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What a bogus patent...

Read the abstract:

The present invention provides convenient access to items of information that are related to various descriptors input by a user, by means of a unitary interface which is capable of accessing information in a variety of locations, through a number of different techniques. Using a plurality of heuristic algorithms to operate upon information descriptors input by the user, the present invention locates and displays candidate items of information for selection and/or retrieval. Thus, the advantages of a search engine can be exploited, while listing only relevant object candidate items of information.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatuses for locating information in a computer system are described which receive an information identifier, locate at least one item of information based upon the information identifier by means of a plurality of heuristic algorithms each having a separate location scheme, provide at least one candidate information item, and display a representation of the information item.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatuses for locating information in a computer system are described which input an information identifier, providing the information identifier to locate information in the plurality of locations which comprise the Internet and local storage media, wherein the information located matches the information identifier when applied to a plurality of heuristics, determining at least one candidate item of information based upon the plurality of heuristics, and displaying a representation of the candidate item of information.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatuses for displaying information in a computer system is described which includes inputting an information identifier, providing the information identifier to a plurality of heuristics in accordance with a global heuristic, wherein each information identifier is matched to information based upon the plurality of heuristics, receiving at least one candidate item of information based upon the information provided to the heuristics in accordance with the global heuristic, and displaying a representation of the candidate items of information.

This basically describes the act of searching. Something that has already been done since the start of NetScape Navigator. Unbelievable that a patent was granted at all, and even more unbelievable that a judge felt there is a high degree of probability that the ban would stick, which is required to grant a preliminary injunction.

HankRearden, on 01 July 2012 - 09:10 PM, said:

Since Netscape Navigator? People were doing this long before there was an Internet, let alone a Netscape Navigator.

RonMyers, on 02 July 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

I don't disagree. Even in CD-ROMS with database lookup engines. And many other ways can easily match that vague patent. It's insane that this patent was ever granted. By morons obviously.

...
Additionally, web-browser applications are not designed to search for non-web-based documents or applications located on the computer or an associated computer network and, conversely, File Find-type utility programs are not capable of searching the Internet for web-based documents or applications. There has been no combination of desktop find routines that presents a single interface and Internet browsing routines to allow a computer user to find a needed or desired item of information from among all different types of information storage systems. Additionally, there is no program which is able to process the user's input and then determine, using many different factors, including use of the Internet, the intent of the user as to the file to be retrieved. Accordingly, in order to present a more informative and personalized user interface, a unitary manner of finding a user's desired item of information is needed.
...
In general, the present invention provides a universal interface that enables the user to readily retrieve an item of desired information located on any of the various storage media that are accessible to the user's computer system, with minimal effort. The desired information could be an application that is stored on the local storage media 12, a file stored on the LAN storage volume 8, or a web page available through the Internet router 11. Rather than require a separate search mechanism to locate each of these different types of information, the present invention facilitates the user's ability to easily retrieve the information by means of a single universal interface which is capable of accessing files on all of these various storage resources.

So no, the patent is not so vague as to admit simple searches such as those done via browsers, or on CD-ROMs. It is specifically a universal search interface, serving multiple types of information, gathered from a heterogeneous collection of repositories. And very useful it is, too.

crosswordbob, on 02 July 2012 - 11:40 AM, said:

It is vague. If you can't see that you seriously need to have your head examined.

HankRearden, on 02 July 2012 - 11:41 AM, said:

I didn't say it wasn't vague, just not to the extent that a simple web search engine could be covered by it.

crosswordbob, on 02 July 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

And you'd be wrong about that. Unless you have first-hand knowledge of how each search engine gathers its data before presenting you with choices, I'd not make such a claim, Bob.

HankRearden, on 02 July 2012 - 11:44 AM, said:

I guess we'll just have to disagree on that. As far as I can tell, the patent is pretty clear in that it acknowledges web-based search engines as a pre-existing technology, and uses them as a single resource, while differentiating itself by using them in conjunction with local (disk or LAN) resources. To the best of my knowledge they've never tried to use it against a web search engine.

I think you're very wrong, these things have existed for a very very long time, back when Apple didn't even know what a phone was.
So ... I guess you're just an Apple fanboy who doesn't want to see the obvious ...

andreimp, on 02 July 2012 - 10:53 PM, said:

The patent comes from 2004, which was before the iPhone (and long before I ever owned a single Apple product). It relates to Spotlight search. And no, I am not a fanboy. If you want to debate like a grown-up then feel free, but ad hominem attacks diminish your credibility.