Two-level internet search service system

• US 7,020,679 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taoofsearch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Taoofsearch Incorporated
• Inventors: Tian, Yunqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Application Number:
  US09/828,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 709/223, 709/219, 709/227, 709/245, 707/104.1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/10, 345/739, 345/738, 715/738, 715/739
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A two-level Internet search service system. Within the platform of the two-level Internet search service system, Web site builders or Webmasters will have better control on correctly presenting indexes of their contents; Web users will have better control to clarify what they are looking for, can give feedback on service improvement, and can give their opinion for which Web site is more relevant to their query. In the two-level Internet search service system the searches are distinguished into search service provider (SSP) level and in-site level. The objective of SSP level search is to bring Web users to the right Web destination. The objective of in-site level is to find exact information Web users are seeking.

Claims

1. A two-level Internet search service system comprising:

a search service provider (SSP) level search subsystem located on an SSP server, said SSP level search subsystem using web units as indexing objects and search results at an SSP level search, each web unit being an information entity with web unit index and categorization data for at least one web page of a web site, and each web unit being a self-contained and distinguishable sub entity of the web site, each web page of each web unit being related to and integrated in the associated web unit according to a predetermined categorization criteria;

said SSP level search subsystem comprising;

self-submission means for submitting web unit index and categorization data for a predetermined web unit;

data organizer means for indexing and sorting web unit index and categorization data obtained by said self-submission means; and

search service means for obtaining web unit search results based on queries, narrowing down the obtained web unit search results according to selected narrow down variables, and providing personalized service; and

an in-site level search subsystem for providing a web site level search, said in-site level search subsystem comprising;

design aid means for conveying feedback of searchers and providing designing and testing tools to web site owners to improve web site structure and navigation;

a web page authoring tool to create web pages for the web site with content specific metadata implementation in web page writing/creation using the in-site level search subsystem; and

an in-site search tool kit to conduct an in-site search in the web site, the in-site search tool kit being located on a server different from the SSP server,

wherein said SSP level search subsystem is communicatively linked to said in-site search tool kit within the in-site level search subsystem.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data organizer means comprises:

an index structure configured to store input information of web units;

a multi-directory structure configured to host web unit index and categorization data categorized according to a subject classification; and

a web unit database configured to store indexed and sorted web unit index and categorization data.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said self-submission means comprises downloadable submission software configured to provide forms for web units self-submission.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said forms include an index form and a multi-directory entry form.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said forms include a tutorial for submission and a suggestion form.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said downloadable submission software includes update reminding software for reminding users to provide new web unit information.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said downloadable submission software is configured to detect any update or change in web units.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said personal search service means comprises:

a personal directory for recording web units visited; and

a personal search agent for conducting searches.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said personal search service means is configured to analyze search patterns, provide search improvement suggestions, and recommend new web units based on the analysis.

10. The system according to claim 1, further including a user feedback form for a user to rate web units under certain quality criteria, to report any erroneous web unit submission, and to suggest improvement on search quality.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said search service means is configured to post any unsolved search query for an Internet community to provide a solution.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said in-site search tool kit further comprises:

at least one web robot configured to understand metadata created by said authoring tool, and to index data within a web site;

an in-site index database created by the said web robot; and

an in-site search engine program to conduct an in-site search.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said in-site search engine program is communicatively linked to a personal search agent, and can initiate an in-site search and provide search results from the in-site search.

14. A two-level Internet search service method comprising:

providing a search service provider (SSP) level search subsystem located on an SSP server, said SSP level search subsystem using web units as indexing objects and search results at an SSP level search, each web unit being an information entity with web unit index and categorization data for at least one web page of a web site, and each web unit being a self-contained and distinguishable sub entity of the web site each web page of each web unit being related to and integrated in the associated web unit according to a predetermined categorization criteria;

self-submitting web unit index and categorization data for a predetermined web unit using the SSP level search subsystem;

indexing and sorting web unit index and categorization data obtained by the previous submitting step within the SSP level search subsystem;

obtaining web unit search results based on queries using the SSP level search subsystem;

narrowing down the obtained web unit search results according to selected narrow down variables using the SSP level search subsystem;

providing personalized search service from the SSP level search subsystem;

providing an in-site level search subsystem for providing a web site level search;

providing a design aid for conveying feedback of searches and providing designing and testing tools to web site owners for improving web site structure and navigation using the in-site level search subsystem;

providing a web page authoring tool to create web pages for the web site with content specific metadata for the web site, the web page authoring tool simplifying metadata implementation in web page writing/creation using the in-site level search subsystem; and

providing an in-site search tool kit for conducting an in-site search from the in-site level search subsystem, the in-site search tool kit being located on a server different from the SSP server; and

communicatively linking the SSP level search subsystem to the in-site search tool kit within the in-site level search subsystem.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said indexing and sorting step further comprises:

providing a web unit database with an index database and a multi-directory database;

storing input information of web units in an index structure;

hosting web unit index and categorization data categorized according to a subject classification on a multi-directory structure; and

indexing and sorting web unit index and categorization data on a web unit database.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said submitting web unit index and categorization data step further comprises providing downloadable submission software configured to provide forms for web unit self-submission, the forms including an index form, a multi-directory entry form, a tutorial for submission, and a suggestion form.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said providing downloadable submission software step further comprises configuring said downloadable submission software to detect and verify submitted data.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said providing downloadable submission software step further comprises providing update reminding software for reminding users to provide new web unit information.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said providing downloadable submission software step further comprises detecting any update or change in web units with the downloadable submission software.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing an SSP level search subsystem step further comprises:

recording web units visited in a personal directory; and

conducting searches with a personal search agent.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing an SSP level search subsystem step further comprises:

analyzing search patterns;

providing search improvement suggestions; and

recommending new web units based on the analysis.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing an SSP level search subsystem step further comprises:

providing a user feedback form for user to rate web units under certain quality criteria;

reporting any erroneous web unit submission; and

suggesting improvement on search quality.

23. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing an SSP level search subsystem step further comprises posting any unsolved search query for an Internet community to provide a solution.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein said providing an in-site search tool kit step further comprises:

understanding metadata created by the web page authoring tool, and indexing data within a web site with at least one web robot,

creating an in-site index database using the web robot, and

conducting an in-site search with an in-site search engine program.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said providing an in-site search tool kit step further comprises:

communicatively linking the in-site search engine program to a personal search agent;

initiating an in-site search; and

providing search results from the in-site search.