Methods and systems for user activated automated searching

• US 20020188603A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Hyperthink LLC
• Inventors: Baird, Bruce R., Zollinger, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for automating a search over a network such as the Internet. A user selects data such as text from within an application. The selected data is activated and a search is performed without the user having to leave the application. The search is performed while the user is continuing within the application. When the search is complete, the search results are made available to the user within the application from which the search was initiated. In one embodiment, the data is pre-searched and the results are cached such that the results are already available should the user desire. The present invention is particularly suited to integration with an operating system such that the methods of the present invention are thereby available to all applications. Alternatively, the present invention can be specific to a particular application.

Claims

1. In a system having at least one application, a method for executing a search from within the at least one application, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting one or more search terms within the at least one application;

activating the one or more search terms;

performing a search based on the one or more search terms; and

returning search results to the at least one application.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one application is selected from the group of:

word processor;

spreadsheet, database, image processor;

web browser;

text recognition;

email client, and operating system.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further comprises the step of automatically selecting the one or more search terms pursuant to pre-defined rules.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring the search.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of searching according to a context of the one or more search terms.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the search results.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of presenting the search results to the user without the user having to exit the at least one application.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the search is performed without the user having to exit the at least one application.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of the manipulating, by a user, the search results.

10. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

11. In a computer system connected to a network, a method for performing a search over the network, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting search data within at least one application in the computer system;

activating the search data;

performing a search on the search data from within the at least one application such that the user is not required to open another application;

returning search results to a user within the at least one application, wherein the user views the search results within the at least one application.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the search data comprises text.

13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of activating further comprises the step of configuring the search.

14. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of activating further comprises the step of selecting at least one search location.

15. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 11.

16. In a computer system having access to one or more applications, the computer system connected to a network, a method for searching over the network, the method comprising the steps of:

within an application, previewing data within at least one application;

selecting a portion of the previewed data as search terms;

performing a search based on the portion of the previewed data without user input;

caching search results from the search, wherein the search results are readily available to a user.

17. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 16.