Integration of instant messaging with internet searching
First Claim
1. A method for performing an Internet search launched from an instant messaging (IM) application, the method comprising:
- providing a first IM user with an option to launch an Internet search of a second IM user directly from the IM application;
transmitting a search query identifying the second IM user to a search server;
searching the Internet for web pages matching the search query to generate search results using the search server;
accessing a user profile of the second IM user from an IM member profile database;
sorting the search results in order of relevance to information in the user profile of the second IM user; and
displaying the sorted search results to the first IM user.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for integrating instant messaging with Internet search features are provided. An instant messaging (IM) application allows users to launch a search of the Internet or the World Wide Web for information about another IM user or another topic. If an IM user wishes to locate information relating to a friend, a search is performed through a database of registered IM members to locate a user profile for the friend. If the friend'"'"'s profile is found, the profile is displayed to the IM user. An IM application can also launch a Internet search for information relating to a topic or a friend. The IM application can link to an Internet search engine to search the Internet for web sites relating to the topic or person. Search results from an Internet search can be sorted based on information about a friend that is stored in the friend'"'"'s user profile.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for performing an Internet search launched from an instant messaging (IM) application, the method comprising:
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providing a first IM user with an option to launch an Internet search of a second IM user directly from the IM application; transmitting a search query identifying the second IM user to a search server; searching the Internet for web pages matching the search query to generate search results using the search server; accessing a user profile of the second IM user from an IM member profile database; sorting the search results in order of relevance to information in the user profile of the second IM user; and displaying the sorted search results to the first IM user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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11. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for performing an Internet search launched from an instant messaging (IM) application, the instructions comprising:
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code for providing a first IM user with an option to launch an Internet search of a second IM user directly from the IM application; code for transmitting a search query identifying the second IM user to a search server; code for searching the Internet for web pages matching the search query to generate search results using the search server; code for accessing a user profile of the second IM user from an IM member profile database; code for sorting the search results in order of relevance to information in the user profile of the second IM user; code for displaying the sorted search results to the first IM user; and
a computer readable medium for storing the codes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification