METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SHARING AND ACCESSING RESOURCES

• US 20080016218A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Thomas E., Bostic, Brad, Jones, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method and system for sharing and accessing resources useable to retrieve information is provided. Data of resources used by human providers to retrieve information in response to a query from requesters are maintained in a database for use in relation to subsequent queries. The method and system identifies categories and/or keywords of queries for which the resources were used to retrieve information and indicates the resources to providers and/or requesters as a search resource(s).

Claims

1. A method of sharing a resource across a network, comprising:

identifying a resource utilized for a search in association with a keyword contained in the search; and

distributing the resource to providers registered to accept searches related to the keyword.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distributed resource is provided to retrieve information responsive to a subsequent search related to the keyword.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource is associated with a category and/or subcategory of the keyword.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the providers execute the searches on behalf of and in response to a query from requesters.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource is a search engine or an Internet directory.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource is a private database made accessible to the providers.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the private database includes information independently compiled by one or more of the providers.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource is set as a default resource for a subsequent search to request information in relation to the keyword.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the resource is set as the default resource when the providers registered to accept searches related to the keyword are unavailable.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

enabling at least one of the providers to associate a new resource with the keyword upon authorization; and

presenting the new resource to the providers accepting searches related to the keyword.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the resource against other resources used for searches in association with the keyword; and

distributing each resource to the providers in accordance with the ranking.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ranking is based on frequency of use of the resource by the providers for searches related to the keyword.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the providers select from the resources to execute the search.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said keyword is an entire content of the search.

15. A method, comprising:

tracking resources used to retrieve information related to a keyword; and

automatically directing a query having the keyword to at least one of the resources when the keyword is submitted as part of the query.

16. A method, comprising:

storing resources utilized for searches in association with categories identified with the searches; and

selecting a resource among said resources for a query submitted based on one of a keyword contained in the query and a category of the query in accordance with said association.

17. An interface, comprising:

an input field for entering a query to be searched; and

a display control displaying at least one resource associated with a keyword contained in the query.

18. An interface, comprising:

an input field for entering a query to be searched; and

a display control displaying at least one resource associated with a category of the query.

19. A system, comprising:

a requester device submitting a query;

a provider device receiving the query for a search; and

a database for storing at least one resource previously used for retrieving information pertaining to content of the query.

20. A method of accessing resources, comprising

recording prior usage of resources in association with a keyword or category;

displaying the resources as public resources to providers associated with the keyword or category; and

enabling each of the providers to selectively use the resources.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the said search resource is indicated to a provider.

21. A method of providing use of human selected resources, comprising:

maintaining a record of previously used resource in association with a subject matter of a request for which results were returned; and

providing the recorded resource for a search when a new request matching the subject matter of the previously used resource is submitted.

22. A method for sharing and accessing resources, comprising:

recording resources in association with a keyword or category based on one of prior usage of the resources, popularity of the resources among providers registered for the keyword or category, or default status of the resources as defined by the providers;

adding a new resource associated with the keyword or category upon determination of the new resource;

displaying the recorded resources to each provider associated with the keyword or category, said displaying including indicating resources shared among the providers and ranked usage data of resource(s) based on percentage of the providers using the resources;

indicating resources activated for use with different characteristics than non-activated resources;

enabling a provider among the providers to configure the resources to be provider specific including providing an input box for entering an additional resource, setting resources to be shared with other providers and selecting a particular resource as a favorite; and

supplying results from the recorded resources to requester(s) including when the providers are unavailable to accept a query from a requester.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the resource is distributed to providers registered to conduct a search pertaining to the keyword or phrase and/or the category.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the resource is made available for subsequent search requests containing the keyword or phrase.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the category is defined by the provider.

29. The method according to claim 22, comprising:

displaying resources commonly used by providers registered for the keyword or phrase in addition to the resource selected by the provider.

23. A method, comprising:

determining whether a keyword associated with a query has a corresponding search resource; and

indicating the search resource to a user.

25. A method, comprising:

associating a keyword or phrase of a request with a category indicated by a provider registered to accept search requests; and

enabling the provider to select a resource to be associated with the category and making the resource available for conducting a search in response to the request.