System, methods and applications for embedded internet searching and result display
First Claim
1. An internet searching system that enables a computing device to efficiently conduct complex internet searches using pre-existing text from a document that is viewable in a text editing program on a screen of the computing device, comprising:
- a. a computing device including a memory that stores a search tool, wherein the search tool is executable by a processor of the computing device, and operable to interface with (i) the text editing program using mouse or touchscreen inputs, and (ii) a remote internet searching program that is accessible over the internet and operable to conduct an internet search;
b. the processor configured to execute the search tool to;
i. cause the text editing program to display a search icon on the screen;
ii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the search icon to initiate one internet search routine;
iii. as part of the one internet search routine;
1. select in the viewable document a first search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document;
2. while the first search phrase is selected, select in the viewable document a second search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document, at least some of the words in the second search phrase being different from and spaced apart from the words in the first search phrase;
3. communicate to the remote internet searching program via an internet network connection both the first and second search phrases;
4. receive on the client device from the remote internet searching program, first search results of a first internet search based upon the first search phrase and second search results of a second internet search based upon the second search phrase;
iv. enable at least part of the first search results to be displayed on the screen within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the first search phrase;
v. enable at least part of the second search results to be displayed on the screen within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the second search phrase;
vi. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the first search results, and in response, cause additional first search results to be displayed on the screen; and
vii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the second search results, and in response, cause additional second search results to be displayed on the screen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods allow a user of a text or graphics editor to quickly create multiple robust internet search queries by selecting and ranking groups or individual key words from a document. A user who is composing or reading a document can identify and link multiple sets of key words into separate search queries by highlighting and assigning either unique search numbers, colors or other readily ascertained indicators of their logical relation. Each individual search query is routed to selected internet search engines, and the results are returned to the user in the same viewed document. The user may select the form in which the results are displayed. For example, results may be listed within the document by way footnotes, endnotes, or separate hover or pull-down windows accessible from the search terms. In addition, the user can browse, sort, rank, edit or eliminate portions of the results.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An internet searching system that enables a computing device to efficiently conduct complex internet searches using pre-existing text from a document that is viewable in a text editing program on a screen of the computing device, comprising:
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a. a computing device including a memory that stores a search tool, wherein the search tool is executable by a processor of the computing device, and operable to interface with (i) the text editing program using mouse or touchscreen inputs, and (ii) a remote internet searching program that is accessible over the internet and operable to conduct an internet search; b. the processor configured to execute the search tool to; i. cause the text editing program to display a search icon on the screen; ii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the search icon to initiate one internet search routine; iii. as part of the one internet search routine; 1. select in the viewable document a first search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document; 2. while the first search phrase is selected, select in the viewable document a second search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document, at least some of the words in the second search phrase being different from and spaced apart from the words in the first search phrase; 3. communicate to the remote internet searching program via an internet network connection both the first and second search phrases; 4. receive on the client device from the remote internet searching program, first search results of a first internet search based upon the first search phrase and second search results of a second internet search based upon the second search phrase; iv. enable at least part of the first search results to be displayed on the screen within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the first search phrase; v. enable at least part of the second search results to be displayed on the screen within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the second search phrase; vi. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the first search results, and in response, cause additional first search results to be displayed on the screen; and vii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the second search results, and in response, cause additional second search results to be displayed on the screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of efficiently conducting complex internet searches using (1) pre-existing text from a document that is viewable in a text editing program on a screen of a remote computing device and (2) an internet searching program that is remotely accessible over the internet to the computing device, comprising:
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a. providing a search tool that is installable in memory of the computing device and operable to interface with the internet searching program and a text editing program resident in the computing device having mouse or touchscreen inputs; b. configuring the search tool so that it can be operated by the computing device to; i. cause the text editing program to display a search icon on the screen; ii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the search icon to initiate one internet search routine; iii. as part of the one internet search routine; 1. select in the viewable document a first search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document; 2. while the first search phrase is selected, select in the viewable document a second search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document, at least some of the words in the second search phrase being different from and spaced apart from the words in the first search phrase; 3. communicate to the internet searching program via an internet network connection both the first and second search phrases; c. receiving at the internet searching program the first and second search phrases; d. operating the internet searching program to conduct searches and generate first search results from the first internet search based upon the first search phrase and second search results of a second internet search based upon the second search phrase; e. communicating to the client device the first and second search results; f. configuring the search tool so that it can be operated by the computing device to; i. enable at least part of the first search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the first search phrase; ii. enable at least part of the second search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the second search phrase; iii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the first search results, and in response, cause additional first search results to be displayed on the screen of the computing device; and iv. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the displayed part of the second search results, and in response, cause additional second search results to be displayed on the screen of the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An internet searching system that enables a computing device to efficiently conduct complex internet searches using pre-existing text from a document that is viewable in a text editing program on a screen of the computing device, comprising:
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a. a computing device including a memory that stores a search tool, wherein the search tool is executable by a processor of the computing device, and operable to interface with (i) the text editing program using mouse or touchscreen inputs, and (ii) a remote internet searching program that is accessible over the internet and operable to conduct an internet search; b. the processor configured to execute the search tool to; i. cause the text editing program to display a search icon on the screen; ii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the search icon to initiate one internet search routine; iii. as part of the one internet search routine; 1. select in the viewable document a first search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document; 2. while the first search phrase is selected, select in the viewable document a second search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document, at least some of the words in the second search phrase being different from and spaced apart from the words in the first search phrase; 3. communicate to the remote internet searching program via an internet network connection both the first and second search phrases; 4. receive on the client device from the remote internet searching program, first search results of a first internet search based upon the first search phrase and second search results of a second internet search based upon the second search phrase; iv. enable at least part of the first search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the first search phrase; and v. enable at least part of the second search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the second search phrase. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of efficiently conducting complex internet searches using (1) pre-existing text from a document that is viewable in a text editing program on a screen of a remote computing device and (2) an internet searching program that is remotely accessible over the internet to the computing device, comprising:
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a. providing a search tool that is installable in memory of the computing device and operable to interface with the internet searching program and a text editing program resident in the computing device having mouse or touchscreen inputs; b. configuring the search tool so that it can be operated by the computing device to; i. cause the text editing program to display a search icon on the screen; ii. recognize a mouse or touchscreen input selecting the search icon to initiate one internet search routine; iii. as part of the one internet search routine; 1. select in the viewable document a first search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document; 2. while the first search phrase is selected, select in the viewable document a second search phrase including words selected from the pre-existing text of the document, at least some of the words in the second search phrase being different from and spaced apart from the words in the first search phrase; 3. communicate to the internet searching program via an internet network connection both the first and second search phrases; c. receiving at the internet searching program the first and second search phrases; d. operating the internet searching program to conduct searches and generate first search results from the first internet search based upon the first search phrase and second search results of a second internet search based upon the second search phrase; e. communicating to the client device the first and second search results; f. configuring the search tool so that it can be operated by the computing device to; i. enable at least part of the first search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the first search phrase; and ii. enable at least part of the second search results to be displayed within the text-editing program in a manner visually associated with the second search phrase. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification