US6850934B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive search engine query
Assignee: NNG LLC
•
Filing: 2001-03-26
•
Granted: 2005-02-01
•
Expires: 2021-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Embodiments provide a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for searching for information on a network of computers using a modified search query. The search query is modified using translation data. The translation data is any information having a predefined association with the search query content. In one aspect, the translation data comprises a location value and a demographic profile value. The location value, demographic profile value, and search content may include any number and types of characters, keywords, symbols, numerals, etc. Upon receiving a search query, a translation program takes step to locate any keywords within the search content, wherein the keywords indicate that translation data is available for modifying the search query. If the search content contains keywords, then steps are taken to modify the query. The modified query may then be executed by a search tool. In some embodiments, the search tool and the translating program are integrated.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary Lee Bates
- 👤 John Matthew Santosuosso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9537; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/332; G06F16/3322; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99936; Y10S707/99939; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: receiving a search query comprising search content; selecting a translation keyword on the basis of a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value, wherein the translation keyword has a predefined association with the search content; modifying the search query with at least one translation keyword to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; providing the modified search query to a search tool; searching the network, by the search tool, using the modified search query; and returning search results by the search tool to a browser program for display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: receiving a search query comprising search content; selecting a translation keyword on the basis of a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value, wherein the translation keyword has a predefined association with the search content; modifying the search query with at least one translation keyword to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; providing the modified search query to a search tool; searching the network, by the search tool, using the modified search query; and returning search results by the search tool to a browser program for display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the search query is received from the browser program operating on the network of computers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the search query is a user selectable step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the demographic value and the profile value are selected by a user submitting the query from a graphical user interface screen of the browser program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile value is selected from a group of profile values comprising at least one of ethnic groups, religion, race, age, sex, income, assets, political affiliation, general demographic data, dialect, likes, dislikes, and combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the demographic value is a location value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the location value is selected from the group comprising at least one of countries, geographic regions, provinces, states, cities, and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a query translation program, wherein the translation program, when executed by a processor, performs a method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: receiving a search query comprising search content; selecting a translation keyword on the basis of a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value, wherein the translation keyword has a predefined association with the search content; modifying the search query with at least one translation keyword to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; providing the modified search query to a search tool; searching the network, by the search tool, using the modified search query; and returning search results by the search tool to a browser program for display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a query translation program, wherein the translation program, when executed by a processor, performs a method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: receiving a search query comprising search content; selecting a translation keyword on the basis of a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value, wherein the translation keyword has a predefined association with the search content; modifying the search query with at least one translation keyword to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; providing the modified search query to a search tool; searching the network, by the search tool, using the modified search query; and returning search results by the search tool to a browser program for display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 8 , wherein the demographic value and the profile value are selected by a user submitting the query from a graphical user interface screen of the browser program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 8 , wherein the profile value is selected from a group of profile values comprising at least one of ethnicity, religion, race, age, sex, income, assets, political affiliation, general demographic data, dialect, likes, dislikes, and combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 8 , wherein the demographic value is a location value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 11 , wherein the location value is selected from the group comprising at least one of countries, geographic regions, provinces, states, cities, and combinations thereof.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of searching for information, on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: providing a plurality of translation keywords each having pre-defined associations with different query terms; receiving a search query comprising search content; receiving a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value; selecting, from the plurality of translation keywords, at least one translation keyword having a pre-defined association with the search content wherein the selecting is done on the basis of the user selection; modifying, using the at least one translation keyword, the search query to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; and providing the modified search query to a search tool configured to perform a search for results satisfying the modified search query.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of searching for information, on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: providing a plurality of translation keywords each having pre-defined associations with different query terms; receiving a search query comprising search content; receiving a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value; selecting, from the plurality of translation keywords, at least one translation keyword having a pre-defined association with the search content wherein the selecting is done on the basis of the user selection; modifying, using the at least one translation keyword, the search query to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; and providing the modified search query to a search tool configured to perform a search for results satisfying the modified search query.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of claim it wherein the pre-defined association is at least one of a demographic association and a profile association.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the demographic value and the profile value are selected by a user submitting the query from a graphical user interface screen of the browser program.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
40 words
The method of claim if wherein the profile value is selected from a profile group comprising at least one of ethnicity, religion, race, age, sex, income, assets, political affiliation, general demographic data, dialect, personal likes, personal dislikes, and combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the demographic value is a location value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the location value is selected from the group comprising at least one of countries, geographic regions, provinces, states, cities, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
158 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a query translation program which, when executed by a processor, performs a method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: providing a plurality of translation keywords each having pre-defined associations with different query terms; receiving a search query comprising search content; receiving a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value; selecting, from the plurality of translation keywords, at least one translation keyword having a pre-defined association with the search content, wherein the selecting is done on the basis of the user selection; modifying, using the at least one translation keyword, the search query to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; and providing the modified search query to a search tool configured to perform a search for results satisfying the modified search query.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
158 words
A signal-bearing medium containing a query translation program which, when executed by a processor, performs a method of searching for information on a computer connected to a network of computers, the method comprising: providing a plurality of translation keywords each having pre-defined associations with different query terms; receiving a search query comprising search content; receiving a user selection of at least one of a demographic value and a profile value; selecting, from the plurality of translation keywords, at least one translation keyword having a pre-defined association with the search content, wherein the selecting is done on the basis of the user selection; modifying, using the at least one translation keyword, the search query to provide a modified search query, wherein modifying the search query comprises combining the search content with the at least one translation keyword; and providing the modified search query to a search tool configured to perform a search for results satisfying the modified search query.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 19 , wherein the profile association is selected from a profile group comprising at least one of ethnic groups, religion, race, age, sex, income, assets, political affiliation, general demographic data, dialect, likes, dislikes, and combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 19 , wherein the demographic association is a location association.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The signal-bearing medium of claim 21 , wherein the location association is selected from the group comprising at least one of countries, geographic regions, provinces, states, cities, and combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0495622A2
Cited
US5499360A
Cited
US6074300A
Cited
US6460036B1
Cited
US6134549A
Cited
US6052714A
Cited
US5911139A
Cited
US6026409A
Cited
US5956711A
Cited
US6205418B1
Cited
US6424968B1
Cited
US5953718A
Cited
US6094649A
Cited
JPH11272706A
Cited
US6671691B1
Cited
US6154783A
Cited
US6457010B1
Cited
US6381598B1
Cited
US6411961B1
Cited
US6434552B1
Cited
US6571234B1
Cited
US6470332B1
Cited
US6542515B1
Cited
US20010047354A1
Cited
US6529864B1
Cited
US6604101B1
Cited
US6598040B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-01 | 2008-08-02 | 2009-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-01 | 2012-08-02 | 2013-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-01 | 2016-08-02 | 2017-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |