Method and apparatus to search for information
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- querying a plurality of search engines for properties to identify for which content categories the search engines are suited; and
communicating a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content, based on at least one content category of the query to locate content.
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Abstract
A method includes querying a plurality of search engines for properties to identify for which content categories the search engines are suited. A query to locate content is communicated to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content, based on at least one content category of the query to locate content.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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querying a plurality of search engines for properties to identify for which content categories the search engines are suited; and
communicating a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content, based on at least one content category of the query to locate content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
receiving the query to locate content from a query source;
merging returned results from those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content in response to communicating the query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines; and
returning the merged results to the query source.
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3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
identifying each document of the merged results using a combination of a search engine identifier and a document identifier.
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4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
identifying duplicate documents in the merged results according to URLs of the documents.
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5. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content further comprises:
communicating the query to locate content via a CGI entry point.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an Internet URL syntax.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an SQL syntax.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein the returned results further comprise:
an XML format.
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9. An article comprising:
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a machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, result in;
querying a plurality of search engines for properties to identify for which content categories the search engines are suited; and
communicating a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content, based on at least one content category of the query to locate content. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
receiving the query to locate content from a query source;
merging returned results from those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content in response to communicating the query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines; and
returning the merged results to the query source.
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11. The article of claim 10 further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in:
identifying each document of the merged results using a combination of a search engine identifier and a document identifier.
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12. The article of claim 10 further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in:
identifying duplicate documents in the merged results according to URLs of the documents.
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13. The article of claim 9 wherein execution of the instructions to communicate a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content further results in:
communicating the query to locate content via a CGI entry point.
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14. The article of claim 9 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an Internet URL syntax.
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15. The article of claim 9 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an SQL syntax.
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16. The article of claim 9 wherein the returned results further comprise:
an XML format.
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17. A system comprising:
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a processor; and
a machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, result in;
querying a plurality of search engines for properties to identify for which content categories the search engines are suited; and
communicating a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content, based on at least one content category of the query to locate content. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
receiving the query to locate content from a query source;
merging returned results from those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content in response to communicating the query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines; and
returning the merged results to the query source.
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19. The system of claim 18 further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in:
identifying each document of the merged results using a combination of a search engine identifier and a document identifier.
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20. The system of claim 18 further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in:
identifying duplicate documents in the merged results according to URLs of the documents.
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21. The system of claim 17 wherein execution of the instructions to communicate a query to locate content to those of the plurality of search engines suited to service the query to locate content further results in:
communicating the query to locate content via a CGI entry point.
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22. The system of claim 17 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an Internet URL syntax.
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23. The system of claim 17 wherein the query to locate content further comprises:
at least a subset of an SQL syntax.
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24. The system of claim 17 wherein the returned results further comprise:
an XML format.
Specification