System and method for searching, formulating, distributing and monitoring usage of predefined internet search queries

• US 7,831,609 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vizibility Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vizibility Incorporated
• Inventors: Alexander, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Cheyne D
• Application Number:
  US12/795,034
• Time in Patent Office: 155 Days
• Field of Search: 707/713, 707/728, 707/765, 707/706, 715/700
• US Class Current: 707/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Abstract

A user interface aids in creation of customized pre-defined queries that can be used for identifying particular search results relevant to a topic. Provision can be made to allow express inclusion or exclusion of certain results. Metrics relating to how much the pre-defined query focuses the search can be provided. A pre-defined query can be referenced by a URL, which can be distributed or referenced in content available in any number of locations. When results of the pre-defined search change, a contact associated with the search query can be notified. When a URL is activated, a redirect to the search engine with the customized query can occur, and the contact associated with the query can be notified of the usage of the pre-defined query. Metrics concerning sources of query usage can be produced, based on data gathered while serving the pre-defined query requests.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising the acts of:

accepting one or more search terms, through an interface;

submitting, to an Internet search engine, a query defined from the accepted one or more search terms;

analyzing of the results received from the search engine to determine whether the results are acceptable;

responsive to determining that the results are acceptable, presenting the results, storing the query as a first pre-defined query, storing information describing the results determined to be acceptable, and producing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for referencing the first pre-defined query on the Internet;

responsive to determining that the results are not acceptable, based at least on determining that the number of results returned for the query is greater or less than a threshold number, presenting the results of the query on the interface, wherein each result presented is associated on the interface with an indication that the result is to be retained or to be removed, modifying the query by including at least one additional search term identified base on keywords associated with one or more of the results, and rerunning the search with the modified query, storing the modified query as a second pre-defined query, storing information describing the results returned for the modified query, and producing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for referencing the second pre-defined query on the Internet;

periodically submitting the first pre-defined query or the second pre-defined query to the Internet search engine, receiving results, and comparing the results with the respective presented results, based on the respective stored information; and

producing an alert responsive to the comparison indicating that the compared results are different, wherein the differences detected by the comparison comprise new results, results that now are absent, and differences in an ordering of results.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the URL can be provided on a web page and accessed, and the method further comprises responsively notifying a contact associated with the first pre-defined query or the second pre-defined query that the URL was accessed.