NL2002880C2 - INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A SEARCH FUNCTION. - Google Patents

Description

Field search engine and method for implementation of a search function. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for implementing a search function on a web browser connected to a computer network, comprising receiving a search term. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an internet search engine comprising a computer system that can be connected via a network stand with one or more client systems that implement a web browser.

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State of the art

Such a method is known, for example, on various internet sites that offer search services such as Google or Yahoo, or sites that perform searches on various search services and display the results in combination, such as Webcrawler.

Summary of the invention

The present invention seeks to provide a method of searching for information on the Internet that works more efficiently and more intuitively for a user.

According to the present invention, a method of the type defined in the preamble is provided, further comprising depending on the selection from the plurality of categories of assemblies of one or more composite Universal Resource Locators (URL), a composite URL comprising a base URL referring to a predetermined site and one or more parameter fields, and making available the one or more composite URLs to the web browser, displaying the results of the first composite URL from the one or more composite URLs, and offering for selection of the predetermined sites belonging to the other of the one or more compiled URLs.

This method makes it possible for a user to switch quickly between the results of different search sites or other information sources on the internet.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an internet search engine comprising a computer system (e.g. a server) that can be connected via a network to one or more client systems implementing a web browser, the computer system comprising a web server module for communication with the web browser via the network; 5 - a storage unit for storing lists of sites belonging to a category; - one or more result modules that are connected to the web server module and the storage unit and which are adapted to receive a search term and compile a selection from a stored plurality of categories, o depending on the selection from the plurality of categories of one or more composite Universal Resource Locators (URL), wherein a composite URL comprises a base URL that points to a predetermined site and one or more parameter fields and makes the one or more composite URLs available to the web browser in order to web browser to display the results of the first composite URL from the one or more composite URLs, and to offer the predetermined sites belonging to the remaining of the one or more composite URLs for selection.

In a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions which, when loaded on a computer system, provide the computer system with the functionality of the method according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an internet search engine in which the present invention is applied; 3

FIG. 2 shows an example of a web page as shown to a user using the internet search engine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram with the information flows and time dependence 5 according to an embodiment of the present method;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram with an example of the construction of a composite Universal Resource Locator as used in the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a diagram with a second example of the construction of a composite Universal Resource Locator as used in the present invention.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

In FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an application of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein a search function is implemented. A web browser 2 is connected to a computer network 5 such as the Internet. The web browser 2 is, for example, an application that is executed on a computer system. The web browser 2 shows as functional elements ao a search page 101 and a result page 106.

Via the Internet 5, the web browser 2 is connected to a server 1.

Communication with the Internet 5 is provided by a web server module 6, which in turn is connected to one or more result modules 7a, 7b (Result module 1 .. Result module X).

The Result Module 1 (7a) shown in this embodiment is connected to a database 8 and a management module 9. The Result Module X (7b) is connected to an external search site 10 (via a suitable connection, for example internet or a local network (LAN)).

The functionalities of the various in FIG. 1 will be explained in more detail with reference to the following exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a complete page that is displayed by the web browser during operation. The complete page comprises the search page 101 and below it the result page 106. On the search page 101 a keyword field 102 is provided in which the user has one or more search terms. can enter. Below this number 4 a number of category fields 103 are indicated, and if there are (in the example shown) more than four categories, the field fields can be browsed with the aid of key fields 108. A category selection field 107 (search category) can be used to find a category to be selected faster or in an alternative way, for example by a link that opens a selection box in which a suitable category can be searched in different ways, such as with 'autosuggest' or based on an initial letter. Below this line a number of 'site' fields 104 are shown, and a user can browse through these and possibly more 'site' fields 104 using key fields 109. At the bottom of the search page 101, a number of filter fields 110 can optionally be found, wherein the user can choose a number of filter options. The number and type of filter fields 110 may depend on the categories and sites available. Finally, the search page 101 has a "hide" key 105, with which the entire search page 101 can be removed on the web browser display, so that the result page 106 can be displayed larger and can show more information.

In the embodiments of the present invention, use is made of one or more input options on the web browser 2. The web server module 6 is programmed in a manner known per se to display an interactive web page using web browser 2, as soon as the user URL of the search engine that is implemented by web server module 6 types and activates. The user can influence the operation of the web server module 6 by entering or selecting data using web browser 2. Of course the user can enter a search term in the keyword 102, and the web browser 2 is configured to communicate this to the web server module 6.

