COLLABORATIVE SEARCHING
First Claim
1. A method for allowing at least two users to collaborate in performing a search, the method comprising:
- specifying, by a first user, a first search query;
specifying, by a second user distinct from the first user, a second search query; and
performing a search, the search based, at least in part, on a logical combination of the first and second search queries.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are techniques that allow users to collaborate in a search. Each user can contribute to an original search and to refining the results of the search. Preferences of all of the users are considered in the search even while those preferences can be kept private. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least two users each submit a search query. The multiple search queries are logically combined to produce one set of search results. The results can be reviewed by the users and refined if necessary. In some embodiments, a search query can be specified by a single user, but the search engine takes into consideration the stored preferences of multiple users (in addition to the search query itself, of course).
27 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for allowing at least two users to collaborate in performing a search, the method comprising:
-
specifying, by a first user, a first search query; specifying, by a second user distinct from the first user, a second search query; and performing a search, the search based, at least in part, on a logical combination of the first and second search queries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for allowing preferences of at least two users to affect a search, the method comprising:
-
specifying, by a first user, a first search query; retrieving stored preferences of the first user; retrieving stored preferences of a second user, the second user distinct from the first user; and performing a first search, the first search based, at least in part, on the first search query and on the retrieved preferences of the first and second users, the first search returning first search results. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A communication device operable by a first user, the device comprising:
-
a transceiver; a user interface configured for communicating with a user of the communication device; and a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and to the user interface and configured for receiving, via the user interface and from a first user, a first search query, for receiving, from a second user distinct from the first user, a second search query, and for performing a search, the search based, at least in part, on a logical combination of the first and second search queries. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A communication device operable by a first user, the device comprising:
-
a transceiver; a user interface configured for communicating with a user of the communication device; and a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and to the user interface and configured for receiving, via the user interface and from a first user, a first search query, for retrieving stored preferences of the first user, for retrieving stored preferences of a second user distinct from the first user, and for performing a first search, the first search based, at least in part, on the first search query and on the retrieved preferences of the first and second users, the first search returning first search results. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
Specification