Techniques for inline searching in an instant messenger environment
First Claim
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1. A method for searching the Internet in an instant messaging environment, the method comprising:
- recognizing at least a portion of an instant message, from a first user to a second user and entered into an instant messaging application on a first client computer, as a search query, wherein recognizing the instant message entered by the first user as a search query comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger;
causing the search query to be displayed inline in an instant messaging window on the first client computer and in a second instant messaging window on a second client computer;
causing a web search based on the search query in response to identifying the search trigger in the instant message, the web search retrieving search results; and
causing at least one of the search results to be displayed inline in the instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the second instant messaging window on the second client computer.
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Abstract
Techniques for performing inline searches in an instant messaging environment are provided. A user can implement a web search in an instant messaging window by entering a search query. A search query can be preceded by a predefined search trigger to identify the associated text as the search query. The search query is sent to an Internet search server, which processes the query and gathers search results. One or more of the search results is displayed inline in the instant messaging window to the sender and the recipient. The search result can be in XML or HTML format and can include graphics and hyperlinks.
50 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for searching the Internet in an instant messaging environment, the method comprising:
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recognizing at least a portion of an instant message, from a first user to a second user and entered into an instant messaging application on a first client computer, as a search query, wherein recognizing the instant message entered by the first user as a search query comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger; causing the search query to be displayed inline in an instant messaging window on the first client computer and in a second instant messaging window on a second client computer; causing a web search based on the search query in response to identifying the search trigger in the instant message, the web search retrieving search results; and causing at least one of the search results to be displayed inline in the instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the second instant messaging window on the second client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer system for facilitating searching the Internet in an instant messaging environment, the computer system comprising:
an instant messaging (IM) server for; receiving an instant message from a first instant messaging (IM) client to a second instant messaging client, wherein the instant message includes a search query; recognizing the instant message as including a search query by identifying a search trigger in the instant message; communicating the search query received from the first IM client to the second IM client for display inline in a second instant messaging window on the second IM client, and causing a search based on the search query in response to identifying the search trigger in the instant message, the search returning search results, wherein at least one of the search results is transmitted to the first IM client for display inline in the first instant messaging window, and to the second IM client for display inline in the second instant messaging window. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for performing a method for causing web searches in an instant messaging environment, the method comprising:
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recognizing that an instant message entered by a first user into a first instant messaging application on a first client computer includes a search query, the instant message to a second user on a second client, wherein recognizing that the instant message entered by the first user includes a search query comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger; displaying the search query inline in a first instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in a second instant messaging window on the second client; transmitting the search query to a search server in response to identifying the search trigger, wherein the search server performs a search based on the search query and returns search results; and displaying one or more of the search results inline in the first instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the second instant messaging window on the second client. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for facilitating searching in an instant messaging environment, the apparatus comprising:
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logic for identifying a search query in an instant message from a first user of a first instant messaging (IM) client to a second user of a second instant messaging (IM) client, wherein the logic for identifying the search query in the instant message is based on a search trigger within the instant message; logic for causing a search based on the search query in response to identifying the search trigger, the search resulting in at least one search result; and logic for causing at least one of the search results to be displayed inline in a first window of the first IM client and in a second window of the second IM client.
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Specification