Lateral search
First Claim
1. A method, implemented on a server having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the server, a search query issued by a user using a client device, wherein the server includes a general search engine and a plurality of vertical search engines;
associating the user with the search query;
determining information for the user, wherein the information for the user includes information about a location;
searching, by the general search engine, a general subdomain to identify general content based on the search query;
selecting a vertical subdomain based on the information for the user;
searching, by a vertical search engine of the plurality of vertical search engines, the vertical subdomain to identify specialized content based on the search query, wherein the vertical search engine is controlled by an owner of the general search engine; and
providing both the specialized content and the general content as a response to the search query.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A search query is received. Personal information for a user is then determined. A search is performed in a general subdomain of general content using the search query. For example, the general subdomain of general content may be a WWW search. Then, a vertical subdomain is determined based on the personal information. A search is then performed in the vertical subdomain of specialized content using the search query. The search performed in the general subdomain and the search performed in the vertical subdomain generate general search results and vertical search results. The results may be combined and outputted to a client.
19 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, implemented on a server having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the server, a search query issued by a user using a client device, wherein the server includes a general search engine and a plurality of vertical search engines; associating the user with the search query; determining information for the user, wherein the information for the user includes information about a location; searching, by the general search engine, a general subdomain to identify general content based on the search query; selecting a vertical subdomain based on the information for the user; searching, by a vertical search engine of the plurality of vertical search engines, the vertical subdomain to identify specialized content based on the search query, wherein the vertical search engine is controlled by an owner of the general search engine; and providing both the specialized content and the general content as a response to the search query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A server having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network, the server comprising:
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a query processor configured for receiving, at the server, a search query from a user that was sent using a client device, and for determining information for the user that is associated with the search query, wherein the information for the user includes information about a location; a general search engine configured for performing a search, in a general subdomain, and identifying general content based on the search query; a plurality of vertical search engines comprising a vertical search engine configured for performing a search, in a vertical subdomain, and identifying specialized content based on the search query, wherein the vertical subdomain is selected based on the location in the information for the user, wherein the vertical search engine is controlled by an owner of the general search engine; and a page constructor configured for providing both the specialized content and the general content as a response to the search query. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A machine-readable tangible and non-transitory medium having information for performing a search, wherein the information, when read by a server, causes the server to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, at the server, a search query issued by a user using a client device, wherein the server includes a general search engine and a plurality of vertical search engines; identifying the user that is associated with the search query; determining information for the user, wherein the information for the user includes information about a location; searching, by the general search engine, a general subdomain to identify general content based on the search query; selecting a vertical subdomain based on the location in the information for the user; searching, by a vertical search engine of the plurality of vertical search engines, the vertical subdomain to identify specialized content based on the search query, wherein the vertical search engine is controlled by an owner of the general search engine; and providing both the specialized content and the general content as a response to the search query. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification