FR3060154A1 - METHOD FOR SEARCHING ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES OVER A DATA NETWORK - Google Patents

Abstract

The method (200) for finding resources accessible on a data network comprises: - a step (205) of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, access to a local user profile of the user, a step (210) for entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request, a step (220) for transmitting the request to a computer server, a step (215) of generating, by the server, a set of additional search queries by adding keywords to the search query transmitted according to the keywords of the transmitted request, - a step (225) of reception, by the terminal , of enriched search results, for each search request, issued by the server, - a step (255) of weighting each result received according to the user profile and - a step (235) of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the termina l.

Description

(57) The method (200) of searching for accessible resources on a data network, comprises:

a step (205) of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, access to a local user profile of the user,

a step (210) of entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request,

a step (220) of transmitting the request to a computer server,

a step (215) of generation, by the server, of a set of complementary search requests by adding keywords to the transmitted search request as a function of the keywords of the transmitted request,

a step (225) of reception, by the terminal, of enriched search results, for each search request, sent by the server,

a step (255) of weighting each result received according to the user profile and

- A step (235) of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the terminal.

200

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TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of searching for resources accessible on a data network. It applies, in particular, to the optimization of the relevance of search results resulting from a search query for resources on a network of the internet type by a user.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of IT resource searches on the internet, online search engines, accessible from an internet browser, are used today.

These search engines base the results provided, in response to a query, on content indexing and user profiling by the online search engine.

The disadvantages of current search engines are that they are intrusive for the privacy of users, in particular through the profiling action which comes down to monitoring user actions and associating behaviors or detecting d 'associated interests to provide more relevant information to each research.

For this reason, these search engines are limited to searches for computer resources on the internet.

Other internal and private search modules, integrated into operating systems, allow access to the computer contents of the terminal associated with the operating system.

Thus, today, there is no search system making it possible to combine public search results on the internet and private search results without entering the user's private life to determine the relevance of the results .

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

To this end, the present invention relates to a method of resources accessible on a data network, which comprises:

- a step of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, access to a local user profile of the user,

- a step of entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request,

- a step of transmitting the request to a computer server,

- a step of generation, by the server, of a set of additional search requests by adding keywords to the search request transmitted as a function of the keywords of the request transmitted,

a step of receiving, by the terminal, enriched search results, for each search request, sent by the server,

a step of weighting each result received according to the user profile and

- a step of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the terminal.

Thanks to these provisions, the profile and its access remain in the possession of the user. Thus, if the user wishes to vary the search results according to his profile, the user unlocks access to the profile. If the user does not want these results to be filtered based on their profile, the user does not unlock access to the profile. When the user unlocks access to the profile, search results based on additional queries are filtered to produce a result similar to the results provided by a search engine using online profiling of the user to provide results. of research. In this way, the relevance of the search results is maintained, but without violating the user's privacy.

Indeed, thanks to these provisions, the online search engine does not need to know who is performing the search to provide relevant results since the results are sorted at the terminal level and therefore closer to the user.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises:

- a step of detection processing of events carried out by the user on this terminal and

- a step of editing the user profile according to at least one detected processing.

These embodiments make it possible to increase the relevance of the user profile according to the local actions of this user, which has the effect of improving the quality of the requests sent and therefore of the research carried out by the user.

In embodiments, the user profile is edited, during the editing step, according to at least one processing of displayed information carried out by the user on the terminal.

These embodiments make it possible to optimize the profile as a function of the processing carried out with the search results produced by the method.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises a step of associating remote services for storing personal information, the user profile being edited, during the editing step, as a function of minus a processing carried out with information from each associated service.

These embodiments make it possible to carry out the profiling of the user from the services to which the user subscribes as if they entered the perimeter of profiling of the user on the terminal.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises on the server a step of determining keywords complementary to the keywords entered using a local semantic dictionary, the determined keywords being used during the step generation.

These embodiments improve the relevance of the search results.

In some embodiments, the unlocking step is performed remotely from the terminal.

These embodiments make it possible to centralize the unlocking procedure so as to limit the capacity of a malicious third party to exploit a security vulnerability at the terminal level.

In embodiments, the unlocking step includes a step of authenticating the portable terminal on a cellular telephone network.

These embodiments implement, for unlocking, a network different from the computer network used for the research carried out.

In embodiments, the unlocking step implements a virtual SIM card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the process which is the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents, diagrammatically and in the form of a flowchart, a particular succession of steps of a first embodiment of the method which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 2 represents, diagrammatically and in the form of a flowchart, a particular succession of steps of a second embodiment of the method which is the subject of the present invention and

- Figure 3 shows, schematically and in the form of a flowchart, a particular succession of steps of a third embodiment of the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment can be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner.

We note now that the figures are not to scale.

We call "information" digital data which can take the form of text, image, sound, video or executable files or web pages. This term is synonymous with "IT resources". By this term is also meant any address of digital data as mentioned above.

We call "internet", the internet network of the World Wide Web (translated by "global network").

We call "internet browser", a software designed to consult and display the World Wide Web presenting at least an area for entering search keywords and an interface for displaying search results.

The term “terminal” refers to an electronic device comprising a man-machine interface, a means of communication with the internet network and a display screen, this terminal being configured to run the internet browser. As a guide, a terminal can be:

- a smartphone,

- a digital tablet or Io - a personal computer.

The term "event" refers to any interaction of the user, via a human interface, with the terminal having an impact on at least one parameter of execution of software from the terminal. Such an interaction can be:

- entering search keywords, for example on an internet browser,

- consulting a file,

- the execution of a file.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a flow diagram of particular steps for carrying out the method 100 which is the subject of the present invention. This method 100 of searching for accessible resources on a data network, comprises:

a step 105 of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, of access to a local user profile of the user,

a step 110 for entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request on the network,

a step 115 of local enrichment of the search request as a function of the user profile,

a step 120 of transmitting the enriched request to a computer server,

a step 125 of receiving enriched search results sent by the server and

a step 130 of displaying the results on a screen of the terminal.

This unlocking step 105 implements any type of mechanism for unlocking access to known computer content. Such a mechanism is, for example, the comparison of a code entered by the user, on the human machine interface of the terminal, with a code prerecorded on the terminal or remotely from this terminal. In other variants, the mechanism is a biometric identification mechanism by recognition of fingerprints or eyes.

In particular, this unlocking step 105 can be carried out by a browser extension module installed by the user or preinstalled in the browser.

In variants, the unlocking step 105 is implemented remotely relative to the terminal.

In particular embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, the unlocking step 105 includes a step 150 of authenticating the portable terminal on a cellular telephone network.

This authentication step 150 is carried out, for example, by authenticating a SIM card associated with the terminal on the cellular telephone network.

In variants, the unlocking step 105 implements a card

Virtual SIM.

A virtual SIM card is a dedicated memory space in the rewritable terminal, the content of which is transmitted by a radio channel, this content comprising the identification data of the terminal on the mobile cellular network.

The input step 110 is performed by any type of human-machine interface known to those skilled in the art. Such an interface is, for example, a mechanical keyboard, a virtual keyboard, a touch keyboard, a mouse or a voice control interface.

The human-machine interface used depends on the terminal running the internet browser.

Thanks to this human-machine interface, the user enters the keywords entered in a search field of the internet browser. These keywords correspond to research objects desired by the user.

The entered keywords are assembled to form a search query. 30 For example, these keywords could be “Restaurant”, “Tonight”.

In current systems, when the user validates the keywords entered, the search request is sent to a server hosting a search engine configured to associate information with keywords.

In this first embodiment, prior to sending the search request, this request is enriched 115.

This enrichment is achieved, for example, by adding keywords to the request, these keywords being determined according to the user profile.

For example, if the user's terminal is geo-located in Rome, Italy, the query below is enriched by adding the keyword "Rome" so as to limit the results to those with greater chance to match user expectations.

This enrichment is carried out at the terminal so as to preserve the anonymity of the user on the search engine side. The search engine knows the keywords of the query, but not the processing and information on which these keywords were based.

The transmission step 120 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a communication interface of the terminal. This communication interface is, for example, an antenna or a port for connection of a computer connection cable.

The communication interface is, for example, an antenna configured to implement the IEEE 802.11 standard, called "Wi-Fi" or a cellular data network.

During this transmission step 120, the search request is transmitted to the server.

The reception step 125 is carried out in a similar manner to the transmission step 120.

During this step, at least one search result, in the form of a link to an IT resource on the data network, is received by the terminal.

The display step 130 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a screen of the terminal to display, in an internet browser, the search results received during the step 125.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises:

a step 135 of detection of processing of events carried out by the user on this terminal and

a step 140 for editing the user profile as a function of at least one detected processing.

The event processing detection step 135 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic control circuit associated with software configured to detect actions performed by the user on the terminal. These actions, associated with an event, can be dated.

Editing step 140 is carried out, for example, by an electronic calculation circuit associated with software, this software being configured to, depending on the processing carried out at events, determine a user profile. This profile aims, for example, user preferences, statically or over time, the correlation between a succession of events, such as successive searches or a frequency of achievement of specific events.

In embodiments, the user profile is edited, during the editing step 140, according to at least one processing of the displayed information carried out by the user on the terminal.

This makes it possible to take into account, at the profile level, the preferences of the user with regard to the subject of the searches carried out so as to extract probable intentions therefrom, these probable intentions making it possible to better choose the search results at to come up.

In embodiments, the method 100 which is the subject of the present invention comprises a step 145 of association of remote services for storing personal information, the user profile being edited, during the editing step 140, according to at least one processing carried out on information from each associated service.

This association step 145 is carried out, for example, by entering, on the terminal, by the user:

- an identity of the service to be associated and

- identifiers allowing connection to this service on behalf of the user.

This association step 145 implements the establishment of a computer communication between the terminal and each service thus associated using the identifiers entered and recorded.

Such an association can be deleted by the user.

In embodiments, the method 100 which is the subject of the present invention comprises a step 145 of local classification of the search results received by the terminal according to the local user profile.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of the method 200 which is the subject of the present invention. This method 200 of searching for accessible resources on a data network, comprises:

a step 205 of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, of access to a local user profile of the user,

a step 210 of entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request,

a step 220 of transmitting the request to a computer server,

a step 215 of generation, by the server, of a set of complementary search requests by adding keywords to the transmitted search request as a function of the keywords of the transmitted request,

a step 225 of reception, by the terminal, of enriched search results, for each search request, sent by the server,

a step 255 of weighting each result received according to the user profile and

a step 235 of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the terminal. This unlocking step 205 implements any type of mechanism for unlocking access to known computer content. Such a mechanism is, for example, the comparison of a code entered by the user, on the man machine interface of the terminal, with a code prerecorded on the terminal or remotely from this terminal. In other variants, the mechanism is a biometric identification mechanism by recognition of fingerprints or eyes.

In particular, this unlocking step 205 can be carried out by a browser extension module installed by the user or preinstalled in the browser.

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In variants, the unlocking step 205 is implemented remotely relative to the terminal.

In particular embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 2, the unlocking step 205 includes a step 250 of authenticating the portable terminal on a cellular telephone network.

This authentication step 250 is carried out, for example, by authenticating a SIM card associated with the terminal on the cellular telephone network.

In variants, the unlocking step 205 implements a virtual SIM card.

A virtual SIM card is a dedicated memory space in the rewritable terminal, the content of which is transmitted by a radio channel, this content comprising the identification data of the terminal on the mobile cellular network.

The input step 210 is carried out by any type of human-machine interface 15 known to those skilled in the art. Such an interface is, for example, a mechanical keyboard, a virtual keyboard, a touch keyboard, a mouse or a voice control interface.

The human-machine interface used depends on the terminal running the internet browser.

Thanks to this human-machine interface, the user enters the keywords entered in a search field of the internet browser. These keywords correspond to research objects desired by the user.

The entered keywords are assembled to form a search query. For example, these keywords could be "Restaurant", "Tonight".

The transmission step 220 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a communication interface of the terminal. This communication interface is, for example, an antenna or a port for connection of a computer connection cable.

The communication interface is, for example, an antenna configured to implement the IEEE 802.11 standard, called "Wi-Fi" or a cellular data network.

During this transmission step 220, the search request is transmitted to the server.

In current systems, when the user validates the keywords entered, the search request is sent to a server hosting a search engine configured to associate information with keywords.

The information returned in response to the request then depends on the user's profile 5 maintained by the search engine.

In this second embodiment, no profile is maintained by the search engine.

Instead, the method includes a mechanism formed by generation steps 215 and weighting steps 255.

îo During generation step 215, the search engine generates a set of additional requests from the primary request sent by the terminal.

These secondary queries are formed by adding keywords close to the keywords entered. The proximity between keywords can be observed statistically based on the monitoring of events carried out on the information displayed by all users of the search engine, keywords being attached to each information. So, for example, if users of the search engine click on information relating to the author Victor Hugo and other information relating to a street bearing the name of Victor Hugo, the search engine determines two additional queries, when a user enters "Victor Hugo", these two additional requests being "Rue Victor Hugo" and "Author Victor Hugo".

All of the results of these two searches are returned to the terminal. In embodiments, the method 200 which is the subject of the present invention comprises on the server a step 260 of determining keywords complementary to the keywords entered using a local semantic dictionary, the determined keywords being used during of the generation stage.

The reception step 225 is carried out in a similar manner to the transmission step 220.

During this step 225, at least one search result, in the form of a link to an IT resource on the data network, is received by the terminal.

The weighting step 255 is carried out, for example, by assigning, to each item of information received, a relevance score as a function of the adequacy between the profile of the user and the information received.

For example, if the user is geo-located in the city of Rennes, the 5 search results of "Rue Victor Hugo" are weighted to highlight the search results applying to the city of Rennes.

This weighting is carried out at the terminal so as to preserve the anonymity of the user on the search engine side. The search engine knows the keywords of the query, but not the processing and information involved in weighting the results.

The display step 230 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a screen of the terminal to display, in an internet browser, the search results received during the step reception 225.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises:

a step 235 of detection of processing of events carried out by the user on this terminal and

a step 240 of editing the user profile as a function of at least one detected processing.

The event processing detection step 235 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic control circuit associated with software configured to detect actions performed by the user on the terminal. These actions, associated with an event, can be dated.

The editing step 240 is performed, for example, by an electronic calculation circuit associated with software, this software being configured to, depending on the processing performed at events, determine a user profile. This profile aims, for example, user preferences, statically or over time, the correlation between a succession of events, such as successive searches or a frequency of achievement of specific events.

In embodiments, the user profile is edited, during the editing step 240, according to at least one processing of the displayed information carried out by the user on the terminal.

This makes it possible to take into account, at the profile level, the preferences of the user with regard to the subject of the searches carried out so as to extract probable intentions therefrom, these probable intentions making it possible to better choose the search results on the to come up.

In embodiments, the method 200 which is the subject of the present invention comprises a step 245 of association of remote services for storing personal information, the user profile being edited, during the editing step 240, according to at least one processing carried out on information from each associated service.

This association step 245 is carried out, for example, by entering, on the terminal, by the user:

- an identity of the service to be associated and

- identifiers allowing connection to this service on behalf of the user.

This association step 245 implements the establishment of a computer communication between the terminal and each service thus associated using the identifiers entered and recorded.

Such an association can be deleted by the user.

FIG. 3 shows schematically an embodiment of the method 300 which is the subject of the present invention. This method 300 of searching for accessible resources on a data network, comprises:

a step 305 of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, access to a local user profile of the user,

a step 310 for entering search keywords by the user on the terminal,

- a step 315 of local creation of a primary search request as a function of the keywords entered,

- a step 317 of enriching the request by adding keywords to form a plurality of secondary requests,

a step 320 of transmitting each secondary request to a computer server,

a step 325 of receiving search results, for each request, sent by the server,

a step 355 of weighting each result received as a function of the user profile and

a step 330 of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the terminal. The unlocking step 305 implements any type of mechanism for unlocking access to known computer content. Such a mechanism is, for example, the comparison of a code entered by the user, on the man machine interface of the terminal, with a code prerecorded on the terminal or remotely from this terminal. In other variants, the mechanism is a biometric identification mechanism by recognition of fingerprints or eyes.

îo In particular, this unlocking step 305 can be carried out by a browser extension module installed by the user or preinstalled in the browser.

In variants, the unlocking step 305 is implemented remotely relative to the terminal.

In particular embodiments, such as that represented in figure

3, the unlocking step 305 includes a step 350 of authenticating the portable terminal on a cellular telephone network.

This authentication step 350 is carried out, for example, by authenticating a SIM card associated with the terminal on the cellular telephone network.

In variants, the unlocking step 305 implements a virtual SIM card.

A virtual SIM card is a dedicated memory space in the rewritable terminal, the content of which is transmitted by a radio channel, this content comprising the identification data of the terminal on the mobile cellular network.

The input step 310 is carried out by any type of human-machine interface known to those skilled in the art. Such an interface is, for example, a mechanical keyboard, a virtual keyboard, a touch keyboard, a mouse or a voice control interface.

The human-machine interface used depends on the terminal running the internet browser.

Thanks to this human-machine interface, the user enters the keywords entered in a search field of the internet browser. These keywords correspond to research objects desired by the user.

The entered keywords are assembled to form a search query during step 315 of creating a primary query.

The creation step 315 implements, for example, an electronic calculation circuit configured to store the keywords of the primary request in a memory of the terminal.

In current systems, when the user validates the keywords entered, the search request is sent to a server hosting a search engine configured to associate information with keywords.

In this third embodiment, the primary request is enriched, during enrichment step 317, by adding keywords to the keywords entered to form secondary requests, each secondary request corresponding to an addition.

For example, these keywords entered could be "Restaurant", "Tonight". To these keywords can be added, in a plurality of queries, the keywords "Rome" if the user has been geo-located in Rome or "Italian >> if the user has searched for Italian restaurants in a previous search .

This enrichment is achieved, for example, by adding keywords to the request, these keywords being determined according to the user profile.

The choice of keywords to be added is made during a step 360 of determining keywords complementary to the keywords entered using a local semantic dictionary, the determined keywords being used during the step enrichment.

This enrichment is carried out at the terminal so as to preserve the anonymity of the user on the search engine side. The search engine knows the keywords of the query, but not the processing and information on which these keywords were based.

The transmission step 320 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a communication interface of the terminal. This communication interface is, for example, an antenna or a port for connection of a computer connection cable.

The communication interface is, for example, an antenna configured to implement the IEEE 802.11 standard, called "Wi-Fi" or a cellular data network.

During this transmission step 320, the search request is transmitted to the server.

The reception step 325 is carried out in a similar manner to the transmission step 320.

During this step, at least one search result, in the form of a link to an IT resource on the data network, is received by the terminal.

The weighting step 355 is carried out, for example, by assigning, to each item of information received, a relevance score as a function of the adequacy between the profile of the user and the information received.

This weighting is carried out at the terminal so as to preserve the anonymity of the user on the search engine side. The search engine knows the keywords of the query, but not the processing and information involved in weighting the results.

The display step 330 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic circuit for controlling a screen of the terminal to display, in an internet browser, the search results received during the step 125.

In embodiments, the method which is the subject of the present invention comprises:

a step 235 of detection of processing of events carried out by the user on this terminal and

a step 240 of editing the user profile as a function of at least one detected processing.

The event processing detection step 235 is carried out, for example, by the implementation of an electronic control circuit associated with software configured to detect actions performed by the user on the terminal. These actions, associated with an event, can be dated.

The editing step 240 is performed, for example, by an electronic calculation circuit associated with software, this software being configured to, depending on the processing performed at events, determine a user profile. This profile aims, for example, user preferences, statically or over time, the correlation between a succession of events, such as successive searches or a frequency of achievement of specific events.

In embodiments, the user profile is edited, during the editing step 340, according to at least one processing of the displayed information carried out by the user on the terminal.

This makes it possible to take into account, at the profile level, the preferences of the user with regard to the subject of the searches carried out so as to extract therefrom probable intentions, these probable intentions making it possible to better choose the search results on the 'to come up.

In embodiments, the method 300 which is the subject of the present invention comprises a step 345 of associating remote services for storing personal information, the user profile being edited, during the editing step 340, according to at least one processing carried out on information from each associated service.

This association step 345 is carried out, for example, by entering, on the terminal, by the user:

- an identity of the service to be associated and

- identifiers allowing connection to this service on behalf of the user.

This association step 345 implements the establishment of a computer communication between the terminal and each service thus associated using the identifiers entered and recorded.

Such an association can be deleted by the user.

Claims (8)

1. Method (200) for finding accessible resources on a data network, characterized in that it comprises: a step (205) of unlocking on a computer terminal, by the user, of access to a local user profile of the user, 5 - a step (210) of entering search keywords by the user on the terminal to form a search request, a step (220) of transmitting the request to a computer server, a step (215) of generation, by the server, of a set of complementary search requests by adding keywords to the search request io transmitted as a function of the keywords of the transmitted request, a step (225) of reception, by the terminal, of enriched search results, for each search request, sent by the server, a step (255) of weighting each result received according to the user profile and 15 - a step (230) of displaying the weighted results on a screen of the terminal. 2. The search method (200) according to claim 1, which comprises: a step (235) of detection of processing of events carried out by the user on this terminal and 20 - a step (240) of editing the user profile according to at least one detected processing. 3. Method (200) according to claim 2, wherein the user profile is edited, during the editing step (240), according to at least one processing of a 25 information displayed by the user on the terminal. 4. Method (200) according to one of claims 2 or 3, which comprises a step of association (245) of remote personal information storage services, the user profile being edited, during step (240 ) editing, depending on the 30 minus processing of information from each associated service. 5. Search method (200) according to one of claims 1 to 4, which comprises on the server a step (260) of determining keywords complementary to the keywords entered using a local semantic dictionary, the words -determined keys being used during the generation stage. 6. Method (200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the unlocking step (205) is performed remotely from the terminal. 7. Method (200) according to claim 6, in which the unlocking step (205) comprises a step (250) of authentication of the portable terminal on a cellular telephone network. 8. Method (200) according to claim 7, wherein the unlocking step (205) implements a virtual SIM card. 1/3 100 S