System and Method for Providing Requested Information to Thin Clients

Abstract

A system for, and method of, providing requested information to a client. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a core information database that contains core information gleaned from the Internet and restructured according to a predetermined taxonomy and (2) a client communications interface, coupled to the core information database, that receives a request message from a client containing a request for some of the core information, derives a database query from the request message, causes the some of the core information to be retrieved from the core information database, formats the some of the core information into a response message according to display limitations of the client and transmits the response message to the client for display thereby.

1 . An apparatus operable with an information system configured to contain core information, comprising:
 a processor; and   memory including computer program code, said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:
 generate a request message containing a request for some of said core information; 
 receive a response message including said some of said core information and a request for a non-monetary rating of a value of said some of said core information; and 
 display said some of said core information and said request for said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:
 a wireless personal data assistant, 
 a cell telephone, 
 a computer, 
 a supply chain system, and 
 a wired messaging terminal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said core information is restructured according to a predetermined taxonomy. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to display said some of said core information and said request for said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information on different pages. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to limit said display of said some of said core information according to a selected criteria. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to generate a refining request message in response to said response message. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to provide said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said response message including said some of said core information is a function of a profile of said apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said request message is a natural language text message. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said response message comprises a specification associated with said some of said core information. 
     
     
         11 . A method operable with an information system configured to contain core information, comprising:
 generating a request message containing a request for some of said core information;   receiving a response message including said some of said core information and a request for a non-monetary rating of a value of said some of said core information; and   displaying said some of said core information and said request for said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said method is operable on an apparatus selected from the group consisting of:
 a wireless personal data assistant, 
 a cell telephone, 
 a computer, 
 a supply chain system, and 
 a wired messaging terminal. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said core information is restructured according to a predetermined taxonomy. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising displaying said some of said core information and said request for said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information on different pages. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising limiting said display of said some of said core information according to a selected criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising generating a refining request message in response to said response message. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising providing said non-monetary rating of said value of said some of said core information. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said response message including said some of said core information is a function of a profile of an apparatus performing said method. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said request message is a natural language text message. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said response message comprises a specification associated with said some of said core information.