Search service that accesses and highlights previously accessed local and online available information sources

• US 7,617,191 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, Edward E., Wilbrink, Tijs I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Hosain T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Jieying
• Application Number:
  US11/306,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/6, 707/7, 715/811, 709/218, 709/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

Methods, systems and program storage devices for generating search engine search results. Online files relevant to a requested search query are located by a search engine, while simultaneously previously accessed offline files residing on a client computer are located using the same search query. The search engine retrieves the offline files from the client computer and combines such offline files with the locate online files in a single search result overview. The listing of files within the combined search results are ranked according to relevancy to the search query using a search engine scoring algorithm, whereby the offline files within the combined search results are preferably brought to a user'"'"'s attention to indicate that such files reside on the client computer.

Claims

1. A method for generating search engine search results comprising:

providing a search engine having a scoring algorithm;

entering a search query into said search engine;

locating online files relating to said search query using said search engine;

locating offline files residing on a client computer relating to said search query, said offline files consisting of previously accessed online files stored on said client computer from a previous online session;

determining if said search engine is willing to share said scoring algorithm with said client computer and if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, wherein

if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then downloading said scoring algorithm to said client computer, ranking said offline files on said client computer according to relevancy to said search query using said downloaded scoring algorithm and storing said ranked offline files on said client computer, and

if said client computer is not capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then determining if said offline files were obtained from an online source by locating original online files of said offline files on said online source and storing links to said original online files in said client computer;

retrieving said online files, said ranked offline files and said original online files by said search engine;

generating a single, ranked search result list by combining said online files with said ranked offline files and said original online files; and

displaying said single, ranked search result list to a user on a display screen of said client computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said offline files comprise previously ranked offline files residing on said client computer, whereby said single, ranked search result list is generated using said scoring algorithm of said search engine to rank said online files in conjunction with said previously ranked offline files and said original online files.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said offline files within said Single, ranked search result list are brought to said user'"'"'s attention for indicating to said user that said offline files reside on said client computer.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

identifying a user at said client computer using a unique identifier;

accessing said offline files stored on said client computer by said search engine utilizing said unique identifier;

locating said online and offline files relevant to said entered search query; and

generating said single, ranked search result list having said online files in combination with said offline files using said scoring algorithm of said search engine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein if said offline files were not obtained from said online source, then determining if said search engine will accept uploaded files from said client computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein if said search engine accepts said uploaded files, said method further including the steps of:

uploading selected files from said client computer to said search engine;

ranking said selected files according to relevancy to said search query using said scoring algorithm of said search engine;

generating a unique link to said ranked selected files on said search engine;

storing said unique link in said client computer; and

retrieving said unique link by said search engine for generating said single, ranked search result list.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein if said search engine is not willing to share said scoring algorithm, then determining if said offline files were obtained from an online source.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein if said offline files were obtained from said online source, said method further including the steps of:

locating original online files of said offline files on said online source;

storing a link to said original online files in said client computer;

retrieving said original online files by said search engine for generating said singlet, ranked search result list.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein if said offline files were not obtained from said online source, then determining if said search engine will accept uploaded files from said client computer.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein if said search engine accepts said uploaded files, said method further including the steps of:

uploading selected files from said client computer to said search engine;

ranking said selected files according to relevancy to said search query using said scoring algorithm of said search engine;

generating a unique link to said ranked selected files on said search engine;

storing said unique link in said client computer; and

retrieving said unique link by said search engine for generating said single, ranked search result list.

11. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

sending said single, ranked search result list to said client computer;

determining if a selected offline file within said single, ranked search result list is currently available on said client computer;

and if said offline file is available, matching a previously ranked offline file stored on said client computer with said selected offline file from said single, ranked search result list.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

retrieving past path information of said matching offline file for reconstructing a path previously followed;

sending said past path information to said search engine; and

generating said single, ranked search result list along with a display of said past path information for said matching offline file.

13. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for generating search engine search results comprising:

providing a search engine having a scoring algorithm;

entering a search query into said search engine;

locating online files relating to said search query using said search engine;

locating offline files residing on a client computer relating to said search query, said offline files consisting of previously accessed online files stored on said client computer from a previous online session;

determining if said search engine is willing to share said scoring algorithm with said client computer and if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, wherein

if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then downloading said scoring algorithm to said client computer, ranking said offline files on said client computer according to relevancy to said search query using said downloaded scoring algorithm and storing said ranked offline files on said client computer, and

if said client computer is not capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then determining if said offline files were obtained from an online source by locating original online files of said offline files on said online source and storing links to said original online files in said client computer;

retrieving said online files, said ranked offline files and said original online files by said search engine;

generating a single, ranked search result list by said search engine combining said online files with said ranked offline files and said original online file; and

displaying said single, ranked search result list to a user on a display screen of said client computer.

14. A system for generating search engine search results comprising:

a search engine having a scoring algorithm, said search engine adapted to receive a search query;

a client computer in communication with said search engine;

a first component that locates online files relating to said search query using said search engine;

a second component that locates offline files residing on said client computer relating to said search query;

a set of instructions that determines if said search engine is willing to share said scoring algorithm with said client computer and if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, wherein

if said client computer is capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then downloading said scoring algorithm to said client computer, ranking said located offline files on said client computer according to relevancy to said search query using said downloaded scoring algorithm and storing said ranked offline files on said client computer, and

if said client computer is not capable of executing said scoring algorithm, then determining if said located offline files were obtained from an online source by locating original online files of said offline files on said online source and storing links to said original online files in said client computer;

a third component that retrieves said online files, said ranked offline files and said original online files by said search engine;

a single, ranked search result list generated by said scoring algorithm by combining said online files with said ranked offline files and said original online files; and

a display screen of said client computer displaying said single, ranked search result list to a user.