Method, device and software for querying and presenting search results
First Claim
1. A method of operating a search engine for presenting search results in response to queries, said method comprising:
- (i) maintaining a first index comprising a plurality of index entries, each of said index entries comprising a key field and data from which a quality of match value of the index entry to a query can be determined using a known function;
(ii) modifying selected index entries of said first index by an administrator so that the quality of match of the index entry to predefined queries provides a quality of match value selected by the administrator;
(iii) receiving a query;
(iv) querying said index entries of said first index using the received query to obtain a set of matching index entries from said first index, and forming a first set of search results from said set of matching index entries, each of said first set of search results comprising the key field of a matching index entry and the quality of match value for the index entry for the received query;
(v) querying using the received query, index entries of a second index whose index entries cannot be modified by said administrator, to obtain a set of second search results each including a key field and a quality of match value for the received query to an entry in the second index;
(vi) combining and ordering said first and second set of search results to generate a combined list of search results, in which any search result from said set of second search results for which its key field is identical to the key field of a search result in said first set of search results is discarded, in favor of said search result in said first set of search results, and in which said search results from said first and second set of search results are ordered in accordance with their respective associated quality of match values;
so that selected search results from index entries of said first index are presented in a combined list in an order controlled by said administrator in response to defined queries.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, device, and software for presenting search results obtained from a plurality of databases, based on an end-user specified query, is disclosed. In an embodiment, the search results are combined from results from a first index and results from a second index. The first index comprises a plurality of index entries modifiable by an administrator, and the second index comprises a plurality of index entries that are not modifiable by the administrator. In the combined search results, any search result from the second index for which an associated key field is identical to the associated key field of a matching search result in the first set of search results is discarded in favor of the matching search result in the first set of search results.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of operating a search engine for presenting search results in response to queries, said method comprising:
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(i) maintaining a first index comprising a plurality of index entries, each of said index entries comprising a key field and data from which a quality of match value of the index entry to a query can be determined using a known function; (ii) modifying selected index entries of said first index by an administrator so that the quality of match of the index entry to predefined queries provides a quality of match value selected by the administrator; (iii) receiving a query; (iv) querying said index entries of said first index using the received query to obtain a set of matching index entries from said first index, and forming a first set of search results from said set of matching index entries, each of said first set of search results comprising the key field of a matching index entry and the quality of match value for the index entry for the received query; (v) querying using the received query, index entries of a second index whose index entries cannot be modified by said administrator, to obtain a set of second search results each including a key field and a quality of match value for the received query to an entry in the second index; (vi) combining and ordering said first and second set of search results to generate a combined list of search results, in which any search result from said set of second search results for which its key field is identical to the key field of a search result in said first set of search results is discarded, in favor of said search result in said first set of search results, and in which said search results from said first and second set of search results are ordered in accordance with their respective associated quality of match values; so that selected search results from index entries of said first index are presented in a combined list in an order controlled by said administrator in response to defined queries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computing device comprising a processor and computer readable memory, said memory storing:
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a first index modifiable by an administrator, said first index comprising a plurality of index entries each comprising a key field and data from which a quality of match value of the index entry to a query can be determined using a known function; a second index, comprising a plurality of index entries that are not modifiable by said administrator; software adapting said device to; allow said administrator to modify selected index entries of said first index so that the quality of match of the index entry to predefined queries provides a quality of match value selected by the administrator; (ii) receive a query; (iii) query said index entries of said first index using the received query to obtain a set of matching index entries from said first index, and form a first set of search results from said set of matching index entries, each of said first set of search results comprising the key field of a matching index entry and the quality of match value for the index entry for the received query; (iv) query using the received query, index entries of said second index to obtain a set of second search results each including a key field and a quality of match value for the received query to an entry in the second index; (v) combine and order said first and second set of search results to generate a combined list of search results, in which any search result from said set of second search results for which its key field is identical to the key field of a search result in said first set of search results is discarded, in favor of said search result in said first set of search results, and in which said search results from said first and second set of search results are ordered in accordance with their respective associated quality of match values; so that selected search results from index entries of said first index are presented in a combined list in an order controlled by said administrator in response to defined queries. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable medium, storing computer executable instructions that when loaded at a computing device comprising a processor and processor readable memory storing
a first index modifiable by an administrator, said first index comprising a plurality of index entries each comprising a key field and data from which a quality of match value of the index entry to a query can be determined using a known function; -
a second index, comprising a plurality of index entries that are not modifiable by said administrator; said computer executable instructions adapting said device to; (i) allow said administrator to modify selected index entries of said first index so that the quality of match of the index entry to predefined queries provides a quality of match value selected by the administrator; (ii) receive a query; (iii) query said index entries of said first index using the received query to obtain a set of matching index entries from said first index, and form a first set of search results from said set of matching index entries, each of said first set of search results comprising the key field of a matching index entry and the quality of match value for the index entry for the received query; (iv) query using the received query, index entries of said second index to obtain a set of second search results each including a key field and a quality of match value for the received query to an entry in the second index; (v) combine and order said first and second set of search results to generate a combined list of search results, in which any search result from said set of second search results for which its key field is identical to the key field of a search result in said first set of search results is discarded, in favor of said search result in said first set of search results, and in which said search results from said first and second set of search results are ordered in accordance with their respective associated quality of match values; so that selected search results from index entries of said first index are presented in a combined list in an order controlled by said administrator in response to defined queries. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification