WO2002008967A1

WO2002008967A1 - Method and system for utilising database information

Info

Publication number: WO2002008967A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Andrew Crampton; Nanette Gibson
Original assignee: Newbrain Technologies Pty Limited
Priority date: 2000-07-21
Filing date: 2001-07-19
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Also published as: AUPQ893300A0

Abstract

This invention concerns a method and system for utilising database information. In a particular for, the invention provides a method for enabling the provision of centralised information by way of a networked computer system, including the steps of identifying one or more relevant information suppliers, identifying at least one portal via which said information suppliers make the information available to users by way of the networked computer system, and providing each information supplier with an optional facility whereby the information available via the at least one portal can be selectively extracted from the portal. The invention provides the facility to target certain information, whereby an information supplier, without applying any technical skills, can make the decision to have that information uploaded from the portal, and the information can then be reorganised for posting either to a centralised information area for access to users or to an area controlled by the information supplier.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UTILISING DATABASE INFORMATION

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a method and system for utilising database information. It relates particularly but not exclusively to a method for enabling the provision of centralised information whereby information available via selected portals is extracted from those portals. It also relates particularly but not exclusively to a computer-implemented method for enabling the compiling of data associated with multiple information suppliers into a centralised area, from where the compiled data can be made available to users.

Background to the Invention

The Internet provides ready access to a vast spectrum of information stored in the form of, for example HTML Webpages at Websites, provided by way of a computer server of an information provider. If desired, the server is able to store the information within a database, and a user can then access the database by use of a search facility, applying simple Boolean queries to the database and thus retrieving HTML pages corresponding to the submitted queries.

In certain industry sectors, individual information suppliers (such as individual businesses in that industry) may not have the ability to provide or maintain the server technology needed to host their own web pages. The information suppliers can instead elect to post their information on a portal, or upload the information in an organised field-specific format to the .portal. The portal is then accessible to users (customers/subscribers)^" who can thus effectively search and retrieve information from the different information suppliers.

To give but one example, online listing services have appeared in the real estate industry. Such services allow subscribing real estate brokers to list properties at the listing service Website, whilst prospective buyers (and real estate agents) can search for properties using simple Boolean search functions and employing specified criteria. This provides real estate agents who have information listed with a potentially wide audience, without them having to build up a substantial Internet presence for their brand. This also provides the user with potential access to a range of vendors in a single search area, allowing them to compare products and prices.

The listing services or repository databases therefore allow a person providing information to post or register information on the site, and to regularly update that information. The information is typically entered by the business providing the information using fields which are pre-defined by the database. It may alternatively be entered by the site service provider.

The user must then search different portals to access the full range of products, services or suppliers that may be available in this way across the Internet, and the repetition and duplication of such activity can be a significant drawback in terms of the time and effort required.

Information suppliers are interested in ensuring that their information is seen by as many people as possible, and this can be achieved by posting information on as many portals associated with the relevant industry as possible. Posting on multiple sites means that the information supplier has to continuously arrange to re-enter their information into each successive portal they choose to utilise. Typically, this is done my manually keying in the records. This process takes a great deal of time and consequently money for businesses which are pursuing a presence in multiple portals. The time and effort required to achieve a large number of postings means that suppliers of information will be less likely to seek out additional portals which may give them exposure to additional Internet users.

Software currently available provides for the duplication of entire web pages. The whole page content and that of associated pages can be copied from the Website to a pre-determined location either on the Internet or on the user's computer. This software thus provides a duplicate of the portal data without analysing the data or selecting particular information from it. As portals generally contain information from a wide variety of sources the user of programmes currently available will simply receive all the information from a targeted portal together with the data in respect of the web site formatting. Though this raw copy of the targeted information can be very useful in further processing by the user, the system does not provide for automatic adaptation of the information without considerable additional effort by the user.

This discussion of the background to the invention herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

The object of the present invention to address some or all of these drawbacks in the prior art.

Summary of Invention

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a method for enabling the provision of centralised information by way of a networked computer system, including the steps of: identifying one or more relevant information suppliers; identifying at least one portal via which said information suppliers make the information available to users by way of the networked computer system; and providing each information supplier with an optional facility whereby the information available via the at least one portal can be selectively extracted from the portal.

Preferably, the method includes the step of incorporating the extracted information in a common organisational structure at the centralised information area, and making the centralised information area accessible to users and/or one or more of the information suppliers. The invention, then provides the facility to target certain information, whereby an information supplier can make the decision to have that information uploaded from the portal, and the information can then be reorganised for posting at the centralised area for access to users. In this way, multiple portals can be targeted and the information content of these portals can be made available for use in another information area, preferably recompiled in a common searchable format at the centralised information area.

The step of identifying relevant information suppliers may, for example, involve the searching and selection of those suppliers by a service provider providing access to the centralised information area. Alternatively, information suppliers may be identified as they voluntarily approach that service provider.

Preferably, the networked computer system is the Internet.

The information portal is preferably provided by means of an Internet server. The server includes at least one processor and at least one data storage device. The portal may reside at a number of locations, or multiple portals may be assigned to a single set of information. The centralised information area, which is preferably also provided by means of an Internet server including at least one processor and at least one data storage device, can then be used to provide a single portal for access by users.

Advantageously, the invention avoids the need for information suppliers to reenter pre-existing data in order to place that data onto a new site. It affords the placing of the control over the reuse of the data firmly in the hands of the information supplier, but minimises the effort required of the information supplier by automating the information extraction process. The information supplier needs have no technical skills, but needs merely to authorise the information extraction from their own portal or from a third-party portal.

The information supplier may simply be asked (e.g. via an email or on a Website associated with the centralised information area) whether he/she wishes the extraction of the relevant information to take place. If so, he/she will be asked to complete a specified confirmation action to initiate the procedure, for example by "clicking" on an on-screen authorisation button. Preferably, he/she will be asked to provide a security parameter (such as entering a usemame and password) before the button can be clicked or before the clicking takes effect.

In a preferred form, making the specified confirmation action will run a computer programme (either on the client machine or on the server machine) to automatically extract the relevant information in a form which makes it possible to carry out the information incorporation. The action may simultaneously provide an indication to a person associated with the centralised information area that the action has been taken, eg by sending a 'confirmation of authorisation' email. The action may also initiate a registration procedure, whereby the information supplier is able to register with the centralised information area and subsequently directly put further information to that area.

Ideally, a portal-specific computer programme is used in each case.

The method does not rely on knowledge of the internal structure of the portal database containing the information supplier's information. If the structure is known and accessible then this will clearly aid in the creation of a suitable extraction programme. If it is not known then it may be necessary to examine the portal information from the "front end", in order to analyse the organisation of the form fields, and create a programme able to "trawl" the portal database, retrieve the information therein, and organise the data according to the result of the analysis.

Preferably, the information extracted from each portal is copied into an information holding/management area associated with the centralised information area. The information in this holding/management area can then be processed in order to format it in the common organisational structure at the centralised information area. In a particularly preferred form of the invention the information extracted from each portal is copied into a holding/management area associated with an individual information supplier. Where this occurs, the individual information supplier may control access to the holding/management area in any suitable manner.

If desired, the centralised information may include information about the portals to acknowledge the source of the selective extraction in respect of individual pieces of information.

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method for enabling compiling of data from multiple information suppliers into a centralised information area from which the compiled data can be available to users, including the steps of: providing to each of said multiple information suppliers a data extraction authorisation option, whereby selection of said option by an individual information supplier prompts an intelligent retrieval or extraction of the data associated with the individual information supplier; and enabling reorganising of the data so retrieved or extracted from the multiple information suppliers so to compile said data into said centralised information area.

Preferably, the method includes the step of making said centralised information area searchably accessible to users and/or one or more of said information suppliers.

In a particularly preferred form the extracted information is incorporated into a holding/management area associated with an individual information supplier. Where this occurs, the individual information supplier may control access to the holding/management area in any suitable manner.

The term "authorisation" as used in this specification and claims signifies the agreement by the information supplier to cause of permit the extraction of the information associated with that information supplier. According to the present invention in a third aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method of extracting information from multiple information areas, the information sourced from multiple information suppliers, including the steps of: providing at least one extraction tool; providing an authorisation option to each of the multiple information suppliers; the at least one extraction tool arranged such that, on detecting selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of an individual one of the multiple information suppliers, the at least one extraction tool extracts the information associated with said information supplier from one or more of the multiple information areas.

Preferably, the extracted information is incorporated into a centralised information area, which can be made accessible to users In an alternative or additional form of the invention the extracted information is accessible to one or more of said information suppliers. Ideally the centralised information area includes a searchable database into which the extracted information is loaded.

Preferably, the extraction tool is an executable computer programme, and the selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of an individual one of the multiple information suppliers automatically runs the programme.

The extraction tool programme may be adapted to be run on a client computer associated with said information supplier, or alternatively to run on a server computer associated with the centralised information area.

According to the present invention in a fourth aspect, there is provided a system for extracting information from multiple information areas, the information sourced from one or more information suppliers, the system including: means for providing at least one extraction tool; means for providing an authorisation option to each of said one or more information suppliers; and means for using the at least one extraction tool to extract the information associated with an individual one of said one or more information suppliers from one or more of the multiple information areas on detecting selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of the individual one of the said one or more information suppliers.

In one preferred form the system includes means for incorporating the extracted information into a centralised information area that can be made accessible to users and/or one or more of said information suppliers.

In an alternative or additional form of the invention the system includes means for incorporating the extracted information into a holding/management area associated with an individual information supplier. The system may also include access means to allow the individual information supplier to control access to the holding/management area and the information contained therein.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings, which show an example of the prior art and illustrate an example form of the invention. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawing does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing operation of a method known from the prior art on a computer network system;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing operation of the invention according to one embodiment; and

Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing operation of the invention according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing operation of the invention according to a further additional or alternative embodiment.

Detailed Description

A network system operating a conventional information utilisation method is illustrated in Figure 1. The user 10 who seeks information of a particular nature must use the Internet, via associated browser 20, to access portals 30 which proved access to the desired information in indexed form. To achieve a sufficiently wide coverage the user 10 will typically access a number of portals 30 which index information from different information suppliers 40. The information suppliers 40 may choose to include their information on more than one portal 30, and where this occurs the information must be sequentially entered, often by manually keying in the data, into successive portals 30. The time and cost of entering this information can clearly act as a disincentive for businesses who would otherwise wish to increase their presence on the Internet to encompass additional portals 30.

Referring to Figure 2, the present invention utilises a wholly different approach. User 10 who requires information may, via his or her Internet browser 20, interrogate a centralised server 50 which contains the information of the plurality of information suppliers 40. The centralised server is managed by a service provider 55.

The method of utilising the suppliers' information according to the this exemplary embodiment of the invention is as follows:

The service provider 55 approaches sequentially or simultaneously various identified information suppliers 40 who have chosen to post their information on existing industry specific portals 30. Information suppliers can be approached via email, the email containing an explanation as to the service proposed and how it operates to the benefit of both customers and information suppliers, along with a specific disclaimer. The email also includes an onscreen BUTTON icon, the 'clicking' of which will run an embedded computer programme. Alternatively an information supplier 40 who becomes aware of the service may approach the service provider 55 to request use of the service, and the BUTTON can then be provided to that supplier.

A suitable notice which might accompany the offer, for example as a cursor pop-up notice when a computer screen cursor is passed over the BUTTON icon, is as follows:

"BY USING THIS BUTTON YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ITS UNDERLYING

MECHANISM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ENABLE YOU TO GAIN ADDITIONAL PROMOTION FOR YOUR BRAND AND PROPERTIES. BY USING THIS BUTTON YOUR BRAND AND PROPERTY INFORMATION WILL APPEAR IN MORE LOCATIONS AND BE MORE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE INTERNET THAN CURRENTLY EXISTS. THIS BUTTON HAS ALSO BEEN

DEVELOPED TO ENABLE YOU TO GAIN THESE BENEFITS WITHOUT HAVING TO RE-KEY YOUR INFORMATION ONTO THE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS." information supplier 40 can then decide whether they wish their information, held on one or more portal 30, to be extracted from the portal(s). Where the information supplier chooses to select the authorisation option the BUTTON is then pressed to confirm acceptance of the terms and conditions and to execute the programme to selectively extract the information supplier's information from the portal(s) 30. The information supplier 40 is then provided with a registration notice from service provider 55 by which he/she can register to include the extracted information in centralised information area 50, and so make that information available in a centralised manner according to the terms and conditions proposed. If the information supplier 40 is already registered with the service provider, once the BUTTON is pressed the information supplier 40 may be required to enter a user name and password according to their registration before the extraction programme can be initiated.

For each portal 30, the service provider 55 will have created a specific BUTTON programme through analysis of that portal 30 and specifically how the information fields are arranged therein. This allows execution of the programme to effect, in a manner dedicated to that target portal, the extraction of information from the portal 30 to the centralised server holding/management area. Often, an information supplier 40 has access to "member services" of a portal 30 by way of, say, a user identification (userid) and password, in order to be able to post information to that portal site. The BUTTON programme may access the information from portal 30 through the same route, in which case information supplier 40 will be required to enter the relevant userid and password on pressing the BUTTON, to make the data available via this access route to the extraction tool. The advantage of using this access route to the portal information is that the data fields may be more readily collected, and in a form which is simpler to process for subsequent use at another information area. Alternatively, the BUTTON initiated extraction tool may access the information via the "front end" of the portal site, and merely "trawl" through the searchable information, copying data associated with the particular information supplier. If the portal information is in a standardised format such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) format, rather than HTML format, it may be possible to employ a common BUTTON programme for use by different information suppliers.

Figure 3 further illustrates in flowchart form the exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein a customised extraction tool (the BUTTON programme) is sent to an information supplier. As explained above, the information supplier has the option of whether they choose to make their information available for further use by means of the authorisation option. If authorisation is declined then the procedure ceases and no further action is taken in respect of that information supplier, unless the decision is made to approach that supplier at a later time. Where authorisation is granted by the information supplier, a message may be sent to the centralised server or service provider thereby notifying the action of the information supplier. In addition to notifying either the centralised server or service provider, the selection of the BUTTON option then executes the extraction programme, which copies the component parts of the information supplier's information in field format from the portal, and places it in the holding/management area within or associated with the centralised server. Registration of the supplier may take place at any suitable step within the process. Where registration is required the information supplier may be presented with a registration form to enable registration with the service provider, and the registration process then provides to the information supplier a userid and password. Once the information is verified as complete and suitable for utilisation, completion of the registration process verifies that the information supplier wishes their information to be made available via the new platform/system of the present invention. The information extracted can go into a distinct management area associated with the user or information supplier, or alternatively it may be incorporated with information from other users in a common centralised database. Where information is incorporated onto a centralised server the information is incorporated by inserting appropriate field information into the appropriate part of the centralised information database, or by collectively recompiling the centralised database.

Where the extracted information is transferred to a holding/management area associated with the individual information supplier the information supplier is provided with control of that area. This allows the information supplier to choose the users who will be granted permission to access the holding/management area to view the information supplier's information.

The invention also provides for an updating procedure where a registered information supplier has their information updated from the portal to which they originally posted the information. This can be done by pressing the BUTTON again, perhaps at regular intervals, or the regular updating can be automated for all information suppliers registered with the service provider. Additionally or alternatively, registered information suppliers can choose to use "member services" provided by the centralised server 50 or service provider 55 to directly post new information as it becomes available, which information can if desired then also be copied to portals 30 via means associated with service provider 55.

Application of the method of the present invention whereby an individual information supplier chooses to have their extracted information copied into a holding/management area associated with the individual information supplier is shown in Figure 4. In a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure 2 the embodiment in Figure 4 illustrates a situation where the information supplier 140 has posted their information on industry specific portals 130. Upon acceptance of the extraction process, the information (instead of being copied to a centralised server) is copied to a holding/management area 150 controlled by the information supplier 140. The information supplier then can give users 110 authorisation to access the holding/management area and the information contained therein. This provides the information supplier with control over who can view their information.

