METHOD AND SYSTEM OF INTERACTING WITH A SERVER, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND PRESENTING SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20110066607A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chin San Sathya Wong
• Original Assignee: Chin San Sathya Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Chin San Sathya
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3326 using relevance feedback from the user, e.g. relevance feedback on documents, documents sets, document terms or passages
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Method of generating search results for a search engine which allows users to provide feedback to the search engine. Historical data for all searches performed are kept by the search engine which is used to modify the results generated by other conventional means. When the results are displayed to the user, the user is able to interact with the system and provide feedback which modifies the historical data. Such feedback can then be used in future searches to generate results which are better ranked and clustered according to relevance to the search request. Conveniently, the user is able to provide at least part of his feedback by clicking on “up” and “down” buttons, in addition to ranked search results, the system may display other records associated with the search enquiry, such as a chatroom on that topic.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method for generating search results in a search engine, the method comprising:

(a) registering a search request made by a user,

(b) determining whether a database contains characteristic data previously entered by human users and indicating the characteristics of a plurality of internet webpages having relevance to the search request, and

(c) if the determination is positive, extracting the characteristic data from the database and presenting search results for the webpages in a manner determined by the characteristic data;

wherein the search engine is arranged to receive input from a user which modifies the characteristic data relating to a given search result, the user input being a member of the group consisting of;

(i) a recommendation not to display the search result in response to future searches, and (ii) a recommendation to label the search result as relating to a website containing adult content.

37. A method according to claim 36 in wherein at least part of the characteristic data indicates the relevance of the data to the search request, and in step (c) the search results are presented in an order determined by the characteristic data.

38. A method according to claim 37 in which the search results are presented together with a respective set of one or more buttons clickable by the user to modify the characteristic data.

39. A method according to claim 38 in which the buttons include at least a button which lowers the rank of the corresponding search result within the order, and a button which raises the rank of the corresponding search result within the order.

40. A method according to claim 36 in which the search results are presented in combination with other data relevant to the search term and previously entered by human users.

41. A method according to claim 40 in which the other data comprises a chatroom related to the search term.

42. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises extracting data pertaining to a geographical location of the client, said geographical location being used as said characteristic data.

43. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining a language in which the user made the search request, said language being used as said characteristic data.

44. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining an internet service provider of a user making the search request, said internet service provider being used as said characteristic data.

45. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining an internet browser software or operating system software and corresponding software settings of a system making the search request, said software and software settings being used as said characteristic data.

46. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining a local time and weather of a location of a user making the search request, said local time and weather being used as said characteristic data.

47. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises identifying computer software installed on a system making the search request, said computer software installed being used as said characteristic data.

48. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises identifying computer hardware installed on a system making the search request, said computer hardware installed being used as said characteristic data.

49. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining a user account of a user, extracting user profile information from said user account, said user profile information being used as said characteristic data.

50. A method according to claim 36 in which the step of extracting characteristic data comprises determining one or more groups of which the user is part, extracting historical data from said groups, said historical data from the groups being used as said characteristic data.

51. A method according to claim 36 in which said characteristic data is obtained by a method comprising;

(a) determining whether a client system has downloaded data mining tools from the search engine,

(b) if the determination is negative, automatically downloading the data mining tools to the client system and storing any data collected on the client in the data mining tools, or

(c) if the determination is positive, automatically updating any data collected on the data mining tools, and

(d) transmitting said data in the data mining tools to the search engine;

wherein, said data in the data mining tools is stored and used as said characteristic data to improve search results.

52. A method according to claim 51 in which said transmitted data is encrypted and the data is only accessible after decryption. The level or degree of compression and or encryption (of software used or method deployed) is based system/hardware profiling, software installed, user profiling and or the date/time of the system performing the compression/encryption processes. e.g. the encryption technique deployed can be done in conjunction to match the latest trend in accordance to Amdahl'"'"'s law of processor speed such that the time needed to encrypt/decrypt the encrypted messages will not deviate too greatly from when the encryption technique is first used. For example, in year 2002, a Pentium III 667 Ghz system is able to decrypt a message in 300 days, the encryption method deployed in 2007 using similar Pentium III 667 Ghz system will try to adjust for the difference in technological differences and deploy better encryption technique to allow for the latest Pentium systems of similar class category to decrypt in around 300 days too. This is done to prevent the latest Pentium systems of similar class category from decrypting the message in a much shorter time frame thus allowing system administrators much more time to reinforce or instill better system integrity in the event of stolen encrypted data by malicious users such as hackers or crackers.

53. A method according to claim 52 in which said decryption involves the use of biometric security devices to identify and allow decryption of said encrypted characteristic data.