NZ725014B2 - Internet-based search mechanism - Google Patents
Internet-based search mechanism Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ725014B2 NZ725014B2 NZ725014A NZ72501415A NZ725014B2 NZ 725014 B2 NZ725014 B2 NZ 725014B2 NZ 725014 A NZ725014 A NZ 725014A NZ 72501415 A NZ72501415 A NZ 72501415A NZ 725014 B2 NZ725014 B2 NZ 725014B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- resource
- user
- internet
- resource provider
- information
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/951—Indexing; Web crawling techniques
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/60—Protecting data
- G06F21/62—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
- G06F21/6218—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
- G06F21/6245—Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
- G06F21/6254—Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
- H04L63/0407—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/18—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels
Abstract
The present invention discloses a system for providing an internet-based search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider. The system comprises a user device adapted to host an internet-based portal such that a user can submit an anonymous request for information relating directly to a resource. A secure server adapted to host a database containing resource provider information, to communicate with the user device via a communications network and to alert at least a first resource provider is also provided, wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine. The secure server is also adapted to initiate an anonymous communication channel between at least the first resource provider and the user via the internet-based portal and the communications network. A method for carrying out such a search via a user device and a secure server is also disclosed including displaying, by the user device, an option for the user to accept or reject a Universal Resource Locator wherein the anonymous communication channel is closed if the user rejects the URL. ing directly to a resource. A secure server adapted to host a database containing resource provider information, to communicate with the user device via a communications network and to alert at least a first resource provider is also provided, wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine. The secure server is also adapted to initiate an anonymous communication channel between at least the first resource provider and the user via the internet-based portal and the communications network. A method for carrying out such a search via a user device and a secure server is also disclosed including displaying, by the user device, an option for the user to accept or reject a Universal Resource Locator wherein the anonymous communication channel is closed if the user rejects the URL.
Description
(12) Granted patent specificaon (19) NZ (11) 725014 (13) B2
(47) Publicaon date: 2021.12.24
(54) INTERNET-BASED SEARCH MECHANISM
(51) Internaonal Patent Classificaon(s):
G06F 17/30
(22) Filing date: (73) Owner(s):
2015.04.14 Bubblr Limited
(23) Complete specificaon filing date: (74) Contact:
2015.04.14 Wrays Pty Ltd
(30) Internaonal Priority Data: (72) Inventor(s):
GB 1406676.5 2014.04.14 MORRIS, Stephen
(86) Internaonal Applicaon No.:
(87) Internaonal Publicaon number:
WO/2015/159066
(57) Abstract:
The present invenon discloses a system for providing an internet-based search mechanism to
enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider. The system comprises a user device
adapted to host an internet-based portal such that a user can submit an anonymous request for
informaon relang directly to a resource. A secure server adapted to host a database containing
resource provider informaon, to communicate with the user device via a communicaons
network and to alert at least a first resource provider is also provided, wherein the database is
a component of an asynchronous search engine. The secure server is also adapted to iniate
an anonymous communicaon channel between at least the first resource provider and the
user via the internet-based portal and the communicaons network. A method for carrying out
such a search via a user device and a secure server is also disclosed including displaying, by the
user device, an opon for the user to accept or reject a Universal Resource Locator wherein the
anonymous communicaon channel is closed if the user rejects the URL.
NZ 725014 B2
INTERNET-BASED SEARCH MECHANISM
The present invention relates to a method of and system for providing an internet-based
search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider, in
particular, a mechanism utilising an anonymous request for information, relating to a resource
required by a user, submitted to a database of resource provider information via an
internet-based portal.
The use of internet search engines is widespread, with many people accessing such
programmes via computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices on an almost daily
basis. Traditional search engines work using a synchronous methodology, in that a search term
is entered into a dialogue box and a plurality of results is returned, with each result being in the
form of a hyperlink to a webpage. The ordering of the results is determined by an algorithm
used by the search engine, which typically combines the number of times a search term
appears within the content of a webpage, and whether or not the provider of the webpage has
subscribed to a pay-per-click advertising regime. Whether a word or phrase appears amongst
the content of a webpage is not indicative as to whether that webpage is actually relevant to
the search carried out. Results are not displayed in a format that indicates relevance or
whether the webpage is indeed appropriate to the search, but entirely based on the inputs to
the algorithm used. This can lead to anomalous results. Since historically the internet was
designed for sharing information, searching for specific resources such as goods and/or
services can be time-consuming and frustrating for the user, since content alone is not
sufficient to determine whether the search has been successful.
