Method and system for search engine enhancement

• US 20050209992A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Otopy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Otopy, Inc.
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Feroglia, Gene
• Application Number:
  US11/035,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/374 Thesaurus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A method and a system for search enhancement that can deal with semantic differences in a manner that does not require the user to have a PhD in search or in linguistics. Furthermore, extended, semi-automatic use of synonyms of related terms is necessary to avoid interaction with an ontological tree, as is typically presented by large search portals on the public Internet. Using a common Thesaurus as a basis; which improves over time based upon collective use is one of the novel elements in this approach. In addition, a user friendly navigation schema for easily exposing where to go for a particular result is mandatory. Furthermore, it is desirable, that such interface be intuitive to use, and not require lengthy training for fast and effective use.

Claims

1. ) A method comprising:

in response to receiving a first search phrase, providing search enhancement by providing one or more separate search phrases prior to a search.

2. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the search enhancement includes offering one or more separate words based on semantics of one or more words of the search phrase.

3. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the search enhancement includes offering one or more separate words based on thesaurus relation of one or more words of the search phrase.

4. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the search phrase includes multiple words.

5. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the search enhancement further include providing visual cues to assist in navigating to one or more separate search phrases.

6. ) The method of claim 5, wherein the visual cues include one or more of a color component, font sizes, and textures.

7. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the search enhancement further includes providing audio cues to assist in navigating to one or more separate search phrases.

8. ) The method of claim 1 wherein the search enhancement further includes providing one or more separate search phrases organized to present at least two from a group comprising of synonyms of the search phrase, related terms of the search phrase, one or more search phrases broader than the first search phrase, and one or more search phrases more narrow than the first search phrase.

9. ) The method of claim 1 wherein the search enhancement further includes providing the search enhancement of one or more separate search phrase in one of a polygon interface and a list.

10. ) The method of claim 1, further including revealing results of one of the separate search phrases in response to placing a cursor over one of the separate search phrases for a predetermined period of time without clicking.

11. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more advertisements related to one or more terms of the first search phrase.

12. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more advertisements related to one or more terms of the first search phrase and not keywords of a search.

13. ) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing one or more advertisements related to a separate search phrase having a cursor placed over the separate search phrase.

14. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing search enhancement by providing one or more separate search phrases prior to a search includes providing the search enhancement on one of a mobile device, a personal computer, and a television.

15. ) The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the search phrase via an audible input.

16. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more separate search phrases are accessed from a dynamic self-learning thesaurus.

17. ) The method of claim 16, further includes expanding the dynamic self-learning thesaurus by at least one of identifying connections among search terms or phrases by tracing click-throughs, and adding terms via crawling publications.

18. ) The method of claim 9, further comprising in response to selection of a trigger, toggling between the polygon interface and showing search results.

19. ) A system comprising:

a means for providing search enhancement, in response to receiving a first search phrase, by providing one or more separate search phrases prior to a search.

20. ) A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed perform a method comprising:

in response to receiving a first search phrase, providing search enhancement by providing one or more separate search phrases prior to a search.