System for enhancing a query interface

• US 20020147724A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Richter, John M. Tippett, Karen E. Fries
• Inventors: Fries, Karen E., Richter, Jeffrey, Tippett, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components comprising:

(a) a network browser component capable of requesting and displaying an item stored on one of a plurality of servers using one of a plurality of network protocols; and

(b) a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of the network browser.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the search tool component invokes an instance of the network browser when the search tool component wants to communicate with a server located on the network.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein the network browser displays an item returned by a server located on the Internet.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein the network browser displays search results produced by a generic search engine located on a remote Internet server in response to a search query created by the search tool component and sent to the generic search engine by the network browser.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the search tool component is capable of invoking an instance of an animation component that is capable of producing an animated character that appears on a display in conjunction with the search tool'"'"'s solicitation of the search query.

6. In a computer system having a display, a method of producing interfaces on the display, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a solicitation balloon that includes text to solicit a search query from a user;

(b) opening a browser window that submits the search query to one of a plurality of servers on a computer network; and

(c) displaying results returned by the computer network in the browser window.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying an animated character proximate the solicitation balloon such that the solicitation balloon appears to emanate from the animated character.

8. A method of interacting with a searcher of a computer system, the method comprising:

designating an option display area on a display;

providing a set of selectable search options in the options display area, at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter; and

providing at least one search option in the options display area that allows the user to indicate that their search was successful.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing a search and a result identifier when the user indicates their search was successful.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the search result identifier is a uniform resource locator comprising a server address.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the uniform resource locator further comprises embedded search parameters.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein displaying a search result comprises receiving a search result from a server on the Internet and placing the search result on a display.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 having computer-executable instructions for performing additional steps comprising storing a search query and a results indicator after receiving the indication from the user that their search was successful.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the results indicator is a uniform resource locator.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the uniform resource locator comprises an address on the Internet.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the uniform resource locator further comprises search parameters.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) displaying a search result based on a user'"'"'s search query; and

(b) receiving an indication from a user that their search was successful.