Search toolbar
First Claim
1. A toolbar apparatus including program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to:
- display a control panel listing a plurality of information sources, wherein at least one of the information sources is accessed via a computer network, and at least one of the information sources is not accessed via a computer network;
record a user selection associated with a quantity of selected information sources from the plurality of information sources;
display, in a toolbar, a quantity of data entry fields that is based on the quantity of selected information sources, such that each of the data entry fields is associated with a selected information source;
receive a search query entered into a data entry field; and
submit the search query to the selected information source associated with the data entry field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toolbar apparatus includes program code stored in computer readable memory. The program code is configured display a control panel listing a plurality of information sources. At least one of the information sources is accessed via a computer network, and at least one is not. The program code is further configured to record a user selection associated with a quantity of selected information sources from the plurality of information sources. The program code is further configured to display, in a toolbar, a quantity of data entry fields that is equal to the quantity of selected information sources. Each of the data entry fields is associated with a selected information source. The program code is further configured to receive a search query entered into a data entry field. The program code is further configured to submit the search query to the selected information source associated with the data entry field.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A toolbar apparatus including program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to:
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display a control panel listing a plurality of information sources, wherein at least one of the information sources is accessed via a computer network, and at least one of the information sources is not accessed via a computer network;
record a user selection associated with a quantity of selected information sources from the plurality of information sources;
display, in a toolbar, a quantity of data entry fields that is based on the quantity of selected information sources, such that each of the data entry fields is associated with a selected information source;
receive a search query entered into a data entry field; and
submit the search query to the selected information source associated with the data entry field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A method for providing a search interface, the method comprising displaying a search toolbar including a plurality of dialogue boxes that include a text entry field label positioned within the dialogue box, wherein the search toolbar is configured to hover over, and is not associated with, an application window or a system menu bar.
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23. A method for providing a search system interface, the method comprising:
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displaying a toolbar having a plurality of search fields;
submitting a sample query to a website having search functionality, thereby transmitting to the website a plurality of HTTP packets containing the sample query;
analyzing the plurality of HTTP packets to determine an HTTP POST syntax used by the website to receive a search query; and
adding a new search field to the toolbar, wherein the new search field is configured to submit a search query entered therein to the website using the HTTP POST syntax, thereby causing the website the generate search results based on the search query. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for providing a search system interface, the method comprising:
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displaying a toolbar having a plurality of dialogue boxes;
submitting a sample query to a website having search functionality, thereby causing the website to generate a webpage listing search results based on the sample query, wherein the webpage has a uniform resource locator;
analyzing the uniform resource locator to determine a syntax used by the website to generate search results; and
adding a new dialogue box to the toolbar, wherein the new dialogue box is configured to submit a search query entered therein to the website using the syntax, thereby causing the website to generate search results based on the search query. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A search apparatus, comprising:
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a toolbar that is not associated with an application window or a system menu bar, the toolbar including a plurality of search interfaces that are displayed simultaneously with each other, including (a) a website search interface having an associated website search dialogue box and a website search history list, and (b) a local search interface having an associated local search dialogue box and a local search history list; and
a computer configured to;
incrementally search a search history list as characters are entered into a search interface corresponding to the search history list;
submit a search query entered into the website search dialogue box to a website associated with the website search dialogue box, wherein the website is accessed via a computer network; and
perform a search on a local storage device based on a search query entered into the local search dialogue box, wherein the local storage device forms a part of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A toolbar application including program code stored on a computer in computer readable memory, the program code configured to:
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display a control panel listing a plurality of user selectable information sources;
at least partially cause a toolbar to be added to a user interface of an application, the application distributed separately from the toolbar application, wherein the toolbar includes a quantity of search dialogue fields that is based on a quantity of information sources selected by the user in the control panel, wherein each of the search dialogue fields corresponds to one of the quantity of information sources selected by the user in the control panel, and a preferences menu though which the control panel is accessible; and
cause a search to be performed on an information source using a term entered into the corresponding search dialogue field. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A toolbar apparatus including program code stored in computer readable memory, the program code configured to:
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at least partially cause a toolbar to be displayed on a user terminal, wherein the toolbar includes a dialogue field associated with a control panel that includes a plurality of user selectable search engines;
determine whether a text entered into the dialogue field is a search term or a command;
if the text entered in the dialogue field is not a command, cause the text to be transmitted to a search engine selected by the user from the control panel; and
if the text entered in the dialogue field is a command, cause the command to be executed. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification