Collaborative searching
First Claim
1. A method for allowing at least two users to collaborate in performing a search, the method comprising:
- on a first communication device, specifying, by a first user, a first search query;
on a second communication device, specifying, by a second user distinct from the first user, a second search query; and
on the first communication device, performing a search, the search based, at least in part, on a logical combination of the first and second search queries;
wherein the search is based on aspects of situational awareness consisting of;
a location of the first user when specifying the first search query, a location of the second user when specifying the second search query, a time-of-day when the first search query is specified, a time-of-day when the second search query is specified, image data captured when the first search query is specified, image data captured when the second search query is specified, sound data captured when the first search query is specified, sound data captured when the second search query is specified, a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the first search query is specified, and a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the second search query is specified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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).
13 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for allowing at least two users to collaborate in performing a search, the method comprising:
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on a first communication device, specifying, by a first user, a first search query; on a second communication device, specifying, by a second user distinct from the first user, a second search query; and on the first communication device, performing a search, the search based, at least in part, on a logical combination of the first and second search queries; wherein the search is based on aspects of situational awareness consisting of;
a location of the first user when specifying the first search query, a location of the second user when specifying the second search query, a time-of-day when the first search query is specified, a time-of-day when the second search query is specified, image data captured when the first search query is specified, image data captured when the second search query is specified, sound data captured when the first search query is specified, sound data captured when the second search query is specified, a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the first search query is specified, and a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the second search query is specified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for allowing preferences of at least two users to affect a search, the method comprising:
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on a first communication device, specifying, by a first user, a first search query; on the first communication device, retrieving stored preferences of the first user; on a second communication device, retrieving stored preferences of a second user, the second user distinct from the first user; and on the first communication device, 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; wherein the first search is based on aspects of situational awareness consisting of;
a location of the first user when specifying the first search query, a time-of-day when the first search query is specified, image data captured when the first search query is specified, sound data captured when the first search query is specified, and a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the first search query is specified. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication device operable by a first user, the device comprising:
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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; wherein the search is based on aspects of situational awareness consisting of;
a location of the first user when specifying the first search query, a location of the second user when specifying the second search query, a time-of-day when the first search query is specified, a time-of-day when the second search query is specified, image data captured when the first search query is specified, image data captured when the second search query is specified, sound data captured when the first search query is specified, sound data captured when the second search query is specified, a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the first search query is specified, and a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the second search query is specified. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A communication device operable by a first user, the device comprising:
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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; wherein the first search is based on aspects of situational awareness consisting of;
a location of the first user when specifying the first search query, a time-of-day when the first search query is specified, image data captured when the first search query is specified, sound data captured when the first search query is specified, and a presence of another member of a group that includes the first user and the second user when the first search query is specified. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification