Extensible search engine

• US 20070038604A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Stienhans, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,347 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 16/953 Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for extending the search functionality of search engines. In one configuration, a method for modifying functionality of a search engine operated by a search engine host involves providing a search function associated with an entity different from the search engine entity and making that search function available to the search engine entity such that searches using the search engine utilize the search function.

Claims

1. A method for modifying functionality of a search engine operated by a search engine entity, comprising:

providing a search function associated with an entity different from the search engine entity; and

making the search function available to the search engine entity such that searches using the search engine utilize the search function.

2. A method for modifying functionality of a search engine, comprising:

providing, by a search engine entity, a search engine with core functionality;

receiving a request by the search engine entity from a search function proprietor to provide a search function; and

facilitating use of the search function with the search engine.

3. A customizable search system comprising:

a server having a search engine with core functionality;

an interface configured to facilitate communication between the search engine a new search function not included in the core functionality, wherein the new search function is hosted by a server located remote with respect to the server having the search engine.

4. A extensible search system comprising:

a first server hosting a library having a set of search functions, each function being capable of providing a type of search result in response to a query; and

a receiver configured to receive a request to add a new search function to the library.

5. A method for extending a set of search functionality of a search engine to include a new search functionality, comprising:

receiving a request to provide the new search functionality in association with the search engine;

determining, as a function of characteristics of the search engine, any compliance problems associated with including new search functionality in the set of search functionality of the search engine; and

making the new search functionality available to searchers accessing the search engine based on the determination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the making step includes the substep of:

including the new search functionality in the set of search functionality of the search engine.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the making step includes the substep of:

including a link to the new search functionality in the set of search functionality of the search engine, the link effecting communication with a server remote from the search engine that hosts the new search functionality.