SEARCH ENGINE USING PRIOR SEARCH TERMS, RESULTS AND PRIOR INTERACTION TO CONSTRUCT CURRENT SEARCH TERM RESULTS
First Claim
1. A client device operable to be coupled to an Internet infrastructure, the client device comprising:
- a communication interface;
memory containing at least a portion of a user interaction gathering module; and
processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface and to the memory, the processing circuitry, memory, and communication interface operable to;
receive as input a search string from a user;
output search string information via the communication interface for eventual receipt and processing by an external search server,receive search result pages of a first set of search results based upon the search string;
display the search resultsuse the user interaction gathering module to gather prior search terms, results and user interactions with the first set of search result pages;
send, via the user interaction gathering module information external to the client device via the communication interface for processing by an external search server;
accepting modified search string information and using such modified search string information to change search operations performed with the aid of the external search server; and
receiving a second set of search result pages, comprising refined search results based upon the prior search terms, results, and user interactions that were gathered by user interaction gathering module.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Internet infrastructure contains a search server that delivers search result pages of search results or web sites to client devices based upon a search string. The search results provided to the user take into account prior search terms entered by the user, and may take into account user interaction (or lack thereof) with prior search results as well as additional information other than just the search string and popularity ranking of web pages on the Internet. Specifically, a web browser contained in the client devices displays a first set of search result pages of web sites delivered by the search server in response to a search string. Then, in response to a modified search string and/or monitored and processed user interaction with prior search results, the search server delivers a second set of search result pages, comprising more relevant search information.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A client device operable to be coupled to an Internet infrastructure, the client device comprising:
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a communication interface; memory containing at least a portion of a user interaction gathering module; and processing circuitry coupled to the communication interface and to the memory, the processing circuitry, memory, and communication interface operable to; receive as input a search string from a user; output search string information via the communication interface for eventual receipt and processing by an external search server, receive search result pages of a first set of search results based upon the search string; display the search results use the user interaction gathering module to gather prior search terms, results and user interactions with the first set of search result pages; send, via the user interaction gathering module information external to the client device via the communication interface for processing by an external search server; accepting modified search string information and using such modified search string information to change search operations performed with the aid of the external search server; and receiving a second set of search result pages, comprising refined search results based upon the prior search terms, results, and user interactions that were gathered by user interaction gathering module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A search device that supports delivery of search result pages of web links to a user device based upon a search string, the search device comprising:
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a prior search terms storing module, that stores prior search terms provided by a user over a communication interface until at least a current search session is completed; a prior search results storing module, that stores prior search results until a search session is completed; a prior interaction storing module, that stores prior user interactions with various search results at least until a search session is completed; a search result processing and refinement module that identifies what subsequent search results to provide to the user based upon one or more pieces of information stored by the prior search terms storing module, the prior search results storing module, or the prior interaction storing module. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method performed by a search device that supports a web browser, the method comprising:
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receiving a search string from user input that was provided into the web browser; receiving, via a communication interface, a first set of search result pages containing a list of a first few popularity ranks based upon a processing of the search string; initiating collection of stored information regarding prior search terms, results and user interactions as the user processes the first set of search result pages using the web browser; initiating the computing of a second set of search result pages containing search results that have a set of new popularity ranks by excluding web links that are similar in scope to search results in the first set of search result pages that were of no real interest to user; and assembling the second set of search result pages containing the list of new ranks; and delivering the second set of search result pages to the user via the web browser and a communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification