System and method for improving integrity of internet search
First Claim
1. A method for improving the integrity of search results, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a search query from a user via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server;
using a search engine to obtain a set of potential search results using the search query;
for each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, accessing a set of data sources to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of a business associated with the Internet domain or web site;
using said legitimacy information to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for said Internet domain or web site; and
returning the processed search results to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided to receive a search query from a user, typically via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server. A search engine obtains a set of potential search results based on the search query. For each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, a set of data sources is accessed to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of the business associated with the Internet domain or web site. The legitimacy information is used to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for the Internet domain or web site. The processed search results are returned to the user.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method for improving the integrity of search results, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a search query from a user via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server; using a search engine to obtain a set of potential search results using the search query; for each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, accessing a set of data sources to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of a business associated with the Internet domain or web site; using said legitimacy information to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for said Internet domain or web site; and returning the processed search results to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for providing a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising the steps of:
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generating a search query; transmitting the search query via the Internet to a search engine using a web browser; providing the search query to the search engine; performing initial processing of the search query by the search engine; performing the search and accumulating a set of search results by means of the search engine, each of which contains at least a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying an Internet domain and page on the World Wide Web selected by the search; receiving the search results; extracting a list of URLs and domains; performing domain processing on the list of domains; returning an integrity rating; using the integrity rating to reorder and annotate the search results so as to move results with relatively lower integrity ratings downward in the results; and returning the reordered and annotated search results to the web browser via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing a background web crawler for performing domain integrity evaluation in bulk, in advance of search queries, comprising the steps of:
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providing a background web crawler continuously scanning through the World Wide Web on the Internet; performing domain processing and integrity evaluation on each Uniform Resource Locator (URL) found by said web crawler, comprising the steps of; checking a domain name included in an Internet domain as part of a URL against a local database of known domains and URLs for which integrity ratings are available to eliminate unnecessary reprocessing of domains already evaluated; if the domain is in the database indicating an integrity rating is already available, bypassing further processing and returning an integrity rating immediately; and if the domain is not already in the database, using name and address extraction to attempt to obtain a physical name and address associated with the domain; if a reliable name and address are obtained, collecting business information; scoring the business information; and using the scored business information to update the integrity rating in the database of known domains so that future queries can be quickly processed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for using an existing directory of web sites in conjunction with providing a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising the steps of:
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using a directory of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to generate a list of URLs to be fetched; collecting business information about the domain associated with each such URL; scoring the business information for each domain to produce web site integrity information; and updating a database of known domains used to present the directory to the browser; thereby allowing the directory to be reordered or annotated according to the web site integrity information.
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27. A method for providing a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising the steps of:
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generating a search query; transmitting the search query via the Internet to a search engine using a web browser; providing the search query to the search engine; performing initial processing of the search query by the search engine; performing the search and accumulating a set of search results by means of the search engine, each of which contains at least a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying an Internet domain and page on the World Wide Web selected by the search; receiving the search results; extracting a list of URLs and domains mentioned in the search results; using the list of domains to generate a domain query to send via the Internet to a web site integrity rating system; receiving the domain query; performing domain processing on the list of domains; returning a set of web site integrity ratings via the Internet; using the web site integrity ratings to reorder and annotate the search results so as to move results with relatively low integrity ratings downward in the results; and returning the reordered and annotated search results to the web browser via the Internet; whereby the search engine and the evaluation of web site integrity are performed by separate services and integrated from within the web browser. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for creating incentives to encourage the proprietors of web sites to improve their legitimacy by complying with appropriate laws, regulations, and business practices, comprising the steps of:
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receiving search queries by a search engine provider; producing search results annotated and ordered so as to move results from a web site with a relatively low integrity rating downward in the results and direct customers towards potential competitors with relatively high integrity ratings; observing a decline in web traffic to a web site from the search engine provider based on the relatively low integrity rating; taking one or more actions by the web site to remedy compliance problems; collecting updated business information; updating records of the search engine provider based on a now improved web site integrity rating; subsequently obtaining search results which tend to encourage potential customers thereafter to do business with the web site based on the improved web site integrity rating; whereby the business then sees increased sales as a result of its compliance. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method for validating on-line advertising sales, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an on-line order for on-line advertising from a prospective advertiser submitted through a web browser via the Internet to a web site that sells advertising; obtaining a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and domain name to be advertised; performing domain processing on the domain; returning a web site integrity rating via the Internet; testing the integrity rating against a threshold of acceptability; if the integrity rating is below the threshold of acceptability, rejecting the on-line advertising order; and if the integrity rating meets or exceeds the threshold, accepting the on-line advertising order and replying to the prospective advertiser that the on-line advertising order is accepted; thereby preventing advertisers of questionable legitimacy from placing advertisements on web sites, improving customer satisfaction, increasing the value of the advertising medium, and making the advertising space more valuable.
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34. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to improve the integrity of search results, comprising:
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first code for receiving a search query from a user of the computer via a web browser, the Internet, and the web server; second code for using a search engine to obtain a set of potential search results using the search query; for each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, third code for accessing a set of data sources to obtain information concerning the legitimacy of a business associated with the Internet domain or web site; fourth code using said legitimacy information to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for said Internet domain or web site; and fifth code for returning the processed search results to the user. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to perform a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising:
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first code for generating a search query; second code for transmitting the search query via the Internet to a search engine using a web browser; third code for providing the search query to the search engine; fourth code for performing initial processing of the search query by the search engine; fifth code for performing the search and accumulating a set of search results by means of the search engine, each of which contains at least a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying an Internet domain and page on the World Wide Web selected by the search; sixth code for receiving the search results; seventh code for extracting a list of URLs and domains; eighth code for performing domain processing on the list of domains; ninth code for returning an integrity rating; tenth code for using the integrity rating to reorder and annotate the search results so as to move results with relatively lower integrity ratings downward in the results; and eleventh code for returning the reordered and annotated search results to the web browser via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to provide a background web crawler for performing domain integrity evaluation in bulk, in advance of search queries, comprising:
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first code for providing a background web crawler continuously scanning through the World Wide Web on the Internet; second code for performing domain processing and integrity evaluation on each Uniform Resource Locator (URL) found by said web crawler, comprising code for; checking a domain name included in an Internet domain as part of a URL against a local database of known domains and URLs for which integrity ratings are available to eliminate unnecessary reprocessing of domains already evaluated; if the domain is in the database indicating an integrity rating is already available, bypassing further processing and returning an integrity rating immediately; and if the domain is not already in the database, using name and address extraction to attempt to obtain a physical name and address associated with the domain; if a reliable name and address are obtained, third code for collecting business information; fourth code for scoring the business information; and fifth code using the scored business information to update the integrity rating in the database of known domains so that future queries can be quickly processed. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to use an existing directory of web sites in conjunction with providing a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising:
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first code for using a directory of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to generate a list of URLs to be fetched; second code for collecting business information about the domain associated with each such URL; third code for scoring the business information for each domain to produce web site integrity information; and fourth code for updating a database of known domains used to present the directory to the browser; whereby the directory is reordered or annotated according to the web site integrity information.
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60. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to provide a search for information available on the World Wide Web on the Internet having enhanced integrity, comprising:
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first code for generating a search query; second code for transmitting the search query via the Internet to a search engine using a web browser; third code for providing the search query to the search engine; fourth code for performing initial processing of the search query by the search engine; fifth code for performing the search and accumulating a set of search results by means of the search engine, each of which contains at least a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) identifying an Internet domain and page on the World Wide Web selected by the search; sixth code for receiving the search results; seventh code for extracting a list of URLs and domains mentioned in the search results; eighth code for using the list of domains to generate a domain query to send via the Internet to a web site integrity rating system; ninth code for receiving the domain query; tenth code for performing domain processing on the list of domains; eleventh code for returning a set of web site integrity ratings via the Internet; twelfth code for using the web site integrity ratings to reorder and annotate the search results so as to move results with relatively low integrity ratings downward in the results; and thirteenth code for returning the reordered and annotated search results to the web browser via the Internet; whereby the search engine and the evaluation of web site integrity are performed by separate services and integrated from within the web browser. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to create incentives to encourage the proprietors of web sites to improve their legitimacy by complying with appropriate laws, regulations, and business practices, comprising:
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first code for receiving search queries by a search engine provider; second code for producing search results annotated and ordered so as to move results from a web site with a relatively low integrity rating downward in the results and direct customers towards potential competitors with relatively high integrity ratings; third code for observing a decline in web traffic to a web site from the search engine provider based on the relatively low integrity rating; fourth code for taking one or more actions by the web site to remedy compliance problems; fifth code for collecting updated business information; sixth code for updating records of the search engine provider based on a now improved web site integrity rating; seventh code for subsequently obtaining search results which tend to encourage potential customers thereafter to do business with the web site based on the improved web site integrity rating; whereby the business then sees increased sales as a result of its compliance. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. A computer system including a web server and at least one other computer connected to the Internet for executing computer code stored in a computer readable medium to validate on-line advertising sales, comprising:
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first code for receiving an on-line order for on-line advertising from a prospective advertiser submitted through a web browser via the Internet to a web site that sells advertising; second code for obtaining a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and domain name to be advertised; third code for performing domain processing on the domain; fourth code for returning a web site integrity rating via the Internet; fifth code for testing the integrity rating against a threshold of acceptability; if the integrity rating is below the threshold of acceptability, sixth code for rejecting the on-line advertising order; and if the integrity rating meets or exceeds the threshold, seventh code for accepting the on-line advertising order and replying to the prospective advertiser that the on-line advertising order is accepted; whereby advertisers of questionable legitimacy are prevented from placing advertisements on web sites, customer satisfaction is improved, the value of the advertising medium is increased, and the advertising space is made more valuable.
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Specification