Content/information search system

• US 20070282836A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Son, Chan
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

An information search system that enables efficient collection of information and support of formation of groups which people who share a same interest can join over a network. This system includes an intermediate server and a central server, wherein the intermediate server retains indexes for searching the content database on the central server. Users issue a search request to the intermediate server and search results are returned and recorded on the intermediate server as a search history. The search history is shared by users and used as references from which retrievable content can be selected.

Claims

1. A central server, comprising:

a retaining unit that generates and retains key data to be attached to a user search history and to be connected with an identifying information of a first user, when the first user has performed a search operation;

a sending unit that sends the key data to a user terminal operated by the first user; and

an identifying unit that identifies the first user by verifying matching between the key data retained by the retaining unit and key data included in the user search history of the first user, when a second user obtains information by referencing the user search history of the first user.

2. The central server according to claim 1, wherein the key data included in the user search history is encrypted with a private key which is pre-assigned to the first user;

and

when the second user refers to the user search history including the encrypted key data, the encrypted key data is further encrypted with a private key which is pre-assigned to the second user and the double encrypted key data is sent to the central server, the identifying unit for identifying the first user that decrypts the double encrypted key and verifies the matching.

3. The central server according to claim 2, wherein a reward is given to the first user identified when the matching between the key data is confirmed.