Method and system of interacting with a server, and method and system for generating and presenting search results

• US 8,738,594 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chin San Sathya Wong
• Original Assignee: Chin San Sathya Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Chin San Sathya
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Isaac M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, THUY T
• Application Number:
  US12/676,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3326 using relevance feedback from the user, e.g. relevance feedback on documents, documents sets, document terms or passages
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Method of generating search results for a search engine which allows users to provide feedback to the search engine. Historical data for all searches performed are kept by the search engine which is used to modify the results generated by other conventional means. When the results are displayed to the user, the user is able to interact with the system and provide feedback which modifies the historical data. Such feedback can then be used in future searches to generate results which are better ranked and clustered according to relevance to the search request. Conveniently, the user is able to provide at least part of his feedback by clicking on “up” and “down” buttons, in addition to ranked search results, the system may display other records associated with the search enquiry, such as a chatroom on that topic.

Claims

1. A method for generating search results in a search engine, the method comprising:

(a) registering a search request which includes at least one search term made by a user,

(b) determining whether a database contains characteristic data previously entered by human users and indicating characteristics of a plurality of internet webpages having relevance to the search request, and

(c) if the determination is positive, extracting the characteristic data from the database and presenting search results for the webpages in a manner based on the characteristic data;

wherein communications between the search engine and a system making the search request are encrypted using an ID comprising information about, at least one of;

i) computer software installed on the system and ii) computer hardware installed on the system;

wherein the search results are presented in combination with other data relevant to the search term and previously entered by human users;

wherein the other data comprises a chatroom related to the search term;

wherein at least part of the characteristic data indicates the relevance of the data to the search request, and in step (c) the search results are presented in an order determined by the characteristic data;

wherein the search results are presented together with a respective set of one or more buttons clickable by the user to modify the characteristic data.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which the buttons include at least a button which lowers the rank of the corresponding search result within the order, and a button which raises the rank of the corresponding search result within the order.

3. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies a geographical location of the client.

4. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies a language in which the user made the search request.

5. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies an internet service provider of a user making the search request.

6. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies an internet browser software or operating system software and corresponding software settings of a system making the search request.

7. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies a local time and weather of a location of a user making the search request.

8. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies user profile information extracted from a user account of the user.

9. The method according to claim 1 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies historical data extracted from one or more groups of which the user is part.

10. The method according to claim 1 in which said characteristic data is obtained by a method comprising:

(a) determining whether a client system has downloaded data mining tools from the search engine,

(b) if the determination is negative, automatically downloading the data mining tools to the client system and storing any data collected on the client in the data mining tools, or

(c) if the determination is positive, automatically updating any data collected on the data mining tools, and

(d) transmitting said data in the data mining tools to the search engine;

wherein, said data in the data mining tools is stored and used as said characteristic data to improve search results.

11. The method according to claim 10 in which the data transmitted from the data mining tools to the search engine is further encrypted using biometric security.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ID is included within a message between the search engine and the system.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the search engine is arranged to receive input from a user which modifies the characteristic data relating to a given search result, the user input being a member of the group consisting of:

(i) a recommendation not to display the search result in response to future searches, and (ii) a recommendation to label the search result as relating to a website containing adult content.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the search request comprises search characteristic data, the search characteristic data identifying, at least one of:

computer software installed on a system making the search request or computer hardware installed on the system.

15. A method for generating search results in a search engine, the method comprising:

(a) registering a search request made by a user,

(b) determining whether a database contains characteristic data previously entered by human users and indicating the characteristics of a plurality of internet webpages having relevance to the search request, and

(c) if the determination is positive, extracting the characteristic data from the database and presenting search results for the webpages in a manner based on the characteristic data;

wherein communications between the search engine and a system making the search request are encrypted using an ID comprising information about, at least one of;

i) computer software installed on the system and ii) computer hardware installed on the system;

wherein said characteristic data is obtained by a method comprising;

(a) determining whether a client system has downloaded data mining tools from the search engine,

(b) if the determination is negative, automatically downloading the data mining tools to the client system and storing any data collected on the client in the data mining tools, or

(c) if the determination is positive, automatically updating any data collected on the data mining tools, and

(d) transmitting said data in the data mining tools to the search engine;

wherein, said data in the data mining tools is stored and used as said characteristic data to improve search results;

wherein the data transmitted from the data mining tools to the search engine is further encrypted using biometric security.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ID is included within a message between the search engine and the system.

17. The method according to claim 15 in which the search request comprises search characteristic data, wherein the search characteristic data identifies, at least one of:

i) a geographical location of the client,

ii) a language in which the user made the search request,

iii) an internet service provider of a user making the search request,

iv) an internet browser software or operating system software and corresponding software settings of a system making the search request,

v) a local time and weather of a location of a user making the search request,

vi) user profile information extracted from a user account of the user,

vii) historical data extracted from one or more groups of which the user is part,

viii) computer software installed on a system making the search request, and

ix) computer hardware installed on the system.