One example of this is where a specific resource is required, for example, a user wishes to
search for a direct flight from Liverpool (UK) to Southampton (UK). If a user enters the terms
“direct flights Liverpool Southampton” into an internet search engine, many thousands of
results are returned. This may seem ideal initially, indicating that there is a wide variety of
choice of resource providers (parties able to provide the user with the requested resource) and
a number of viable flight options. However, there, as of April 2014, no direct flights between
Liverpool (UK) and Southampton (UK). Despite a high number of results from the input search,
these are in effect anomalous. Consequently synchronous search engines, whilst being ideally
suited to searching for information, are less efficient when searching for specific resources,
such as goods and/or services.
A second issue with using internet-based search engines is that once a search has been carried
out the results may be tied to the identity of the user in some way and used to direct further
advertising or search results. For example, if a user inputs a search request into a search
engine both the search and the user’s IP (internet protocol) address may be stored by the
search engine. This results in either previous searches being displayed in a search history
function and/or targeted advertising being displayed next time the user accesses the search
engine. Aside from using a pay-per-click approach, such as with the ordering of search results,
parties may also pay for advertising on a cost per view approach, where advertising is charged
at a rate based upon the number of views through the search engine. This may be seen as being
an issue affecting the privacy of the user, the perceived security of the search process, since in
effect their identity is known and used in providing yet further information regarding
resources that may be anomalous.
There is, therefore, a need to optimise the performance of search engines, taking into account
issues with user privacy and security, and accuracy of returned search results relating to
resources such as specific goods and/or services.
The present invention aims to address these problems by providing, in a first aspect, a method
of providing an internet-based search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a
resource provider, comprising the steps of: submitting, by a user device, an anonymous request
for information relating to a resource required by a user to a database of resource provider
information via an internet-based portal; interrogating, by a secure server, the database to
retrieve information relating to first resource provider information associated with the
resource and alerting, by the secure server, the first resource provider that the anonymous
request for information has been submitted; initiating, by the server, an anonymous
internet-based communication channel between the user device and the first resource provider
via the internet-based portal by the first resource provider submitting a first Universal
Resource Locator (URL) to the user in response to the anonymous request for information;
displaying, by the user device, an option for the user to accept or reject the Universal
Resource Locator; if the first Universal Resource Locator does not contain information relating
directly to the resource requested by the user, closing the anonymous internet-based
communication channel and preventing the first resource provider from communicating
further with the user via the internet-based portal, and alerting a second resource provider
that the anonymous request for information has been submitted; else if the user accepts the
Universal Resource Locator, deleting the anonymous request for information from the
internet-based portal; and wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search
engine.
The advantage of such a search mechanism is that it is secure compared with existing systems,
due to the anonymity of the user, and the accuracy of returned search results relating to
resources such as specific goods and/or services is greatly improved. It offers benefits to the
user in terms of increased sensitivity to information requests; reduced time spent searching for
specific goods and services, and a reassurance that the users’ identity remains unknown by
resource providers, thus overcoming issues and concerns associated with the use of personal
data in an internet environment.
Preferably the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine.
Preferably, the user closes the anonymous communication channel.
Preferably when the anonymous internet-based communication channel is initiated, the
method further comprises displaying an option for the user to accept or reject the Universal
Resource Locator.
Preferably, when the user rejects the Universal Resource Locator, the anonymous
communication channel is closed to the resource provider.
Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of: if the first Universal Resource Locator
does not contain information relating directly to the resource requested by the user, assigning
a negative indicator, and if the first Universal Resource Locator does contain information
relating directly to the resource requested by the user, assigning a positive indicator.
Alternatively, the method further comprises the steps of: if the user rejects the Universal
Resource Locator, assigning a negative indicator, and if user accepts the Universal Resource
Locator, assigning a positive indicator.
Preferably the resource provider information is stored in the database ranked in order of the
number of positive and negative indicators assigned to each resource provider.
Preferably the database only contains resource provider information for authorised resource
providers.
Preferably the internet-based portal comprises a software application and user interface. In
this situation, on receipt of the Universal Resource Locator the software application displays
resource provider information in the format of an internet browser, and wherein the internet
browser has a content display region for content linked via the Universal Resource Locator, an
accept button and a reject button.
Preferably, content is displayed to the user one Universal Resource Locator at a time.
Preferably if the first Universal Resource Locator does contain information relating directly to
the resource requested by the user, the method further comprises the steps of: storing the
anonymous information request at the database; and polling resource providers until a
resource provider able to provide the resource information is identified.
Preferably the resource comprises goods and/or services.
Preferably the information in the database is ordered by the number of times a resource
provider has provided a Universal Resource Locator containing the requested resource, such
that the first and second resource providers are ranked, wherein the first resource provider is
ranked higher than the second resource provider.
In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a system for providing an
internet-based search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource
provider, the system being arranged according to execute the method steps of the first aspect,
comprising: a user device adapted to host an internet-based portal such that a user can submit
an anonymous request for information relating directly to a resource; and a secure server
adapted to host a database containing resource provider information, to communicate with the
user device via a communications network and to alert at least a first resource provider ,
wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine; wherein the secure
server is also adapted to initiate an anonymous communication channel between at least the
first resource provider and the user via the internet-based portal and the communications
network.
The present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing an internet-based search
engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the method of providing an internet-based search
mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 3 is a schematic screen shot illustrating user options on a mobile device hosting the
internet-based portal utilised in an internet-based search mechanism in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention takes a different approach to existing internet-based search engines, by
using an asynchronous methodology rather than a synchronous methodology to provide search
results relating to resources. In the following description, a resource refers to goods and/or
services required by a user, a resource provider to an entity able to provide the requested
resource, and information relating directly to a resource to details of a resource and not an
indication of content of a webpage. A URL containing information relating directly to a
resource links or otherwise provides relevant content that is displayable to a user. Hence
relevant content is content that relates directly to the requested resource, and a URL
containing appropriate information is one that contains information relating directly to a
resource. An asynchronous methodology is one where results are provided sequentially, one at
a time, rather than a plurality of results being provided simultaneously as with a synchronous
methodology. An asynchronous methodology can be described in the context of the present
invention as follows. A user submits an anonymous request for information relating to a
resource required by the user to a database of resource provider information via an
internet-based portal. The database is then interrogated to retrieve information relating to
first resource provider information associated with the resource, and the first resource
provider is alerted that the anonymous request for information has been submitted. An
anonymous internet-based communication channel is initiated between the user and the first
resource provider via the internet-based portal by the first resource provider submitting a first
Universal Resource Locator (URL) to the user in response to the anonymous request for
information. If the first Universal Resource Locator does not contain information relating
directly to the resource requested by the user, the anonymous internet-based communication
channel is closed and the first resource provider is prevented from communicating further
with the user via the internet-based portal. In this situation, a second resource provider is
alerted that the anonymous request for information has been submitted. If the first Universal
Resource Locator does contain information relating directly to the resource requested by the
user, the anonymous request for information is deleted from the internet-based portal. Results
are delivered sequentially to an anonymous user, and should the result not reflect the request
resource accurately, the communication channel is closed. This is described in more detail
below.
To enable such a method, a system for providing an internet-based search mechanism to
enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider is provided. A user device is
adapted to host an internet-based portal. This enables a user to submit an anonymous request
for information relating directly to a resource. A secure server is adapted to host a database
containing resource provider information, to communicate with the user device via a
communications network and to alert at least a first resource provider. The secure server is
also adapted to initiate an anonymous communication channel between at least the first
resource provider and the user via the internet-based portal and the communications network.
This is also discussed in more detail below.
