Dynamically categorizing entity information

• US 6,654,813 B1
• Filed: 08/13/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AltaVista Company (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Titus, Jason Harvey, Woodhead, Ira Joseph, Black, Jeffery Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/374,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 709/213, 709/214, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/224, 709/227, 709/245, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A set of criteria is acquired that defines a category of entities. The set of criteria is dynamically applied to identify an entity that meets the criteria. It is determined that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address. The at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address is associated with the entity in a presentation that indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities. In the presentation, a link may be included to a set of computer data about the entity. The set of computer data includes information other than information provided at a World-Wide Web site corresponding to the World-Wide Web address.

Claims

1. A method of operating a search engine, comprising:

acquiring from a user of the search engine a search request, the search request including a set of criteria that defines a category of entities;

dynamically applying the set of criteria to identify an entity that meets the criteria;

determining that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address; and

associating the at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address with the entity in a presentation to a user of the search engine that identifies the entity and indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria includes a geographical limitation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

including, in the presentation, a link to a set of computer data about the entity, the set of computer data including information other than information provided at a World-Wide Web site corresponding to the World-Wide Web address.

4. A method of operating a search engine, comprising:

maintaining a category file in the search engine;

the category file defining a hierarchy of categories having a top level of categories and at least one lower level of subcategories and defining industry category codes that correspond to the subcategories;

presenting to a user of the search engine a top level view of categories that are ordered in accordance with the category file;

allowing the user to make a selection of a lowest level category of the categories, the selection of the lowest level category comprising at least part of a search request submitted by the user to the search engine;

determining an industry category code that corresponds to the lowest level category;

determining an entity that corresponding to the industry category code; and

determining a World-Wide Web address that corresponds to the entity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

presenting to the user of the search engine a listing of the entity together with the World-Wide Web address.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

rejecting an entity that lacks a World-Wide Web site.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining an entity step includes rejecting an entity that does not meet a set of criteria comprising a part of the search request submitted by the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of criteria include geographical criteria.

9. A search engine system comprising:

an acquirer that acquires from a user of the search engine system a set of criteria that defines a category of entities, the set of criteria comprising a part of a search request submitted by the user;

an applicator that dynamically applies the set of criteria to identify an entity that meets the criteria;

a determiner that determines that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address; and

an associater that associates the at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address with the entity in a presentation that identifies the entity and indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities.

10. A search engine system comprising:

a maintainer that maintains a category file in the search engine system;

the category file defining a hierarchy of categories having a top level of categories and at least one lower level of subcategories and defining industry category codes that correspond to the subcategories;

a presenter that presents a top level view of categories that are ordered in accordance with the category file;

an allower that allows a selection of a lowest level category of the hierarchy of categories by a user of the search engine, the selection of the lowest level category comprising at least part of a search request submitted by the user;

a determiner that determines, in response to the user'"'"'s search request, an industry category code that corresponds to the lowest level category selected by the user of the search engine;

a determiner that determines an entity that corresponds to the industry category code; and

a determiner that determines a World-Wide Web address that corresponds to the entity.

11. Computer software, residing on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising a set of instructions for use in a search engine computer system to cause the system to:

acquire from a user of the search engine a search request, the search request including a set of criteria that defines a category of entities;

dynamically apply the set of criteria to identify an entity that meets the criteria;

determine that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address; and

associate the at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address with the entity in a presentation to a user of the search engine that identifies the entity and indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities.

12. Computer software, residing on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising a set of instructions for use in a search engine computer system to cause the system to:

maintain a category file in the search engine;

the category file defining a hierarchy of categories having a top level of categories and at least one lower level of subcategories, and defining industry category codes that correspond to the subcategories;

present to a user of the search engine a top level view of categories that are ordered in accordance with the category file;

allow the user to make a selection of a lowest level category of the categories, the selection of the lowest level category comprising at least part of a search request submitted by the user;

determine an industry category code that corresponds to the lowest level category;

determine an entity that corresponding to the industry category code; and

determine a World-Wide Web address that corresponds to the entity.

13. A search engine system comprising:

a computer;

a storage device for storing data on a storage medium;

a first logic system configured to acquire from a user of the search engine a search request, the search request including a set of criteria that defines a category of entities;

a second logic system configured to dynamically apply the set of criteria to identify an entity that meets the criteria;

a third logic system configured to determine that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address; and

a fourth logic system configured to associate the at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address with the entity in a presentation to a user of the search engine that identifies the entity indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities.

14. A search engine system comprising:

a computer;

a storage device for storing data on a storage medium;

a first logic system configured to maintain a category file in the search engine system;

the category file defining a hierarchy of categories having a top level of categories and at least one lower level of subcategories and defining industry category codes that correspond to the subcategories;

a second logic system configured to present a top level view of categories that are ordered in accordance with the category file;

a third logic system configured to allow a selection of a lowest level category of the hierarchy of categories by a user of the search engine, the selection of the lowest level category comprising at least part of a search request submitted by the user;

a fourth logic system configured to determine an industry category code that corresponds to the lowest level category selected by the user of the search engine;

a fifth logic system configured to determine an entity that corresponds to the industry category code; and

a six logic system configured to determine a World-Wide Web address that corresponds to the entity.