The system and method of the present invention may be incorporated into networks of many structures and sizes. The drawings and description above are intended to provide one example of a configuration in which the invention may be implemented, and are not intended to limit the applicability of the present invention to other configurations.

Applications of the present invention may include retail or wholesale goods in all industry sectors, such as automotive, electronics and pharmaceuticals, as well as service industries including, at least, real estate markets, financial institutions, and employment markets.

While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method for enabling the provision of centralised information by way of a networked computer system, including the steps of: identifying one or more relevant information suppliers; identifying at least one portal via which said information suppliers make the information available to users by way of the networked computer system; and providing each information supplier with an optional facility whereby the information available via the at least one portal can be selectively extracted from the portal.

2. A method according to claim 1 , including the steps of: incorporating the extracted information in a common organisational structure at a centralised information area; and making the centralised information area accessible to users and/or one or more of said information suppliers by way of the networked computer system.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the networked computer system is the Internet.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, including the step of requiring entry of a security parameter before the extraction of the information from the portal can take place.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein selection of the extraction by way of the optional facility runs a computer programme to automatically extract the relevant information in a form which makes it possible to carry out the information incorporation.

6. A method according to claim 5, the programme arranged to run on a computer associated with the information supplier.

7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein selection of the extraction by way of the optional facility will additionally provide, by way of the networked computer system, an indication to a person associated with the centralised information area that the selection has been made.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the information extracted from each portal is copied into an information holding/management area.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the information holding/management area is associated with the centralised information area.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information extracted from each portal is copied into a holding/management area associated with an individual information supplier.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein access to the holding/management area is controlled by the individual information supplier.

12. A method according to claim 2, wherein the information accessible at the centralised information area includes information about the portals to acknowledge the source of the selective extraction in respect of individual pieces of information.

13. A computer-implemented method for enabling the compiling of data from multiple information suppliers into a centralised information area from which the compiled data can be available to users, including the steps of: providing to each of said multiple information suppliers a data extraction authorisation option, whereby selection of said option by an individual information supplier prompts an intelligent retrieval or extraction of the data associated with the individual information supplier; and enabling reorganising of the data so retrieved or extracted from the multiple information suppliers so to compile said data into said centralised information area.

14. A method according to claim 13, including the steps of: compiling said data into said centralised information area; and making said centralised information area searchably accessible to users and/or one or more of said information suppliers.

15. A computer-implemented method of extracting information from multiple information areas, the information sourced from multiple information suppliers, including the steps of: providing at least one extraction tool; providing an authorisation option to each of the multiple information suppliers; the at least one extraction tool arranged such that, on detecting selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of an individual one of the multiple information suppliers, the at least one extraction tool extracts the information associated with said information supplier from one or more of the multiple information areas.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the extracted information is incorporated into a centralised information area which can be made accessible to users and/ or one or more of said information suppliers.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the centralised information area includes a searchable database into which the extracted information is loaded.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the extracted information is incorporated into a holding/management area associated with an individual information supplier.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein access to the holding/management area is controlled by the individual information supplier.

20. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the extraction tool is an executable computer programme, and the selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of an individual one of the multiple information suppliers automatically runs the programme.

21. A system for extracting information from multiple information areas, the information sourced from one or more information suppliers, the system including: means for providing at least one extraction tool; means for providing an authorisation option to each of said one or more information suppliers; and means for using the at least one extraction tool to extract the information associated with an individual one of said one or more information suppliers from one or more of the multiple information areas on detecting selection of the authorisation option by or on behalf of the individual one of the said one or more information suppliers.

22. A system according to claim 21 including means for incorporating the extracted information into a centralised information area which can be made accessible to users and/or one or more of said information suppliers.

23. A system according to claim 21 including means for incorporating the extracted information into a holding/management area associated with the individual information supplier.

24. A system according to claim 23 including access means to allow the individual informafion supplier to control access to the holding/management area and the information contained therein.

25. A method, substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of Figures 2, 3 or 4.

26. A system, substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of the Figures 2, 3 or 4.