Associative search engine

• US 9,129,019 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Skillen, Richard Prescott, Livermore, Frederick Caldwell
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSER, BRUCE M
• Application Number:
  US13/724,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20130117250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

This invention relates to an advertisement machine which provides advertisements to a user searching for desired information within a data network. The machine receives, from a user, a search request including a search argument corresponding to the desired information and searches, based upon the received search argument, a first database having data network related information to generate search results. It also correlates the received search argument to a particular advertisement in a second database having advertisement related information. The search results together with the particular advertisement are provided by the machine to the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing desired information to a user, comprising:

receiving, from a user having user profile data associated therewith, a search request comprising a search argument indicative of desired information;

providing the search argument and the user profile data to a search engine for searching, based on the search argument and the user profile data, a first database to generate a first search result;

correlating, using at least one non-precise technique, the search argument and the user profile data to particular information in a second database to generate a second search result;

combining the first search result and the second search result; and

providing the combined first and second search results to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second database is an advertisement database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein correlating the received search argument and the user profile data with the particular information in the second database comprises using at least one rule-based software algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a user profile based on past search sessions of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising maintaining a user profile from at least one of past search sessions of the user and historical data gathered on buying habits of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising customizing, based on the user profile data, at least one of the first and second search results for receipt by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein customizing, based on the user profile data, the at least one of the first and second search results comprises at least one of aurally enhancing the search result, visually enhancing the search result, textually enhancing the search result, anecdotally enhancing the search result, and logically enhancing the search result.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising customizing, based on preferences of the user, at least one of the first and second search results for receipt by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile data comprises geographical data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein using the at least one non-precise technique comprises using at least one rule based software algorithm.