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing an internet-based search
engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A secure server 1 is
located remote from an anonymous user 2, who is able to access the secure server 1 via a
device 3 that is capable of supporting a software program and user interface giving access to an
internet-based portal, the internet-based portal taking the form of an application that the user
2 can use to access data transmitted to and received from the secure server 1. The user 2 is
anonymous since their identity details do not form part of the data transmitted between the
device 3 and the secure server 1. The device 3 connects to the secure server 1 via a
communications network 4, such that data can be transmitted and received by both the secure
server 1 and the device 3 over the communications network 4, with the user 2 using the
internet-based portal supported by the device 3 to input data to be transmitted to the secure
server 1 and view data received from the secure server 1 by means of a display 5 on the device
3 that enables the user 2 to interact with the internet-based portal. In particular, the
internet-based portal is used by the user 2 to send an anonymous request for information
relating directly to a resource to the secure server 1. The device 3 is therefore adapted to host
an internet-based portal such that a user can submit this anonymous request, by means of the
display 5 and connection with the communications network 4. The user 2 enters information
into a dialogue box provided as part of the front end of the internet-based portal, and displayed
on the display 5. The search terms form an anonymous request for information, since the
identity of the user 2 does not form part of the request and is not notified to any party other
than the secure server 1. Hence the identity of the user 2 remains unknown from anyone
providing information about the requested resource.
The secure server 1 is also connected via the communications network 4 to a plurality of
resource providers 6a, 6b…6n, who are able to provide resources to the user 2. Each resource
provider 6a, 6b…6n is remote from both the secure server 1 and the user 2. The secure server
1 is adapted to be able to communicate with the resource providers 6a, 6b…6n, via the
communications network 4. In particular, the secure server 1 is provided with means to be
able to alert at least a first resource provider 6a, 6b…6n. This alert is to let a resource provider
6a, 6b…6n know that an anonymous request for information has been received from a user 2.
However, the identity of the user 2 (name, IP address, email address, phone number or any
other identifier) does not form part of this alert, or part of the request for information from the
resource provider 6a, 6b…6n, so the user 2 remains anonymous to the resource providers 6a,
6b…6n thought out the process. The secure server 1 hosts a database 7, which comprises
information relating to each resource provider 6a, 6b…6n. The information is stored in the
form of individual entries, each containing details of the resource provider in question,
including, but not limited to, business information, contact details and preference information,
as discussed in more detail below. In this embodiment, the secure server 1 does not store any
information in the database 7 relating to the user 2. The secure server 1 is also adapted to
initiate an anonymous communication channel between at least the first resource provider and
the user via the internet-based portal and the communications network 4. This is discussed in
more detail in relation to Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the method of providing an internet-based search
mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. At step 100, the user submits an anonymous request for
information relating to a resource required by the user to the database 7 of resource provider
information via the internet-based portal. This is done by entering a search term or terms,
such as “direct flights Liverpool Southampton”, into the dialogue box provided at the front end
of the internet-based portal. At step 102, the anonymous request is transmitted to the secure
server 1 via the communications network 4. Once received by the secure server 1 the request
can be processed to provide the requested resource information.
At step 104 the database 7 is interrogated to retrieve information relating to first resource
provider 6a information associated with the resource. Once the first resource provider 6a
information is identified, at step 106 the first resource provider 6a is alerted that the
anonymous request for information has been submitted.
At step 108 the first resource provider 6a submits a first Universal Resource Locator (URL) to
the secure server 1. This is then used to initiate an anonymous internet-based communication
channel between the user 2 and the first resource provider 6a via the internet-based portal.
The URL links to content relating directly to the requested resource, with relevant content
being content that relates directly to the requested resource. The secure server 1 facilitates the
transfer of the URL to the user 2 to enable the content linked via the URL to be displayed on the
device 2 using the internet-based portal. The URL is submitted in response to the anonymous
request for information, and is intended to be a hyperlink to a website or webpage information
relating directly to the requested resource. Information relating directly to the resource is
information that directly and unambiguously provides details of the requested resource,
regardless of whether the resource is goods and/or services, and is not an indication of either
webpage or website content (determined, for example, by the number of times a search term
appears on a webpage) or sponsored links to resource providers providing similar goods
and/or services. However, it is possible that a resource provider 6a, 6b…6n may try to provide
content-based results or other inappropriate information as with traditional synchronous
internet search engines, and this, as well as the method of dealing with appropriate
information is dealt with in steps 110 to 114 below.
In the situation where inappropriate information is provided, that is, the URL does not contain
information relating directly to the resource requested by the user 2 and therefore no relevant
content can be displayed steps 110 to 112 are followed. At step 110, the anonymous
internet-based communication channel is closed, and the first resource provider 6a is
prevented from communicating further with the user 2 via the internet-based portal. In this
example, the first resource provider 6a submits a URL that contains information regarding
indirect flights from Liverpool to Southampton and direct flights from Manchester to
Southampton. This information therefore does not relate directly to the requested resource.
The content displayed will therefore not match the resource requested by the user 2. Since the
first resource provider 6a is now removed from the search process by the closure of the
anonymous communication channel, at step 12 the secure server 1 alerts a second resource
provider 6b that the anonymous request for information has been submitted. The second
resource provider 6b is then able to submit a URL in the same manner as the first resource
provider 6a in step 108 above. Again, if the URL provided by the second resource provider 6b
does not contain information directly related to the resource, such that the content displayed
does not match the resource requested by the user 2, the anonymous communication channel
is closed and the third resource provider 6c alerted, and so on, until the nth resource provider
6n is able to satisfy the search request by providing a URL containing information relating
directly to the requested resource.
At step 114, if the first URL does contain information relating directly to the resource
requested by the user 2, the anonymous request for information from the internet-based
portal. At this point the search request is satisfied and there is no need to keep any user or
search information within the internet-based portal. In this example the first resource
provider 6a provides a URL that links to information indicating that there are no direct flights
available. If the second resource provider 6b has been alerted, step 114 is carried out if the
URL submitted by this second resource provider 6b contains information relating directly to
the resource, such that the search request is satisfied. If the second resource provider 6b does
not submit a URL containing information relating directly to the resource, steps 110 and 112
are repeated until the nth resource provider 6n is able to satisfy the search request. If no
resource provider 6a, 6b…6n is able to satisfy the search request, the search request remains
logged in the internet-based portal and/or at the secure server 1, until it is either deleted by
the user 2 or the secure server 1. This may be based upon a time before expiry of the search
request or as the result of a specific deletion of the search request.
Figure 3 is a schematic screen shot illustrating user options on a mobile device hosting the
internet-based portal utilised in an internet-based search mechanism in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The screen shot illustrates the features shown on the
display 5 to a user 2 during use of an embodiment of the present invention, forming a user
interface. The software application displays resource provider information in the format of an
internet browser, and wherein the internet browser has a region 8 for displaying the content
linked and therefore available via the URL, an “Accept” button 9 and a “Reject” button 10.
These buttons are in the form of icons displayed as part of the user interface. A list of previous
searches is available, displayed in a region provided on the left-hand side of the screen 11.
These are searches that have not yet been deleted since either so far no information relating
directly to the resource requested has been provided, or the user wishes to keep the same
search within the software for future responses. The software provides the ability for the user
2 to input search terms relating to the required resource, using a keypad, keyboard, touch
screen, verbal commands or the like. The role of these is explained further below. In addition,
the internet-based portal is capable of displaying the content linked via received URL at the
same time as at least the Accept 9 and Reject 10 buttons, the role of which is explained in more
detail below. Any searches saved for future use are not visible to or available to the resource
providers 6a, 6b…6n, but merely visible to the secure server 1. The secure server 1 polls
resource providers 6a, 6b…6n on the basis of any stored searches to check whether a resource
provider 6a, 6b…6n able to provide the resource information can be identified, but once the
search has been deleted by the user 2 this is no longer possible.
In the example described above, the anonymous communication channel is closed
automatically by the secure server 1 if the URL does not contain appropriate information
relating directly to the requested resource. However, it is preferable that user 2 closes the
anonymous communication channel. This is the purpose of the Accept 9 and Reject 10 buttons,
since this is how the internet-based portal displays the option for the user to accept or reject
the URL. If, as described above when the URL does not contain information relating directly to
the resource requested by the user 2, then in this example when the user 2 rejects the URL, the
anonymous communication channel is closed to the resource provider 6a, 6b…6n. The user 2
rejects the URL on the basis that the content displayed is not relevant to the resource
requested, that is, that the URL does not contain information relating directly to the resource.
A further advantage of the present invention is the ability to assign an order of preference to
data stored in the database 7. This may be used to order the resource provider information
stored in the database 7 such that this may be used to alert resource providers 6a, 6b…6n in an
order determined by the system. This may be considered a method of ranking the resource
provider information. Although many criteria could be used to provide such preferential data
storage, in the present invention the preferred method is to use the number of times URLs from
a particular resource provider 6a, 6b…6n are accepted or rejected. For example, if the first URL
does not contain information relating directly to the resource requested by the user, a negative
indicator is assigned. If the first URL does contain information relating directly to the resource
requested by the user, a positive indicator is assigned. Where the user 2 is able to accept or
reject the URL, if the user 2 rejects the URL, a negative indicator is assigned, and if the user 2
accepts the URL, a positive indicator is assigned. The resource provider information is then
stored in the database ranked in order of the number of positive and negative indicators
assigned to each resource provider 6q, 6b…6n. In addition, if the first URL does contain
information relating directly to the resource requested by the user 2, the anonymous
information request will be stored in the database 7 and resource providers 6a, 6b…6n are
polled until a resource provider 6a, 6b…6n able to provide the resource information is
identified. Consequently, the information in the database 7 may be ordered by the number of
times a resource provider 6a, 6b…6n has provided a URL containing the requested resource,
such that the first 6a and second 6b resource providers above are ranked, and wherein the first
resource provider 6a is ranked higher than the second resource provider 6b. In effect the
secure server 1 alerts the “best” (highest ranked) resource provider 6a, 6b…6n first.
In the above examples, the user 2 remains anonymous to the resource providers 6a, 6b…6n.
This is due to the secure server 1 initiating the anonymous communication channel, since no
identity data relating to the user 2 is transferred to the resource providers 6a, 6b…6n, and once
the search is completed all information regarding the anonymous request for information is
deleted from the internet-based portal. Since the user 2 receives information via the secure
server 1, the IP address of the user 2 is also invisible to the resource providers 6a, 6b…6n, who
merely provide information to the secure server 1. The security of the system may be
improved yet further by the use of a walled-garden approach, that is, the secure server 1 is only
accessible to registered and authorised resource providers 6a, 6b…6n. In this situation, the
database 7 only contains resource provider information for authorised resource providers 6a,
6b…6n. Only authorised resource providers 6a, 6b…6n will be alerted by the secure server 1 at
the point an anonymous request for information is submitted by a user 2. The database 7 is
interrogated using an algorithm that utilises probability weightings to prevent low
performance resource providers 6a, 6b…6n (those with a number of negative indicators) being
completely excluded from responding to requests, and ensures that newly registered resource
providers 6a, 6b…6n are not automatically deferred to more established resource providers
6a, 6b…6n. Aside from the secure server 1 being able to poll resource providers 6a, 6b…6n,
resource providers 6a, 6b…6n may communicate details of resources to the secure server 1
during registration or at other times.
As can be seen from the example above, the system operates as an asynchronous search engine.
This results in the content linked via URLs being displayed to the user one at a time.
Other modifications to the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Claims (12)
1. Method of providing an internet-based search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider, comprising the steps of: submitting, by a user device, an anonymous request for information relating to a 5 resource required by a user to a database of resource provider information via an internet-based portal; interrogating, by a secure server, the database to retrieve information relating to first resource provider information associated with the resource and alerting, by the secure server, the first resource provider that the anonymous request for information has been submitted; 10 initiating, by the server, an anonymous internet-based communication channel between the user device and the first resource provider via the internet-based portal by the first resource provider submitting a first Universal Resource Locator (URL) to the user in response to the anonymous request for information; displaying, by the user device, an option for the user to accept or reject the Universal Resource Locator; 15 if the user rejects the Universal Resource Locator, closing the anonymous internet-based communication channel and preventing the first resource provider from communicating further with the user via the internet-based portal, and alerting a second resource provider that the anonymous request for information has been submitted; else if the user accepts the Universal Resource Locator, deleting the anonymous request for 20 information from the internet-based portal; and wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine.
2. Method of claim 1, wherein the user closes the anonymous communication channel.
3. Method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: if the user rejects the Universal Resource Locator, assigning a negative indicator, and 25 if user accepts the Universal Resource Locator, assigning a positive indicator.
4. Method of claim 3, wherein the resource provider information is stored in the database ranked in order of the number of positive and negative indicators assigned to each resource provider.
5. Method of any preceding claim, wherein the database only contains resource provider 30 information for authorised resource providers.
6. Method of any preceding claim, wherein the internet-based portal comprises a software application and user interface.
7. Method of claim 6, wherein on receipt of the Universal Resource Locator the software application displays resource provider information in the format of an internet browser, and 5 wherein the internet browser has a content display region for content linked via the Universal Resource Locator, an accept button and a reject button.
8. Method of claim 7, wherein content is displayed to the user one Universal Resource Locator at a time.
9. Method of any preceding claim, wherein if the first Universal Resource Locator does
10 contain information relating directly to the resource requested by the user, the method further comprises the steps of: storing the anonymous information request at the database; and polling resource providers until a resource provider able to provide the resource information is identified. 15 10. Method of any preceding claim wherein the resource comprises goods and/or services.
11. Method of any preceding claim, wherein the information in the database is ordered by the number of times a resource provider has provided a Universal Resource Locator containing the requested resource, such that the first and second resource providers are ranked, and 20 wherein the first resource provider is ranked higher than the second resource provider.
12. System for providing an internet-based search mechanism to enable an anonymous user to search for a resource provider, the system being arranged to execute the method steps of claims 1-11, comprising: a user device adapted to host an internet-based portal such that a user can submit an 25 anonymous request for information relating directly to a resource; and a secure server adapted to host a database containing resource provider information, to communicate with the user device via a communications network and to alert at least a first resource provider, wherein the database is a component of an asynchronous search engine; wherein the secure server is also adapted to initiate an anonymous communication 30 channel between at least the first resource provider and the user via the internet-based portal and the communications network.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1406676.5A GB2525189A (en) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-04-14 | Internet-based search mechanism |
GB1406676.5 | 2014-04-14 | ||
PCT/GB2015/051130 WO2015159066A1 (en) | 2014-04-14 | 2015-04-14 | Internet-based search mechanism |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ725014A NZ725014A (en) | 2021-08-27 |
NZ725014B2 true NZ725014B2 (en) | 2021-11-30 |
Family
ID=
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP6487905B2 (en) | Consider social information when generating recommendations | |
JP2018117370A (en) | Dynamic telephone number assignment | |
US20140189541A1 (en) | Content sharing interface for sharing content in social networks | |
CN115037712A (en) | Techniques for rich communication for messaging robots | |
US9684627B1 (en) | Determining a likelihood of completion of a task | |
US20180300787A1 (en) | System and method for synchronous peer-to-peer communication based on relevance | |
EP2958277A1 (en) | Instant messaging method and system | |
AU2020233736B2 (en) | Internet-Based Search Mechanism | |
JP2021002076A (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program | |
TWI788638B (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program | |
CN105933417B (en) | Consultation method and device | |
JP6643155B2 (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program | |
US20150156168A1 (en) | Suggesting name identifiers using interactive keywords | |
NZ725014B2 (en) | Internet-based search mechanism | |
JP6494165B2 (en) | Ad distribution system | |
CN111090808A (en) | Page information pushing method, device, server and computer readable storage medium | |
JP7510070B2 (en) | Information processing system, information processing method, and program | |
JP2018072870A (en) | Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program | |
JP2021015585A (en) | Information processing device, information processing method, and program | |
JP2015109002A (en) | Device for providing information about job offer and application and method for providing the same | |
WO2007075768A2 (en) | Methods and systems for facilitating the communication and displaying of information between parties | |
KR20090013261A (en) | Telephone book registration bid system and method of transfer communication terminal | |
KR20140094731A (en) | Direct search function providing system and methods thereof |