System and method for context sensitive searching
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for using state information of components in a computing environment as context to modify retrieved information, the method comprising:
- creating a plurality of state associations that relate any particular state with at least one result, wherein at least one association comprises an association to exclude information corresponding to a first state, wherein a particular state comprises at least one of a hardware state, an operating system condition, a user preference, or a software application operating parameter;
receiving a search request;
retrieving, from a database, information related to the search request; and
modifying the information retrieved in accordance with the at least one state association if the at least one result is related to the retrieved information, wherein the association to exclude prevents information corresponding to a first state from appearing as modified information;
wherein context is applied to the retrieved information using the state information of the components in the computing environment, wherein the state information comprises the group consisting of a hardware component state and a software component operating mode state; and
presenting the modified information on a computer display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system which allow the addition of context into a search involves the use of state monitors in the computing environment. The state monitors record information such as the installed hardware, software, user preferences, and operating modes. The state information is used to modify information gathered via a user search to make the search results more relevant to the user in the context of his computing environment. The monitors, along with logical operators and variables, assess the current state of the machine and modify the displayed search results by excluding irrelevant information, biasing up information relevant to the computing environment and biasing down other information less relevant to the computing environment.
84 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for using state information of components in a computing environment as context to modify retrieved information, the method comprising:
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creating a plurality of state associations that relate any particular state with at least one result, wherein at least one association comprises an association to exclude information corresponding to a first state, wherein a particular state comprises at least one of a hardware state, an operating system condition, a user preference, or a software application operating parameter; receiving a search request; retrieving, from a database, information related to the search request; and modifying the information retrieved in accordance with the at least one state association if the at least one result is related to the retrieved information, wherein the association to exclude prevents information corresponding to a first state from appearing as modified information; wherein context is applied to the retrieved information using the state information of the components in the computing environment, wherein the state information comprises the group consisting of a hardware component state and a software component operating mode state; and presenting the modified information on a computer display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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6. A computer system for a including context in a search for information, the system having at least one monitor that detects state information of hardware and software components in the system, the system comprising:
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a processor having access to memory, the memory having instructions which, when executed, perform the method comprising; creating a plurality of state associations that relate any particular state with at least one result, wherein at least one association comprises an association to exclude information corresponding to a first state, wherein a particular state comprises at least one of a hardware state, an operating system condition, a user preference, or a software application operating parameter; receiving a search request; retrieving, from a database, information related to the search request; and modifying the information retrieved in accordance with the at least one state association if the at least one result is related to the retrieved information, wherein the association to exclude prevents information corresponding to the first state from appearing as modified information; wherein context is applied to the retrieved information using the state information of the components in the computer system, wherein the state information comprises the group consisting of a hardware component state and a software component operating mode state; and a display device wherein the modified information is presented for review.
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7. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for including state context into search results, the method performed using state information of components in a computing environment, the method comprising:
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creating a plurality of state associations that relate any particular state with at least one result, wherein at least one association comprises an association to exclude information corresponding to a first state, wherein a particular state comprises at least one of a hardware state, an operating system condition, a user preference, or a software application operating parameter; receiving a search request; retrieving from a database information related to a search request; and modifying the information retrieved in accordance with the at least one state association if the at least one result is related to the retrieved information, wherein the association to exclude prevents information corresponding to the first state from appearing as modified information; wherein context is applied to the retrieved information using the state information of the components in the computing environment, wherein the state information comprises the group consisting of a hardware component state and a software component operating mode state; and presenting the modified information on a computer display. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification