Systems and methods for unification of search results

• US 20050149500A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawrence, Stephen R., Marmaros, David, Bhatla, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

Systems and methods for the unification of search results are described. In one described system, a program, such as a search engine, executing on a client device receives a search query. The search engine executes the search on a local index and receives a first result set, which is relevant to the query entered by the user. The search query is also executed against a global index. The search engine receives a second result set from the global index. Once the search engine has received both result sets, the search engine combines the result sets to create a combined result set. The search engine may cause the combined result set to be displayed or otherwise output to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing a search query on a local index;

receiving a first result set from the local index, the first result set relevant to the search query;

receiving a second result set from a global index, the second result set relevant to the search query; and

combining the first result set with the second result set to create a combined result set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the search query.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the search query comprises intercepting a search query directed to the global index.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking the combined result set.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined result set comprises a merged result set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined result content display window comprising a first section for displaying the first result set and a second section for displaying the second result set.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a user interface comprising the combined result set.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first result set with the second result set to create a combined result set comprises:

identifying a first article identifier in the first result set; and

replacing a second article identifier in the second result set with the first article.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the search query comprises receiving the search query in a proxy server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the search query comprises receiving the search query in a browser plug-in.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the search query comprises receiving the search query in a firewall.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the search query comprises receiving the search query in a network monitor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the local index comprises a database.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the database comprises a pre-generated result set.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the local index comprises a list of files.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the local index comprises an email application.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the local index comprises a chat application.

18. A method comprising:

identifying a global query directed against a global index;

initiating a local query against a local index, the local query based at least in part on the global query;

identifying a response from the global index;

receiving a response from the local index; and

creating a combined display based at least in part on the response from the global index and the response from the local index.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the local query and the global query occur in parallel.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising ignoring the response from the local index if the response from the local index is not received within a predetermined time after the response from the global index is received.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein creating a combined display based at least in part on the response from the global index and the response from the local index comprises modifying the response from the global index.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein creating a combined display based at least in part on the response from the global index and the response from the local index comprises creating a new display, wherein the response from the local index and the response from the global index are contained in separate sections.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein creating a combined display based at least in part on the response from the global index and the response from the local index comprises creating a new display combining the response from the local index and the response from the global index.

24. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for executing the search query on a local index;

program code for receiving a first result set from the local index, the first result set relevant to the search query;

program code for receiving a second result set from a global index, the second result set relevant to the search query; and

program code for combining the first result set with the second result set to create a combined result set.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for ranking the combined result set.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for generating a user interface comprising the combined result set.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein program code for combining the first result set with the second result set to create a combined result set comprises:

program code for identifying a first article identifier in the first result set; and

program code for replacing a second article identifier in the second result set with the first article.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein program code for receiving the search query comprises program code for receiving the search query in a proxy server.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein program code for receiving the search query comprises program code for receiving the search query in a browser plug-in.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein program code for receiving the search query comprises program code for receiving the search query in a firewall.