Search enhancement system with information from a selected source

• US 7,640,232 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fish, Edmund J., Harrison, Bradley Chase
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Shahid A
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLAN, GIOVANNA B
• Application Number:
  US10/685,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,268 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/1, 707/2, 707/104.1, 707/10, 707/7, 709/218, 709/219, 705/10, 705/5, 119/712, 725/116
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

The system and method comprises enhancement of results for a search engine, wherein the results from the search engine are refined or reorganized, based upon information from an identified secondary source. The results obtained using a conventional search are compared against the identified secondary source, e.g. a ratings service, and are filtered and/or sorted appropriately. In some embodiments, identification of the secondary source, such as a ratings service comprising information which may supplement the subject of a search query, is based upon information entered by the user. In alternate embodiments, the secondary source is associated with a user, as part of general user-specified search parameters, wherein one or more parameters are consulted automatically for searches for appropriate subject matter.

Claims

1. A process implemented across a network having a search engine, the search engine having access to a content source, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving at an application module a search query from a user at a user terminal, the search query comprising at least one search parameter specified by the user;

receiving at the application module an identification of at least one ratings service specified by the user, wherein the at least one ratings service is external to the application module, to the search engine, and to the content source, and wherein the ratings service is accessible to the application module across the network;

responsive to the receipt of the user-specified ratings services, sending a data query from the application module to at least one of the user-specified ratings services;

receiving rating information at the application module across the network from at least one of the user-specified ratings services in response to the sent data query, wherein the rating information is independently maintained by the at least one ratings service;

providing a refined search through the application module, wherein the refinement comprises any of

at the application module, using the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services in conjunction with the search parameters received from the user to perform the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source, wherein search results received from the search engine at the application module comply with both the search parameters received from the user and the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services,

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently filtering search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services, and

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services; and

returning the results of the refined search from the application module to any of the user at the user terminal and a recipient at a recipient terminal, the recipient other than the user.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the user terminal comprises any of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a network enabled portable phone, a mobile device, a wired device and a wireless device.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises any of a person and an entity associated with the user.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is selected by the user.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is determined based on the results of the refined search.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is determined based on information input by the user.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the process further comprises the steps of:

receiving information from the recipient; and

selectively sending the results of the refined search to the recipient based upon any of the information received from the recipient and a selection of the recipient by the user.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the information received from the recipient comprises an interest in the enhanced results.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises an expert service for any of lodging rating information, travel rating information, restaurant rating information, and movie rating information.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is any of a selected peer, a friend, a family relative, a student, a neighbor, any of a person or entity within a zip code region, and a member of a network of people associated with the user.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the network of people comprises any of people with similar interests and a chain of friends.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the identified ratings service specified by the user comprises one of the received search parameters.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein the received search parameters have an applicability to one or more subjects, the process further comprising the steps of:

determining a subject matter of the received search query; and

integrating any of the received search parameters with the search query, wherein the integrated received search parameters are applicable to the determined subject matter.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the subject matter is explicitly determined from user input.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein the subject matter is determined from the received search parameters.

16. A process implemented across a network having a search engine, the search engine having access to a content source, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving at an application module a search query from a user at a user terminal, the search query comprising at least one search parameter specified by the user;

soliciting from the user at the user terminal any of an identification and a selection by the user of at least one ratings service that is external to the application module, to the search engine, and to the content source, wherein the ratings service is accessible to the application module across the network;

responsive to the solicited identification or selection by the user, sending a data query from the application module to at least one of the solicited ratings services;

receiving rating information at the application module across the network from at least one of the solicited ratings services in response to the data query, wherein the rating information is independently maintained by the at least one ratings service;

providing a refined search through the application module, wherein the refinement comprises any of

at the application module, using the received rating information from at least one of the solicited ratings services in conjunction with the search parameters received from the user to perform the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source, wherein search results received from the search engine at the application module comply with both the search parameters received from the user and the received rating information from the solicited ratings services,

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently filtering search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the solicited ratings services, and

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the solicited ratings services; and

returning the results of the refined search from the application module to any of the user at the user terminal and a recipient at a recipient terminal, the recipient other than the user.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the user terminal comprises any of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a network enabled portable phone, a mobile device, a wired device and a wireless device.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein at least one of the solicited ratings services comprises any of a person and an entity associated with the user.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is selected by the user.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is determined based on the results of the refined search.

21. The process of claim 16, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is determined based on information input by the user.

22. The process of claim 16, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the process further comprises the steps of:

receiving information from the recipient; and

selectively sending the results of the refined search to the recipient based upon any of the information received from the recipient and a selection of the recipient by the user.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein the information received from the recipient comprises an interest in the results.

24. The process of claim 16, wherein at least one of the solicited ratings services comprises an expert service for any of lodging rating information, travel rating information, restaurant rating information, and movie rating information.

25. The process of claim 16, wherein at least one of the solicited ratings services comprises one of the received search parameters.

26. The process of claim 16, wherein the received search parameters have an applicability to one or more subjects, the process further comprising the steps of:

determining a subject matter of the received search query; and

integrating any of the received specified search parameters with the search query, wherein the integrated received search parameters are applicable to the determined subject matter.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein the subject matter is explicitly determined from user input.

28. The process of claim 26, wherein the subject matter is determined from the received search parameters.

29. A search enhancement system implemented across a network, comprising:

a search engine having access to a content source;

an application module;

at least one ratings service that is external to the application module, to the search engine, and to the content source, wherein the ratings service is accessible to the application module across the network, the ratings service comprising any of a secondary source and a supplementary source comprising rating information;

a receipt at the application module from a user at a user terminal of a specification by the user of at least one of the ratings services;

a receipt at the application module of a search query entered by the user at the user terminal, the search query comprising at least one search parameter specified by the user;

a data query sent by the application module over the network, upon receipt of the specification by the user of the ratings services, to the user-specified ratings services;

a receipt of rating information at the application module from at least one of the user-specified ratings services over the network in response to the sent data query, wherein the rating information is independently maintained by the at least one ratings service;

a refined search provided through the application module, wherein the refinement comprises any of

at the application module, using the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services in conjunction with the search parameters received from the user to perform the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source, wherein search results received from the search engine at the application module comply with both the search parameters received from the user and the received rating information from the user-specified ratings services;

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently filtering search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services, and

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services; and

a return of the results of the refined search from the application module to any of the user at the user terminal and a recipient at a recipient terminal, the recipient other than the user.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the user terminal comprises any of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a network enabled portable phone, a mobile device, a wired device and a wireless device.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises any of a person and an entity associated with the user.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is selectable by the user.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is based on the results of the refined search.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the results of the refined search are returned to the recipient other than the user, and wherein the recipient is based on information input by the user.

35. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

information received at the application module from a recipient other than the user;

a selective transmission of the enhanced results to the recipient based upon any of the information received from the recipient and a selection of the recipient by the user; and

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the information received from the recipient comprises an interest in the enhanced results.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises an expert service for any of lodging rating information, travel rating information, restaurant rating information, and movie rating information.

38. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user;

wherein the recipient is any of a selected peer, a friend, a family relative, a student, a neighbor, any of a person or entity within a zip code region, and a member of a network of people associated with the user.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the network of people comprises any of people with similar interests and a chain of friends.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the identified ratings services specified by the user comprises one of the received search parameters.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the received search parameters have an applicability to one or more subjects, and wherein the system further comprises:

a determination of a subject matter of the received search query; and

an integration of any of the received search parameters with the received search query, wherein the integrated received search parameters are applicable to the determined subject matter.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the determined subject mailer is based upon user input.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the determined subject matter is based upon the received search query.

44. A system implemented across a network having a search engine, the search engine having access to a content source, the system comprising:

an application module;

a search query initiated by a user through a user terminal connected to the network, the search query comprising at least one search parameter specified by the user and received by the application module;

a receipt at the application module from the user through the user terminal of a specification of at least one ratings service that is external to the application module, to the search engine, and to the content source, wherein the ratings service is accessible to the application module across the network, the ratings services comprising rating information;

a data query sent by the application module, responsive to the receipt of the user specification of the ratings services, to the user-specified ratings services;

a receipt of rating information at the application module from at least one of the user-specified ratings services over the network in response to the sent data query, wherein the rating information is independently maintained by the at least one ratings service;

a refined search provided through the application module, wherein the refinement comprises any of

at the application module, using the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services in conjunction with the search parameters received from the user to perform the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source, wherein search results received from the search engine at the application module comply with both the search parameters received from the user and the received rating information from the user-specified ratings services,

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently filtering search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified external ratings services, and

performing the search at the search engine through retrieval of content from the content source with the search parameters received from the user and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results received from the search engine at the application module with the received rating information from at least one of the user-specified ratings services; and

a return of the results of the refined search from the application module to any of the user at the user terminal and a recipient at a recipient terminal, the recipient other than the user.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the user terminal comprises any of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a network enabled portable phone, a mobile device, a wired device and a wireless device.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises any of a person and an entity associated with the user.

47. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user;

wherein the recipient is selectable through the user terminal.

48. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user;

wherein the recipient is determined based on the results of the refined search.

49. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user;

wherein the recipient is determined based on information input at the user terminal.

50. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

information received from a recipient at a recipient terminal;

a selective transmission of the results of the refined search to the recipient based upon any of the information received from the recipient and a selection of the recipient through the user terminal; and

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the information received from the recipient comprises an interest in the results of the refined search by the recipient.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the user-specified ratings services comprises an expert service for any of lodging rating information, travel rating information, restaurant rating information, and movie rating information.

53. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a receipt of the results of the refined search by the recipient other than the user;

wherein the recipient is any of a selected peer, a friend, a family relative, a student, a neighbor, any of a person or entity within a zip code region, and a member of a network of people associated with the user.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the network of people comprises any of people with similar interests and a chain of friends.

55. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the identified ratings services specified by the user comprises one of the received search parameters.

56. The system of claim 44, wherein the received search parameters have an applicability to one or more subjects, the system further comprising:

means for integrating any of the specified received search parameters with a search query, wherein the integrated received search parameters are applicable to a determined subject of the received search query.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the determined subject matter is based upon user input.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the determined subject matter is based upon the received search query.