Method, device and software for querying and presenting search results
First Claim
1. A method of presenting search results in a response to an end-user query, said search results being combined from results from a plurality of indexes, each of said search results having an associated key field, said method comprising:
- (i) querying index entries of each of said plurality of indexes using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain a set of matching search results for each index, each matching search result having a quality of match specific to its index;
(ii) determining a relative priority to each of said plurality of indexes;
(iii) combining said matching search results from said plurality of indexes into a merged list of ordered search results based on said relative priority of each of said plurality of indexes, in which any search result from a lower priority index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in a higher priority index is discarded, in favor of said matching search result from said higher priority index.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a method, device, and software for presenting search results in a response to an end-user query. Search results are combined from results from a plurality of indexes, each of the search results having an associated key field. Index entries of each of the plurality of indexes are queried using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain a set of matching search results for each index, each matching search result having a quality of match specific to its index. A relative priority is determined for each of the plurality of indexes and the matching search results from the plurality of indexes are combined into a merged list of ordered search results based on the determined priority. A search result from a lower priority index is discarded in favor of any matching search result from a higher priority index.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of presenting search results in a response to an end-user query, said search results being combined from results from a plurality of indexes, each of said search results having an associated key field, said method comprising:
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(i) querying index entries of each of said plurality of indexes using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain a set of matching search results for each index, each matching search result having a quality of match specific to its index; (ii) determining a relative priority to each of said plurality of indexes; (iii) combining said matching search results from said plurality of indexes into a merged list of ordered search results based on said relative priority of each of said plurality of indexes, in which any search result from a lower priority index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in a higher priority index is discarded, in favor of said matching search result from said higher priority index. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of presenting search results in a response to an end-user query, said search results being combined from results from at least first and second indexes, each of said search results having an associated key field, said method comprising:
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(i) querying index entries from a first index using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain matching search results, and identifying at least one relative placement position associated with each said matching search result; (ii) querying index entries from a second index using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain matching search results; (iii) combining said matching search results from said first and second indexes into a merged ordered list of search results, in which each matching search result from said first index is placed in said relative placement position, and any search result from said second index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in said first index is discarded, in favor of said matching search result from said first index. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing device comprising a processor and computer readable memory, said memory storing
a plurality of indexes, each comprising a plurality of index entries, said index entries of said plurality of indexes each having an associated key field, search engine software adapting said device to (i) query index entries of each of said plurality of indexes using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain a set of matching search results for each index, each matching search result having a quality of match specific to its index; -
(ii) determine a relative priority to each of said plurality of indexes; (iii) combine said matching search results from said plurality of indexes into a merged list of ordered search results based on said relative priority of each of said plurality of indexes, in which any search result from a lower priority index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in a higher priority index is discarded, in favor of said matching search result from said higher priority index. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer readable medium, storing computer executable instructions that when loaded at a computing device comprising a processor and processor readable memory storing a plurality of indexes, each of said indexes comprising a plurality of index entries having an associated key field, adapt said computing device to:
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(i) query index entries of each of said plurality of indexes using an index-specific search algorithm to obtain a set of matching search results for each index, each matching search result having a quality of match specific to its index; (ii) determine a relative priority to each of said plurality of indexes; (iii) combine said matching search results from said plurality of indexes into a merged list of ordered search results based on said relative priority of each of said plurality of indexes, in which any search result from a lower priority index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in a higher priority index is discarded, in favor of said matching search result from said higher priority index. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification