The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 05, 1997
Raymond J Smets, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Evan Kraus, Atlanta, GA (US);
BellSouth Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus to automate the process of updating and maintaining a dynamically changing database by assigning status states to each entry within the database and operating on those entries in accordance with the status states. More specifically, when a new entry for the database is received (13) it is classified as a short-term entry (11). If the new entry is accessed (14) prior to the expiration of the short-term status (15), then the classification of the entry is changed to long-term (12). Otherwise, if the short-term status expires (15), the entry is functionally removed from the database (10). Long term entries (12) are maintained within the database for an assigned period of time which attempts to emulate the useful life of the entry. Upon expiration of a long-term status (16), the entry is functionally removed from the database (10).