In addition, by making a selection from a stored plurality of categories, the user can adjust the search to the specific needs of the user. Examples of categories that the user can select through the category fields 103 include photos; ads; people; Pictures; In my neighbourhood; blogs; archives; reference works; web; news; video; 30 company information; government information; price comparison; recipes; books; DVDs; films; music; etc. This information is also communicated by the web browser 2 to the web server module 6. After the category has been selected, the web browser 2 receives the information associated with the first site, which is displayed in the result page 106.

In further embodiments, the user may select one site from a plurality of sites that provide search results using the "site" fields 104. This information is also communicated by the web browser 2 to the web server module 6, and in response the search results using the selected site displayed in the result page 106. Examples of sites to be selected are Google, Yahoo, Flickr, Zoom.nl. By selecting the "site" fields 104, the user can quickly switch between results from 10 different information sources.

In a still further embodiment, the user can use one or more filters with the aid of the filter fields 110. This information is also transmitted by the web browser 2 to the web server module 6, whereby the filter actions are carried out. Examples of filter actions include content (faces / news); 15 color; file type; format; etc. The filter action indicated in filter field 110 may in one embodiment depend on the chosen category. If a search is made in the category cars, the filter action may consist of, for example, selecting a car brand; when searching for news, the filter action can consist of date; when searching for video clips, the filter action can consist of the length of the video; when searching for games, the filtering action can consist of the game platform, etc. The selected filtering action and the associated filtering parameter value are sent to the web server module 6.

In FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the information flows and time dependence between the web browser 2 and web server module 6 and other functional modules in the server 1.

In a first step, the user opens the search site in the web browser 2 (select search page), for example by typing in a URL (www.paul.nl) and sending the URL as a request ("request"). The web server module 6 receives this request and returns the data for the search page in the correct format. On the web browser 2, the search page 101 is now visible to the user. In a second step, the user enters one or more search terms into the keyword field 102.

In the third step, the functionality of the present invention is actually applied: the user selects a category by pressing one of the 6 category fields 103. The web server module 6 receives this data from the web browser 2 (search query), and selects a result module 7a, 7b depending on the category. The web server module 6 then forwards the search query to the selected result module 7a, 7b. This result module uses the information obtained from the web server module 6 to generate one or more composite URLs 11 (site links, see also Fig. 4), as explained in more detail below. The compiled URLs 11 depend on the selected category. In the same third step, the web server module 6 then receives from the result module 7 the data relating to the compiled URLs 11 and makes it available to the web browser 2. For the first compiled URL 11, the results are received and the associated information passed on and displayed in the result page 106.

In a fourth step the user can select another site via the web browser 2 via the "site" fields 104, after which the associated results are displayed. This can be done by directly using the associated composite URL if it is available. Alternatively, the site is selected, after which the web browser 2 retrieves the associated composite URL 11 via the web server module 6 and the selected result module 7a, 7b (in fact, step 3 is repeated as described above, but then for the newly selected site ).

In other words, the implemented method takes care of making the one or more composite URLs available to the web browser 2, displaying the results of the first composite URL from the one or more composite URLs, and offering the pre-selection for selection. certain sites belonging to the other of the one or more composite URLs 11.

By using the various input fields on the search page 101, the user can make further selections from a certain display, whereby one or more of the four steps described above are performed again. At any time, the user can enter a new keyword into input field 102 and press a category field 103, after which the second step is repeated. The user can press another category button 103, after which the steps from the third step are repeated again. The user can press button 104 on another site, after which the fourth step is completed. As described above, the user can use the key fields 108 at any time, after which another group 7

Categories become visible as category fields 103. If the 'site' fields 104 are visible (from the third step), the user can press the corresponding key fields 109, after which other sites to be selected become visible as 'site' fields 104. Finally, the user can select a filter option via the filter fields 110, whereby filtered results become visible on the selected result site in result page 106.

In one embodiment, use is made of the result module 7a as shown in FIG. 1. The associated mechanism implemented in the result module 7a applies to most categories. There is a list of Sites stored in the database 8 that apply to a particular Category, 10 for example in the form of base URLs 15 (such as www.google.nl). It is possible that a certain Site applies in several Categories. The purpose of the mechanism is to produce a list or multiple of composite URLs 11 ("site links") given the entries received from the web browser 2, one for each Site associated with the relevant Category. The mechanism 15 has as input an Category, one or more search terms and zero, one or more selected Filter Conditions 12. In FIG. 4, an example of compiling the compiled URLs 11 is shown schematically.

A Filter Condition 12 can be selected by the user via the filter fields 110 and is, for example, a boolean term that is "true" or "false".

20 Filter Conditions 12 are arranged by Filter Type 13. There are different types of Filter Types 13. A single Filter Type 13 has one condition that is either selected or not (for example Filter Type D in Fig. 4). A disjunctive Filter Type 13 has several Filter Conditions, of which only one can be selected at a time (analogous to a folding box or a "radio button group", for example Filter Type C in Fig. 4). A 25 multiple Filter Type 13 has multiple Filter Conditions of which several can be selected (a "check box group"). Ultimately, the Filter Type 13 determines in the user interface (on search page 101) which subordinate conditions are "true" or "not true".

A composite URL string 11 consists of a base URL 15 in the form of 30 (scheme: // cestname: port / path / path) followed by one or more parameters 16.17 with values (paraml .. .paramX). This is also shown schematically in FIG. 4.

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How the composite URL 11 is composed as a function of the input data obtained via the web browser 2 and web server module 6 is explained with reference to the examples as illustrated in the diagram as shown in FIG. 4 and 5.

The example shows the mechanism with two Filter Types 13 (C and D) and one search term 18. Filter Condition C2 is "true", Filter Conditions C1, C3 and D1 are "not true". DO is a surrogate Filter Condition that is not actually entered in the database 8.

The parameters 16.17 are now added to the base URL depending on the boolean value of the filter condition. The parameter paraml gets value valuelB (by C2); param2 gets default value default2; and paramX receives as a value a transformed version of the search term 18. The value of each of the parameters 16, 17 can be a fixed value (stored in database 8), or can be a function value with one or more further variables. In addition, the value can be determined by performing a transformation of the search term, for example a transformation in lowercase letters only, or splitting a name as a search term into a parameter "first name" 15 and a parameter "last name" given a full name. The transformation can depend on the selection from the plurality of categories, and yield one or more parameter values in the compound URL 11.

An example is now described of how a composite URL 11 is constructed according to the diagram of FIG. 4.

20 For filter type C, an example is the selection of the size of an image at a Google images URL.

The basic URL 15 is http://images.google.nl/images The filter type C is "afbccldinggroottc".

Filter Condition Cl is "small images" 25 Filter Condition C2 is "medium images"

Filter Condition C3 is "large images" valuelA is "icon" valuelB is "medium" value 1C is "xxlarge" 30 paraml is "imgsz"

The filter type D is "safe search"

Filter Condition DO (the default) is "safe", with value default2 "on"

Filter Condition Dl is "show everything", with value value2 "off" 9 param2 is "safe"

The transformation applied to the search term in this case is surrounded by quotes ("double quotes") if this is not already the case. ParamX is "q" in this case.

5 So in concrete terms, if the search term entered is “angelina jolie”, with fdter condition C2 selected (in filter type C), then the example follows: param 1: imgsz medium param2: safe on paramX: q 10 The URL that follows from this is: http://images.google.nl/images?imgsz=medium&safe=on&q-'angelina+jolie ”The construction of a textual URL from the base URL 15 and the parameter names and values (? paraml = worthc 1 & param2 = valuec2) and also the coding of special characters (space -> +, ampersand ->% 26) is not taken into consideration here as this is part of the standard URL coding as in RFC 3986 and the W3C TR HTML 4.01 Specification, par. 17.13.3 and 17.13.4)

A similar example can be made for a second filter type: "content"

Filter Condition Cl is then "photos", with valuelA "photo" 20 Filter Condition C2 is then "faces", with value 1B "face"

Filter Condition C3 is then "clipart", with valuelC "clipart" in this case paraml is "imgtype"

In a second example, which is schematically shown in FIG. 5, cr ccn search term and a filter type is "search type", with two conditions "all words" and "one of the words".

With this specific site (nos.nl), depending on the search type, the search term must be given in another parameter. If all words are searched, the search term must be given in parameter "qplus", if a search is made on one of the words, the search terms must be given in parameter "qr". There is also a possibility to search for an exact phrase in which case the search terms are entered in parameter “qphrase”. All parameters are always specified, if no value is assigned a default of an empty value is given (as opposed to omitting the value).

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In the following example, fdter condition P2 is selected for searching on all words.

With a basic URL 15 of http://www.nos.nl/zock (fictional, the real URL is http://posearch.kobala.nl/search with many extra constant parameters) 5 The search term: “paul dinnissen”

Option P2 (all words) yields: http://www.nos.nl/zoek?qr=&qplus=paul+dinnisscn&qphrasc=

There are a number of transformations available, including "regular expression 10 search and replace" or "transform text to lowercase". In the example described above, the transformation of the search term can also be described as follows: in a first transformation, "first word" of the search term is assigned to the first parameter (first name) and a second transformation "all but first word" of the search term is assigned to the second parameter 15 (last name).

In an alternative embodiment, an external result module 7b is selected by the web server module 6 (see Fig. 1). This external result module 7b is arranged to fully perform the processing of a search query. The external result module 7b translates the search query into a third party API. The results of the third party are converted in the external result module 7b to the syntax required for use in the present invention (for the "site" fields 104 on the search page 101). In this case the results of a third party become visible in the 'site' fields 104 and it is possible to switch directly from result to result in the result page 106. In this case an extra site button can also be added to go to a result page from the third party.

The management module 9 in the server 1 can implement various functionalities related to the search functionality. One example is an extensive logging and analysis function. The behavior of a user of the web browser 2 can be logged via the internet, so that it is known when a user has selected which button 30 on the search page 101 (category choice, click on a displayed composite URL 11, click away from the search page 101 to view the entire result page 106, etc. It is also possible to keep track of how long a user of the web browser 2 has been actively present on a certain selected 11 page.The analysis function can be used, for example, to keep a score list of selected categories, and the make the presentation of the possible categories on the search page 101 dependent on it.

The method and the search engine according to the different embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in different types of hardware and software. The hardware is, for example, in the form of a computer system, which can comprise various implementations, such as a central server with associated peripherals or various stand-alone processor systems that communicate with each other. The invention can be embodied in a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions. When the computer executable instructions are loaded from the medium, the computer system is able to perform the described functionality.

Claims (15)

A method for implementing a search function on a web browser connected to a computer network, comprising 5. receiving a search term and a selection from a stored plurality of categories; - compile one or more composite Universal Resource Locators (URL) from the plurality of categories, a composite URL comprising a base URL that points to a predetermined site and one or more parameter fields, and - making available of the one or more composite URLs to the web browser, displaying the results of the first composite URL from the one or more composite URLs, and offering to select the predetermined sites associated with the remainder of the one or more composite URLs. 15 The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameter fields comprise a transformed version of the search term. 3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the transformed version of the search term is dependent on the selection from the stored plurality of categories. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the plurality of categories comprises one or more of the group of: photos; ads; people; Pictures; In my neighbourhood; blogs; archives; 25 reference works; web; news; video; Company Information; government information; price comparison; recipes; books; DVDs; films; music. The method of any one of claims 1-4, further comprising - receiving one or more filter selections from the web browser, and 30. including the one or more filter selections in the one or more parameter fields of each composite URL. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more filter selections comprise a filter parameter value associated with one or more filter actions selected from the group of: content; color; file type; format. The method of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising collecting and analyzing time-dependent data from the web browser. An internet search engine comprising a computer system (1) that can be connected via a network (5) to one or more client systems implementing a web browser (2), the computer system (1) comprising - a web server module (6) for communication with the web browser (2) via the network (5); - a storage unit (8) for storing lists of sites belonging to a category; - one or more result modules (7a, 7b) which are connected to the web server module (6) and the storage unit (8) and which are adapted to receive a search term and a selection from a stored plurality of categories, 20. depending on the selection from the plurality of categories of composing one or more composite Universal Resource Locators (URL), wherein a composite URL includes a base URL that refers to a predetermined site and one or more parameter fields and 25. makes available the one or more composite URLs to the web browser (2) in order for the web browser (2) to display the results of the first composite URL from the one or more composite URLs, and the predetermined sites associated with the remainder of the one or more offer more composite URLs for selection. 30 An internet search engine according to claim 8, wherein one or more result modules (7a, 7b) are arranged for filling the one or more parameter fields (16, 17) with a transformed version of the search term. An internet search engine according to claim 9, wherein the transformed version of the search term is dependent on the selection from the stored plurality of categories. An internet search engine according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the plurality of categories comprises one or more of the group of: photos; ads; people; Pictures; In my neighbourhood; blogs; archives; reference works; web; news; video; Company Information; government information; price comparison; recipes; books; DVDs; films; music. 10 An internet search engine according to any of claims 8-11, wherein the one or more result modules (7a, 7b) are further adapted to: - receive one or more filter selections from the web browser (2), and - record the one or more more filter selections in the one or more parameter fields of each compound URL (11). An internet search engine according to claim 12, wherein the one or more filter selections comprise a filter parameter value associated with one or more filter actions selected from the group of: content; color; file type; format. 20 An internet search engine according to any of claims 8-13, wherein the internet search engine is further adapted to collect and analyze time-dependent data from the web browser (2). A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions which, when loaded on a computer system, provide the computer system with the functionality of the method according to any of claims 1-7.