System and method for dynamically searching an identified web site

• US 6,661,432 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Venkataraman, Guja Prasad, McBrearty, Gerald Francis, Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han, Mullen, Shawn Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWILER, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/652,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 345/968, 345/760
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically searching an identified web site. In one embodiment, a generic site search engine is invoked from any web page within the web site. Invoking the generic site search engine provides the user with an input display and displays resulting matches after searching pages from the web site. In another embodiment, a hidden HTML tag is used on web pages to identify the site specific search engine for the web site. When a user requests a site specific search engine from the user'"'"'s web browser, the HTML tag is located and the corresponding web page containing the site specific search engine is opened. In another embodiment, if the HTML tag identifying the site specific search engine is not found, an analysis of the web site'"'"'s root node is made to identify a site specific search engine. If a site specific search engine is identified through the analysis, the search engine web page is opened. In yet another embodiment, if the site specific search engine is not found through either a hidden HTML tag or by analyzing the web site'"'"'s root node, a generic site specific search routine is invoked. The generic site specific search receives search parameters from the user and searches web pages from the web site to compile a list of matching web pages. The list of matching web pages is then displayed to the user for further selection.

Claims

1. A method of providing search capability to a web site devoid of said search capability, the web site including a plurality of web pages, said method comprising:

automatically determining that the web site is devoid of search capability; and

providing a site specific search engine to a user of the web site in response to the determination.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the providing further comprises:

comparing a request string to a plurality of strings located on each of the plurality of web pages; and

displaying one or more results of the searching.

3. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising:

displaying an input screen an a display device; and

receiving the request string through the input screen.

4. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising:

storing one or more matches in a memory area, the matches resulting from the comparing;

wherein the results include the matches.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the determining further includes:

searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the determining further includes:

analyzing a root node of the web site for a search entry field.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the determining further includes:

searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier; and

analyzing a root node of the web site for a search entry field in response to the hidden search engine identifier not being found.

8. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

opening a second web page, the second web page used for the displaying of the results.

9. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory accessible by the processors;

a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;

a network interface connecting the information handling system to a computer network; and

a generic search engine tool, the search engine location tool including;

means for automatically determining that a web site is devoid of a site specific search engine;

means for searching the plurality of web pages for a search parameter in response to the determination; and

means for displaying one or more results of the searching.

10. The information handling system as described in claim 9 wherein the generic search engine tool further includes:

means for receiving a search request from a user.

11. The information handling system as described in claim 10 further comprising:

means for searching each page of the plurality of web pages for the search request.

12. The information handling system as described in claim 9 wherein the means for determining further includes:

means for searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier.

13. The information handling system as described in claim 9 wherein the means for determining further includes:

means for searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier; and

means for analyzing a root node of the web site for a search entry field in response to the hidden search engine identifier not being found.

14. A computer program product for providing search capability to a web site devoid of said search capability, the web site including a plurality of web pages, said computer program product comprising:

means for automatically determining that the web site is devoid of search capability; and

means for providing a site specific search engine to a user of the web site in response to the determination.

15. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the providing further comprises:

means for comparing a request string to a plurality of strings located on each of the plurality of web pages; and

means for displaying one or more results of the searching.

16. The computer program product as described in claim 15 further comprising:

means for displaying an input screen on a display device; and

means for receiving the request string through the input screen.

17. The computer program product as described in claim 15 further comprising:

means for storing one or more matches in a memory area, the matches resulting from the comparing;

wherein the results include the matches.

18. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the determining further includes:

means for searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier.

19. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the determining further includes:

means for searching one of the plurality of web pages for a hidden search engine identifier; and

means for analyzing a root node of the web site for a search entry field in response to the hidden search engine identifier not being found.

20. The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising:

means for opening a second web page, the second web page used for the displaying of the results.