Focused search using network addresses

• US 8,645,352 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Van Der Linden, Maura Adana
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US11/289,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,988 Days
• Field of Search: 707/708, 707/826, 707/770, 707/771, 707/758
• US Class Current: 707/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Abstract

Embodiments of search using network addresses are presented herein. For example, a search may take into account one or more network addresses to focus a search for particular content. In another example, functionality may be provided such that when a user selects a network address, a search is performed for network addresses that are similar to the selected address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input selecting a link to a network address;

outputting a menu in response to selection of the link to the network address, the menu having one or more menu items including;

(1) a function that, when selected, accesses content associated with the network address and displays the content in a new window; and

(2) a function that, when selected, causes a search query to be formed to locate at least one other network address that is similar to the network address;

receiving another input selecting the menu item that includes the function that, when selected, causes the search query to be formed; and

responsive to the receiving of the another input, forming the search query to locate at least one other network address that is similar to the network address using a network address module stored on a client, the network address module performs acts including;

extracting contextual information from content available from one or more different network addresses stored on the client;

determining contextual categories from the contextual information of the one or more different network addresses; and

forming the search query based in part on the network address and at least one of the contextual categories.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the selection of the link is performed by a user of a cursor control device; and

the link is a uniform resource locator (URL).

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the search query is configured for communication over a network to a search service; and

the search service is operable to locate the at least one other network address having content that is similar to content of the network address.

4. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search result that includes the at least one other network address from a search service via a network;

outputting the search result; and

indicating that the link to the network address is a source of the search query.

5. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search result that includes the at least one other network address; and

outputting the search result, the at least one other network address included in the search result having a respective command that, when selected, causes the at least one other network address to be included in a links-menu of links.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the links-menu is included in a browser.

7. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the links-menu includes a list of favorite links that were specified by a user.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the network address used to configure the search query is included in a menu of links within a browser.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an input that selects a menu item from a menu, the menu being displayed in response to selection of a link to a network address, the menu including;

(1) a function that, when selected opens the network address in a new window; and

(2) a function that, when selected, causes a search query to be formed to locate at least one other network address that is similar to the network address;

responsive to the selection of the function that, when selected, causing the search query to be formed, and forming, by a network address module stored on a client, the search query to locate at least one other network address having content that is similar to a content available from the network address, the network address module performs acts including;

extracting contextual information from content available from client-designated network addresses resident on the client;

determining one or more contextual categories from the contextual information of the client-designated network addresses having content that is similar to the content available from the network address; and

forming the search query based in part on the network address and at least one of the one or more contextual categories; and

receiving a search result from a search service via a network in response to the search query.

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein:

the selection of the link is performed by a user of a cursor control device; and

the network address is a uniform resource locator (URL).

11. A method as described in claim 9, wherein:

the search query is configured for communication over a network to a search service; and

the search service uses the search query to locate the at least one other network address.

12. A method as described in claim 9, further comprising:

outputting the search result; and

indicating that the link to the network address is a source of the search query.

13. A method as described in claim 9, further comprising:

outputting the search result, the search result having one or more network addresses each including a command that, when selected, causes a respective one of the one or more network address to be included in a menu of links.

14. A method as described in claim 13, wherein the menu of links:

is included in a browser; and

is a list of favorite links that were specified by a user.

15. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the at least one client-designated network address used to configure the search query is included in a menu of links within a browser.

16. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

receive an input that selects a link to a first network address;

output a pop-up menu that includes one or more menu items in response to the receiving of the selection of the link to the first network address, the one or more menu items include;

(1) a function that, when selected, opens the first network address in a new window; and

(2) a function that, when selected, causes a search query to be formed to locate at a second network address that is similar to the first network address;

receive a selection of the menu item including the function that, when selected, causes the search query to be formed; and

form, by a network address module stored on a client, the search query to locate the second network address having content that is similar to content available from the first network address, the network address module performs acts including;

extracting contextual information from content available via client-designated network addresses resident on the client;

determining one or more contextual categories from the contextual information of the client-designated network addresses having content that is related to the content available from the first network address; and

forming the search query including at least one of the one or more contextual categories that contextually categorizes the first network address.

17. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 16, wherein:

the search query is configured for communication over a network to a search service; and

the search service uses the search query to locate the second network address.

18. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 16, further comprising:

outputting a search result; and

indicating that a link to the first network address that was selected to output the menu is a source of the search query.

19. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 16, further comprising outputting a search result and one or more network addresses included in the search result, the one or more network addresses each having a command that, when selected, causes a respective one of the one or more network address to be included in a menu of links.

20. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 16, wherein the client-designated network addresses:

are included in a browser; and

are a list of favorite links that were specified by a user.