Technique for inline searching in an instant messenger environment
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- recognizing, via a computing device, at least a portion of an instant message entered into an instant messaging window on a first client computer as an inline search query, wherein the search query is communicated to a second client computer for display inline in an instant messaging window on the second client computer, wherein said recognizing comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger; and
causing, via the computing device, visible display of at least one search result inline in the instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the instant messaging window on the second client computer, the at least one search result from a search based on the search query.
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Abstract
Techniques for performing inline searches in an instant messaging environment are provided. A user can implement a web search in an instant messaging window by entering a search query. A search query can be preceded by a predefined search trigger to identify the associated text as the search query. The search query is sent to an Internet search server, which processes the query and gathers search results. One or more of the search results is displayed inline in the instant messaging window to the sender and the recipient. The search result can be in XML or HTML format and can include graphics and hyperlinks.
25 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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recognizing, via a computing device, at least a portion of an instant message entered into an instant messaging window on a first client computer as an inline search query, wherein the search query is communicated to a second client computer for display inline in an instant messaging window on the second client computer, wherein said recognizing comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger; and causing, via the computing device, visible display of at least one search result inline in the instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the instant messaging window on the second client computer, the at least one search result from a search based on the search query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system comprising:
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an instant messaging (IM) server operable for; receiving an instant message from a first instant messaging (IM) client, wherein the instant message includes an inline search query entered into a first instant messaging window, wherein the IM server recognizes the instant message as including the inline search query by identifying a search trigger in the instant message; communicating the search query received from the first IM client to a second IM client for display inline in a second instant messaging window on the second IM client, and causing a search based on the search query, the search returning search results, wherein at least one of the search results is communicated to the first IM client for display inline in the first instant messaging window and to the second IM client for display inline in the second instant messaging window. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with coded instructions for execution by a computing device comprising:
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code for recognizing that an instant message entered by a first user into a first instant messaging window on a first client computer includes an inline search query, wherein said recognizing comprises identifying a search trigger in the instant message; code for causing communication of the search query to a second client computer for display of the search query inline in a second instant messaging window on the second client; and code for causing the display of at least one search result inline in the first instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the second instant messaging window on the second client, the at least one search result based on the recognized search query. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computing device comprising:
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a processor; a computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising; logic, executed by the processor, for identifying an inline search query from a first instant messaging (IM) client, the search query entered inline in an instant message conversion with a second user of a second instant messaging (IM) client, wherein said identifying comprises identifying a search trigger within the instant message; and logic, executed by the processor, for causing display of at least one search result inline in a first window of the first IM client and inline in a second window of a second IM client, the at least one search result from a search based on the search query. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification