and cuts and pastes the search site's URL and the desired contents into the Live eBook page 959 (FIG. 12B).

In step 941, when the user closes the Live eBook page 959 (FIG. 12B) containing the collected Internet 10 (FIG. 1) resources, and closes the new Live eBook 950 (FIG. 12D), the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) indexes the page name given by the user to the formatted Live eBook page 595 (FIG. 12B) in the index of Live eBook contents 980 (FIG, 12E) of the Live eBook database 13B (FIG. 12E); stores the page with its Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content in the new Live eBook's organization according to its contents location path 959A (FIG. 12B), and stores the new Live eBook 950 itself (FIG. 12D) in the table of existing Live eBooks 985 (FIG. 12E) in the application 13 (FIG. 1) database (FIG. 13B), from which the user can retrieve it at a later date by clicking on "Open An Existing Live eBook" 952 (FIG. 12B) in the left frame 13A2 (FIG. 12B) of the initial Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B).

Referring now to FIG. 12C, a user of the data collection system 11 (FIG. 1) in the preferred embodiment of the present invention finds in the plurality of formatted Live eBook pages a range of functionality equal to any type of content to be found on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

In step 934A, a user who is working in a chapter 954 of a Live eBook title 953 clicks on the command in the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13A to choose a page template 13A7 and scrolls through the display of formatted Live eBook pages 959E that appear as miniaturized icons 959i (FIG. 12B) in the display.

In step 934B, the user finds, in conjunction with office suite software also resident on the user's computer 18 (FIG. 1), a sufficiency of Live eBook page formats to accommodate the presentation, collection, retention, modification and transmission requirements of any type of Internet 10 (FIG. 1) content or activity to be found or enabled on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

In step 934C, a user conducting any form of commercial or other financial or economic transaction via an NSP will find in the plurality of formatted Live eBook pages 959E made available by the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1), by way of example but not limitation, pages that organize, enable and record charges, signatures, telephony, email, fax transmission, scheduling, accounting, financial modeling and any and all other accepted procedures for conducting a financial or other economic transaction. Such formatted Live eBook pages are fully integrated by the Live eBook software 13 (FIG. 1) and alternatively the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1) with the features and functionality of familiar desktop office suite applications resident on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) such as word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, audiovisual applications, personal data management applications, and communications applications.

In step 934D the user seeking to conduct any form of live, real time interaction or other interpersonal communication with another individual or entity via an NSP on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1) will find in the plurality of formatted Live eBook pages 959E made available by the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1), by way of example but not limitation, pages that enable and facilitate record sharing, telephony, instant messaging, video conferencing and collaborative information management any or all of which may rely on familiar desktop applications resident on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) such as word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, audio-visual applications, personal data management applications, and communications applications.

In step 934E, the user who employs the system 11 (FIG. 1) to create an original work will find in the plurality of formatted Live eBook pages 959E made available by the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1), by way of example but not limitation, pages that enable and facilitate expression by any method and in any medium that is transmissible over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1). Referring now to FIG. 12D, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, a method is shown by which a user employs the system 11 (FIG. 1) software 13 (FIG. 1) on the user's own computing device 18 (FIG. 1) to revise an existing Live eBook 952 (FIG. 12B) and distribute it over the Internet 10. The description of this method is a continuation of the process 923 - 941(FIG. 12A) and 925A - 939A (FIG. 12B) in which a user employs the Live eBook software application 13 (FIG. 1) to acquire the Internet 10 content now being revised and distributed in FIG. 12D.

In step 942 and 942A, the user, who in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now has illustratively closed and stored a newly created Live eBook 941 (FIG. 12 A), now elects to open that Live eBook 950 (FIG. 12D) by activating the Live eBook application software 13 (FIG. 1) by clicking on its icon on the system tray of the user's computer 18 (FIG. 1) and by clicking on the "Open An Existing Live eBook " option 952 that the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays in the left frame 13A2 of the initial Live eBook page 13 A. Alternatively, and existing Live eBook 952 can be opened from the user's Live eBook library frame 13A1 (FIG. 12B) on the Live eBook page 13A (FIG. 12B). Upon opening the existing Live eBook 952, the user selects the desired Live eBook title 950 and chapter 954 and the Live eBook application software 13 (FIG. 1) displays their names in the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13A together with the user's options for managing the open Live eBook.

In step 943 and 943A, the user clicks on the "Contents Tree" option 13A7 on the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13A and the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) displays the contents tree 13A7 of the selected chapter of the open Live eBook 950 in the middle frame 13 A3 of the Live eBook page 13 A. Thereupon, the user expands the contents tree 13A7 of the selected chapter 954 to search its subjects 955, main categories 956, sub-categories 957 and sub-sub-categories 958 for a particular Live eBook page name 959B. In step 944 and 944A, the user elects to revise the Live eBook 950 chapter 954 and edit the page 959B, illustratively, by once again employing the Live eBook application's 13 (FIG. 1) formatted pages and programmed procedures for creating a Live eBook page 959, as explained in FIGS. 12A and 12B above, in order to alter the chapter's 954 contents, or, illustratively, by dragging and dropping pages from one level of the open Live eBook chapter's contents tree to another in order to alter the chapter's 954 organization.

