US 7788272

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 7788272:

• Title: Document catalog system
• Assignee: Xerox Corp.
• Inventor: Elton Tarik Ray
• Filing Date: August 4, 2006
• Issue Date: August 31, 2010
• Abstract: The patent describes a method for providing an open-text search service for information sources (e.g., books, multimedia) owned by or located within a physical library. The system uses full-text search engines and databases of scanned content, but limits searches to the library's specific collection, identified by ISBN or other document identification numbers, stored in an access rights database. Users can access this system from within the library or remotely using a library patron ID. The system enforces copyright by limiting the number of simultaneous users accessing a particular information source, based on the library's license rights.
• Legal Status: Expired due to fee-related issues on October 3, 2022, with an effective lapse date of August 31, 2022. The adjusted expiration date was April 13, 2027.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: A search for "CAFC 2026 dockets patent 7788272" did not return any specific active litigation for this patent, which is consistent with its expired status.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Claim 1:
This claim outlines a method for a controlled search service. It involves:

1. Assigning and Storing Licenses: A customer site (e.g., a library) is assigned specific rights (licenses) to information sources, and these rights, along with customer details, are stored in an access rights database.
2. Receiving Search Requests: A user at the customer site sends a search query from their device over a network.
3. Selecting and Searching Information Sources: The system identifies and searches only the information sources (resource materials) that the customer site owns or has licensed for the user's search terms (search property).
4. Determining Access Rights for Search Results: Based on the customer's stored licenses, the system determines which of the found documents the user is permitted to view.
5. Delivering Search Results: A list of these accessible search results is sent to the user's device.
6. Allowing User Selection and Concurrent View Check: The user can select an information source from the list. The system then checks how many simultaneous copies of that particular information source the customer site is licensed to provide, and how many are currently being used by other users at that site.
7. Providing Access (Conditional): If the total number of current users plus the requesting user does not exceed the customer site's licensed limit for that information source, the user is provided with a copy of it.

Claim 16:
This claim is similar to Claim 1 but provides more specific details regarding the license rights and the information sources:

1. Assigning and Storing Licenses: A customer site is assigned licensing rights, which are stored in an access rights database.
2. Receiving Search Requests: A user at the customer site sends a search query from their device over a network.
3. Selecting and Searching Information Sources: The system selects and searches information sources corresponding to resource materials at the customer site for the user's search property.
4. Determining Access Rights for Search Results: It determines which documents the user can view based on the customer site's stored license rights.
5. Delivering Search Results: The search results are delivered to the user's device.
6. Allowing User Selection and Detailed Concurrent View Check: The user can select an information source. The system then determines the number of viewable copies for which the customer site has license rights. Crucially, this step specifies that these license rights are associated with a customer identification and are stored at the access rights database, which also stores a list of information sources located at the customer site.
7. Determining Current Usage: The system determines the number of copies of that information source currently being used by other devices associated with the customer site.
8. Providing Access (Conditional): If the number of currently used copies plus the requested copy does not exceed the customer site's licensed limit, the user is provided with a copy of the information source.