Universal search engine

• US 20050177562A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Limelight Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Raciborski, Nathan F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation

Abstract

According to the invention, a search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets is disclosed. Included in the search system are a first interface portion, a preference and a search translation unit. The first interface portion receives a search query from an end user. A preference indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query. The preference is modifiable by the end user. The target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone. The target search engine may operate upon an intranet dataset or an Internet dataset. The search translation unit that determines the target search engine indicated by the preference. The search translation unit also translates the search query with a syntax used by the target search engine to create a translated search query. The search translation unit is hosted within an intranet used by the end user.

Claims

1. A search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets, the search system comprising:

a first interface portion for receiving a search query from an end user;

a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein;

the preference is modifiable by the end user,

the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone, and

the target search engine may operate upon an intranet dataset or an Internet dataset; and

a search translation unit that;

determines the target search engine indicated by the preference, and

translates the search query with a syntax used by the target search engine to create a translated search query, wherein the search translation unit is hosted within an intranet used by the end user.

2. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the search query is defined by at least one of:

entry of a text string into a command line interface; and

manipulation of a graphical user interface.

3. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein modification of the preference changes the target search engine.

4. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the search query indicates a plurality of target search engines that are searched.

5. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the translation unit is part of an application running on an intranet of the end user.

6. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the translation unit is part of an application running on a computing device of the end user.

7. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein an input syntax, that the search query is based upon, is configurable by the end user.

8. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the preference indicates a plurality of target search engines to be searched.

9. The search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets as recited in claim 1, wherein the translated search query is displayed automatically.

10. A method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with a single search interface, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from an end user;

receiving a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein;

the preference is modifiable by the end user, and

the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone;

determining the target search engine indicated by the preference;

translating the search query with a syntax used by the target search engine to create a translated search query, wherein translation step is performed within an intranet that is used by the end user; and

sending the translated search query to the target search engine.

11. The method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with the single search interface as recited in claim 10, wherein the translating step is performed upon a computing device of the end user.

12. The method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with the single search interface as recited in claim 10, wherein the search query is defined by at least one of:

entry of a text string into a command line interface; and

manipulation of a graphical user interface.

13. The method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with the single search interface as recited in claim 10, wherein the search query indicates a plurality of target search engines that are searched.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with a single search interface of claim 10.

15. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with a single search interface of claim 10.

16. A method for searching with search engines, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from an end user at a computer system;

receiving a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein;

the preference is modifiable by the end user, and

the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone;

determining the target search engine indicated by the preference;

translating the search query with a syntax used by the target search engine to create a translated search query, wherein translation step is performed within the computer system that is used by the end user; and

sending the translated search query to the target search engine.

17. The method for searching with search engines as recited in claim 16, wherein an input syntax, that the search query is based upon, is configurable by the end user.

18. The method for searching with search engines as recited in claim 16, wherein the preference corresponds to the target search engine on a computing device of the end user and a second target search engine on the Internet.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for searching with search engines as recited of claim 16.

20. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for searching with search engines as recited of claim 16.