Universal search engine
First Claim
1. A search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets, the search system comprising:
- a first interface portion for receiving a search query from an end user;
a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query,wherein;
the preference is modifiable by the end user,the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone, andthe target search engine may operate upon an intranet dataset or an Internet dataset; and
a search translation unit that;
determines the target search engine indicated by the preference,determines an input syntax selected by the end user, wherein;
the selected input syntax is one of a plurality of sets of input syntaxes,each set of the plurality of sets includes a plurality of operator terms, andthe plurality of operator terms include operatorterms that implement a Boolean AND and OR operations on terms of the search query, andtranslates the search query with the user selected input syntax, which is comprised of a first plurality of operator terms, to a translated search query with a syntax used by the target search engine that is comprised of a second plurality of operator terms, wherein;
the search translation unit is;
at least partially embodied in hardware; and
hosted within an intranet used by the end user,the first plurality of operator terms uses different operator terms to perform a same operation as the second plurality of operator terms,the first plurality of operator terms are not natively supported by the target search engine, andoperator terms of the plurality of sets of inputsyntaxes are customizable by the end user, and the user customizable operator terms determine how terms of the search query with the user selected input syntax are translated by the search translation unit.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to the invention, a search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets is disclosed. Included in the search system are a first interface portion, a preference and a search translation unit. The first interface portion receives a search query from an end user. A preference indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query. The preference is modifiable by the end user. The target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone. The target search engine may operate upon an intranet dataset or an Internet dataset. The search translation unit that determines the target search engine indicated by the preference. The search translation unit also translates the search query with a syntax used by the target search engine to create a translated search query. The search translation unit is hosted within an intranet used by the end user.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A search system for searching intranet datasets and Internet datasets, the search system comprising:
-
a first interface portion for receiving a search query from an end user; a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein; the preference is modifiable by the end user, the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone, and the target search engine may operate upon an intranet dataset or an Internet dataset; and a search translation unit that; determines the target search engine indicated by the preference, determines an input syntax selected by the end user, wherein; the selected input syntax is one of a plurality of sets of input syntaxes, each set of the plurality of sets includes a plurality of operator terms, and the plurality of operator terms include operator terms that implement a Boolean AND and OR operations on terms of the search query, and translates the search query with the user selected input syntax, which is comprised of a first plurality of operator terms, to a translated search query with a syntax used by the target search engine that is comprised of a second plurality of operator terms, wherein; the search translation unit is; at least partially embodied in hardware; and hosted within an intranet used by the end user, the first plurality of operator terms uses different operator terms to perform a same operation as the second plurality of operator terms, the first plurality of operator terms are not natively supported by the target search engine, and operator terms of the plurality of sets of input syntaxes are customizable by the end user, and the user customizable operator terms determine how terms of the search query with the user selected input syntax are translated by the search translation unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17)
-
-
9. A method for searching both intranet datasets and Internet datasets with a single search interface, the method comprising:
- receiving a search query from an end user;
receiving a selection by the end user of an input syntax selected from a plurality of sets of input syntaxes; receiving a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein; the preference is modifiable by the end user, and the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone; determining the target search engine indicated by the preference; translating the search query with the user selected input syntax, which is comprised of a first plurality of operator terms, to a translated search query with a syntax used by the target search engine that is comprised of a second plurality of operator terms, wherein; the first plurality of operator terms uses different operator terms to perform a same operation as the second plurality of operator terms; the first plurality of operator terms are not natively supported by the target search engine; operator terms of the plurality of sets of input syntaxes are customizable by the end user, and the user customizable operator terms determine how terms of the search query with the user selected input syntax are translated; the translation step is performed within an intranet that is used by the end user; and sending the translated search query to the target search engine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 18)
- receiving a search query from an end user;
-
14. A method for searching with search engines, the method comprising:
-
receiving a search query from an end user at a computer system; receiving a selection by the end user of an input syntax selected from a plurality of sets of input syntaxes; receiving a preference that indicates a target search engine referenced by the search query, wherein; the preference is modifiable by the end user, and the target search engine cannot be determined from the search query alone; determining the target search engine indicated by the preference; translating the search query with the user selected input syntax, which is comprised of a first plurality of operator terms, to a translated search query with a syntax used by the target search engine that is comprised of a second plurality of operator terms, wherein; operator terms of the plurality of sets of input syntaxes are customizable by the end user; the first plurality of operator terms uses different operator terms to perform a same operation as the second plurality of operator terms; the first plurality of operator terms are not natively supported by the target search engine; the user customizable operator terms determine how terms of the search query with the user selected input syntax are translated; and the translation step is performed within the computer system that is used by the end user; and sending the translated search query to the target search engine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 19)
-
Specification