Web address converter for dynamic web pages
I have just read United States Patent Application 20040260722 filed by Microsoft on 2004-07-16. The patent application is titled Web address converter for dynamic web pages
, which immediatly got me interested.
Note that I am not a patent lawyer, I will never be one, but this patent seems to be fairly broad, and covers in great detail how to create search-engine-friendly URLs from database queries. Read on
What is the patent describing?
The very first claim in the patent is:
A static address to dynamic address (S-to-D address) conversion method comprising: receiving a static address pointing to a dynamic Web page; parsing the static address to identify at least one value associated with a field within the static address; and generating a dynamic address incorporating at least one value associated with a field, wherein the dynamic address points to the dynamic Web page.
From there on, the patent describes a mechanism for converting web site addresses from a “static” form to a “dynamic”
Details and implications.
Translated into examples, what Microsoft is applying a patent for is a method to rewrite a search-engine friendly URL such as http://example.com/cat/linux/vendor/redhat/ or even http://example.com/linux/redhat/ into a more complex query, such as http://example.com/q.asp?cat=linux&vendor=RedHat
Sounds familiar? Well, it should. Meet mod_rewrite. Unless I have fundamentally misread the patent application, the following mod_rewrite rule would infringe on this patent, if granted:
RewriteRule ^(.*)/(.*)/(.*)/(.*)$ q.asp?$1=$2&$3=$4If granted, this would mean that many, if not most database-driven CMSes written during the last four years that facilitate more or less complex URL rewriting to provide human and search engine friendly URLs would be infringing.
Comments
Comment from SSL Certificate on 2004-12-24 15:34
This may be the result of their search engine team struggling with how best to index/crawl dynamically generated URLs. Lately, Microsoft seems to be doing what IBM has done for years - very strongly encouraged/rewarded employees to work with company lawyers to patent anything even potentially remotely patentable. It builds up a patent portfolio to go to war with/cross-license with others who have large portfolios. So, a search engine guy reads the memo on trying to find patentable IP, thinks about what he has been working with, and we get that.
Comment from Lasse G. Dahl on 2004-12-25 14:20
On a server without mod_rewrite, I do the rewrite-thing using Errordocument 404, and responding with 200 if my script finds anything useful in the “wrong” URL.
Maybe I should hurry to the patent office, before Microsoft or similar sees the idea?
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