Social based search engine, system and method

• US 20090287682A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fuhu Holdings, Inc
• Inventors: Fujioka, Robb, Okimoto, Daryl
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

A social based search apparatus, system and method. The apparatus, system and method may include receiving, from a user, at least one search keyword, comparing the search keyword to a plurality of keywords having one or more experts associated therewith, and producing a first search result including at least one expert and information associated with the at least one expert, wherein the at least one expert and the information are at least substantially related to the at least one search keyword. The present invention may additionally include applying at least one filter to the first search result, wherein the at least one filter includes a broadening of the at least one search keyword.

Claims

1. A social based search method, comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least one search keyword;

comparing the search keyword to a plurality of keywords having one or more experts associated therewith;

producing a first search result including at least one expert and information associated with the at least one expert, wherein the at least one expert and the information are at least substantially related to the at least one search keyword; and

applying at least one filter to the first search result, wherein the at least one filter comprises a broadening of the at least one search keyword.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expert is presented to the user as an avatar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the avatar is widgetized.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the avatar comprises a wiki.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the widgetized avatar is presented as a trading card.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the trading card is multi-sided.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the multi-sides of said trading card are viewed via at least one of the group consisting of selection of a drop-down menu, selection of a link, and a double click.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the expert is ranked.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ranking is based at least partially upon user feedback.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user feedback is a searchable wiki attributable to the expert ranking.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising tertiary filters provided by the expert.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first search result is at least partially restricted to a social community.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the expert includes an advertisement for the expert.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the expert includes a blog.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the expert comprises a wiki page.