Method and system for performing a web search via a client-side module

• US 9,152,712 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Wai Hung, Geishecker, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yi, Rinna
• Application Number:
  US12/827,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 715/823, 715/810, 715/803, 715/808, 715/968, 707/769, 707/802, 707/E17.107, 707/E17.108, 709/203, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3328 using graphical result space presentation or visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for providing to a user rapid access to search resources while interacting with electronic documents by providing for recognition of user initiated search triggers that result in searches being performed with minimal user input or page navigation. A method and system for performing a web search includes detecting, by a client-side module, a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring during display of the web page, the search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser, detecting, by the client-side module, a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the search interface trigger, and transmitting, by the client-side module to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the search execution trigger, a request for search results related to content associated with the search interface trigger.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a client-side module executing on a computing device, a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring at a location on a web page during display of the web page, the user-initiated search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser, the user-initiated search interface trigger comprising typing text, the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger resulting in display of a search interface, the display of the search interface occurring in direct response to the detecting of the search interface trigger, the search interface able to receive input to be searched;

populating, by the client-side module, the search interface with the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger;

displaying, by the client-side module in the search interface on the web page, search suggestions related to the text during the populating of the search interface with the text;

detecting, by the client-side module, a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger; and

transmitting, by the client-side module to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger, a request for search results related to the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the computing device from the search entity, the search results.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying, by the browser, the search results.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger further comprises detecting the user of the computing device releasing a mouse button after selecting text on the web page.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger further comprises detecting a selection of an icon displayed along with the web page and associated with the search interface.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger further comprises detecting selection of a search suggestion in the displayed search suggestions.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the computing device, the client-side module from the server computer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-initiated search interface trigger is further selected from a group of trigger types consisting of typing text, selecting a plurality of characters to highlight the characters displayed on the web page, and detecting selection of a predetermined function key.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-initiated search interface trigger is further selected from a group of trigger types consisting of typing text, selecting a plurality of characters to highlight the characters displayed on the web page, and detecting pressing a predetermined key.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger further comprises detecting selecting a search button associated with and displayed with the search interface.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising restricting operation of the client-side module based on a parameter received from the user.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing thereon computer program instructions capable of being executed by a computing device, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:

detecting, by the computing device, a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring at a location on a web page during display of the web page, the user-initiated search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser, the user-initiated search interface trigger comprising typing text, the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger resulting in display of a search interface, the display of the search interface occurring in direct response to the detecting of the search interface trigger, the search interface able to receive input to be searched;

populating, by the computing device, the search interface with the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger;

displaying, by the computing device in the search interface on the web page, search suggestions related to the text during the populating of the search interface with the text;

detecting, by the computing device, a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger; and

transmitting, by the computing device, to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger, a request for search results related to the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 further comprising computer program instructions defining the step of receiving, by the computing device from the search entity, the search results.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger further comprises detecting the user of the computing device releasing a mouse button after selecting text on the web page.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the computer program instructions defining the step of detecting the user-initiated search interface trigger further comprises instructions defining the step of detecting a selection of a button displayed on the web page and associated with the search interface.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the user-initiated search interface trigger is selected from a group of trigger types consisting of typing text, selecting a plurality of characters to highlight the characters displayed on the web page, and detecting selection of a predetermined function key.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the user-initiated search interface trigger is selected from a group of trigger types consisting of typing text, selecting a plurality of characters to highlight the characters displayed on the web page, and detecting pressing a predetermined key.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12 further comprising instructions restricting operation based on a parameter received from the user.

19. A method comprising:

detecting, by a client-side module executing on a computing device, a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring at a location on an electronic document during display of the electronic document, the user-initiated search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the electronic document or an application being used to view the electronic document, the user-initiated search interface trigger comprising typing text, the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger resulting in display of a search interface, the display of the search interface occurring in direct response to the detecting of the search interface trigger, the search interface able to receive input to be searched;

populating, by the client-side module, the search interface with the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger;

displaying, by the client-side module in the search interface on the electronic document, search suggestions related to the text during the populating of the search interface with the text;

detecting, by the client-side module, a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger; and

transmitting, by the client-side module to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger, a request for search results related to the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger.

20. A method comprising:

prior to displaying a search interface, detecting pressing, at a location on a web page by a user viewing the web page displayed by a client computer, of keyboard buttons to create a text string, the pressing of the keyboard buttons not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser on the client computer;

after detecting the pressing of at least one keyboard button and in direct response to the detecting of the pressing of the keyboard buttons, populating, by a client side module downloaded to the client computer from a server computer, the search interface with a character associated with the pressed at least one keyboard button;

displaying, by the client-side module in the search interface on the web page, search suggestions related to characters associated with the pressing of the keyboard buttons during the populating of the search interface with the characters;

detecting pressing, by the user viewing the web page, of an enter key after the detecting of the pressing of keyboard buttons; and

transmitting, to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the pressing of the enter key, a search request comprising the text string.

21. A server computer comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

transmitting logic executed by the processor for transmitting a client-side module to a client device, the client-side module configured to;

detect a user-initiated search interface trigger occurring at a location on a web page during display of the web page, the user-initiated search interface trigger not associated with an input focus of the web page or an input focus of a browser, the user-initiated search interface trigger comprising typing text, the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger resulting in display of a search interface, the display of the search interface occurring in direct response to the detecting of the search interface trigger, the search interface able to receive input to be searched;

populate the search interface with the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger,

display, in the search interface on the web page, search suggestions related to the text during the populating of the search interface with the text,

detect a user-initiated search execution trigger after the detecting of the user-initiated search interface trigger, and

transmit, to a search entity, in response to the detecting of the user-initiated search execution trigger, a request for search results related to the text associated with the user-initiated search interface trigger.