In step 945 and 945 A, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention being described now, the user wishes to send the revised Live eBook 950 chapter 954 to a recipient over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1). To accomplish this objective, the user clicks on the "Send" option 960 in the left frame 13A2 of the Live eBook page 13 A. In step 946 and 946A, the Live eBook application 13 (FIG. 1) permits the user to highlight that portion of the contents tree that contains the revised chapter 954 and to transmit it as email over the Internet 10 (FIG. 1).

In step 947 and 947 A, the user elects to make the entire Live eBook 950 available, illustratively, to permissioned readers or to the public at large, by translating it into the appropriate mark up language and placing it on the Internet 10 as a website. To accomplish this purpose, the user clicks on the "Make It A Website" option 970 in the left frame 13 A3 of the Live eBook page 13 A.

In step 948 and 948A, the user exercises the "Make It A Website" option 970 and causes the Live eBook application software 13 (FIG. 1) to convert the entire Live eBook 950 into a website on the Internet 10 (FIG. 1). Referring now to FIG. 12E, the Live eBook application software 13 (FIG. 1) database 13B contains the components of the system 11 (FIG. 1) from which programs in the Live eBook software application 13 (FIG. 1) on the user's computing device 18 (FIG. 1) or, alternatively, on the system 11 (FIG. 1) server 14 (FIG. 1), retrieve and generate Live eBook features and functionality. It contains the system's 11 (FIG. 1) proprietary the Live eBook operating program 13 and its graphical user interface 13 A, which are programmed to work in conjunction with non-proprietary office suite applications upon whose features and functionality the Live eBook software relies for the creation and management of formatted Live eBook pages. These pages are indexed in the index of formatted pages 959F and stored in the tables of Live eBook pages 959E. The contents of the user's Live eBooks are inventories and recorded in the database's 13B index of Live eBook contents 980 and the Live eBooks are stored in the database's 13B table of existing Live eBooks 985. When Live eBooks are also converted to websites, by the process maintained in the database's 13B website conversion database 970, they are also stored in that form in the database's 13B table of Live eBooks 975. Functionality for distribution and Live eBook or a portion of a Live eBook as email is maintained in the database's 13B email management database 970.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a database of a server with addresses of data sites where data related to at least one of a plurality of subjects selectively resides, the server and the computer sites being commonly coupled to a network to permit communication therebetween; said method comprising the steps of: a) categorizing said plurality of subjects in a hierarchy; b) identifying which of said plurality of data sites retains data related to each of said plurality of subjects; and c) inputting to the server database an indication of each of the addresses where data related to a particular categorized subject resides and of the particular categorized subject.

2. A method of operating any of a plurality of user computers to communicate with a database of a server and with a plurality of data sites, each of the plurality of sites storing data related to one or more subjects, the database storing the address of each of a plurality of the data sites and the subject of the data stored at this particular data site, the server database, the plurality of data sites and the plurality of user computers coupled to a common network, said method comprising the steps of: a) inputting to one of the plurality of user computers the subjects of the data variously stored in the plurality of data sites; b) displaying at the one user computer the subjects of the data stored at the plurality of data sites; and c) facilitating the user of the one user computer to select from the displayed subjects those subjects of interest to the user.

3. The method of operating according to claim 2, wherein the server database further stores for each of the plurality of subjects a network address or addresses of the data site or sites at which data relating to a particular subject is stored, and there is further included the step of accessing from the server database the address or addresses of the data site or sites whereat data relating to the selected subject is retained.

4. The method of operating according to claim 3, wherein there is further included the step of further facilitating the user of the one user computer to select from the displayed address or addresses the data site or sites of interest to the user of the one user computer.

5. The method of operating according to claim 4, wherein there is further included the step of downloading over the common network and displaying at the one user computer the data stored in the data site or sites corresponding to the selected address or addresses.

6. The method of operating according to claim 2, wherein the network comprises the Internet, and the addresses comprise the URLs of the data sites.

7. The method of facilitating at least one user to construct by use of its user computer an E-book of data gathered from a plurality of data sites, an indication of each of the .subject or subjects to which the data relates and the URL of each of the data sites from which data is gathered resides in a database, each of the plurality of data sites, the database and the user computer being coupled to the Internet to permit data communication there between, said method comprising the steps of: a) displaying at the user computer the indication of each of the subject or subjects; b) facilitating the user to review the indication or indications and to select the subject or subjects of interest, and c) accessing from the database and using the address or addresses of the data site where the selected subject or subjects reside to download the data from its data site or sites to the database.

8. The method of facilitating according to claim 7, wherein there is further included the steps of: d) facilitating the user's review of the accessed data; and e) if of interest to the user, inserting the data of interest into the E-book.

9. The method of facilitating according to claim 8, wherein steps d) and e) are repeated until the E-book is completed.

10. The method of facilitating as claimed in claim 7, wherein the database is a part of a server, and the programming for implementing the a), b) and c) steps is stored in the server database.

11. The method of facilitating as claimed in claim 7, wherein the database is a part of the user computer, and the programming for implementing the a), b) and c) steps is stored in the user computer's database.