System for enhancing a query interface

• US 7,444,348 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fries, Karen E., Richter, Jeffrey, Tippett, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo; Thuy N
• Application Number:
  US10/106,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/6, 707/10, 707/104, 707/9, 707/102, 707/513, 707/101, 707/103.X, 707/104.1, 705/14, 704/276, 709/203, 709/220, 709/219, 345/473, 379/67.1, 715/501.1, 715/205, 715/234, 715/733, 715/764, 74/10, 74/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components comprising:

a search tool component soliciting a search query from a user, selecting a search area where a search based on the search query is to be performed, invoking an instance of a network browser component after receiving the search query in order to transmit the search query, wherein the instance of the network browser component was not open before receiving the search query, generating a uniform resource locator based on the search area and the search query, and passing the uniform resource locator to the network browser component; and

a network browser component invoked by the search tool component, receiving a uniform resource locator from the search tool component, using the uniform resource locator to pass the search query to the search area, receiving search results from the search area, and displaying the search results in a browser window that is independent of the search tool component.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the search tool component invokes an instance of an animation component that produces an animated character that appears on a display in conjunction with the search tool'"'"'s solicitation of the search query.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein soliciting a search query from a user comprises the search tool component displaying a balloon that includes text to solicit the search query from the user.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein displaying the balloon comprises displaying the balloon proximate the animated character such that the solicitation balloon appears to emanate from the animated character.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 further comprising displaying a suggestion in the balloon that allows the user to indicate that they have found what they were looking for.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 further comprising making a record of the search query and the uniform resource locator when the user indicates their search was successful.

7. A method comprising:

in a search tool component soliciting a search query from a user, selecting a search area where a search based on the search query is to be performed, invoking an instance of a network browser component after receiving the search query in order to transmit the search query, wherein the instance of the network browser component was not open before receiving the search query, generating a uniform resource locator based on the search area and the search query, and passing the uniform resource locator to the network browser component; and

in a network browser component invoked by the search tool component, receiving a uniform resource locator from the search tool component, using the uniform resource locator to pass the search query to the search area, receiving search results from the search area, and displaying the search results in a browser window that is independent of the search tool component.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising in the search tool component invoking an instance of an animation component that produces an animated character that appears on a display in conjunction with the search tool'"'"'s solicitation of the search query.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein soliciting a search query from a user comprises in the search tool component displaying a balloon that includes text to solicit the search query from the user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein displaying the balloon comprises displaying the balloon proximate the animated character such that the solicitation balloon appears to emanate from the animated character.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying an option in the balloon that allows the user to indicate that they have found what they were looking for.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising making a record of the search query and the uniform resource locator when the user indicates their search was successful.