US20180068027A1 - Search Engine Query Customization and Search Site Rating System - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system are provided for web search customization and web site rating. The system receives user input web sites, stores the web sites in a database, and groups them into user-specified categories. The system further allows users to select one or more web sites for customizing web search and querying the preselected sites using user input keywords. The system further provides the users with options to query a plurality of search engines. All web sites stored within the system are rated in response to the user operations. Each web site has at least a global rating indicating the rating within the system, a category rating indicating the rating within a given category, and a keyword rating indicating the rating for a given keyword. The system provides the users with a list of recommended web sites based on the web sites' ratings.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates generally to the field of web search and specifically to techniques for customizing internet search via user-specified web sites and site rating.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Web search engines, such as GOOGLE, MICROSOFT BING, YAHOO!, are designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, documents and other types of files. Some search engines also mine data available in databases or open directories.
• Web searches are primarily done via keyword queries that present users with results (i.e., hits) linked to web sites containing the queried keywords. The results usually contain a mixture of sites the user may or may not have seen before. While users are often searching for new sites, many users usually have a list of preferred sites on which they prefer to conduct the search in different topics. Searching particular sites is possible through writing complex custom query strings for various search engines, which is very inconvenient to the users.
• Currently, there are no existing systems for storing and automatically choosing custom user specified web sites for limiting the scope of a web search. There is a need, therefore, for techniques that allow users to store and conveniently apply custom user-specified preferences for querying multiple search engines at the same time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Within the context of this invention, the terms “web site,” “web site's URL,” and “web site's IP address” are considered interchangeable.
• Described herein is a method, system and computer implementation for providing a user with web search customization and web site rating.
• Specifically, the user is allowed to submit a list of web sites that he or she wishes to search via a keyword search. A note can also be attached to or associated with each web site for the purpose of further identification. The user can also create categories or groups to group these websites. Within the scope of this invention, the terms “category” and “group” are considered interchangeable.
• With respect to search customization, the user can specify a keyword or keywords to query or conduct a search on the Internet. The user is allowed to select one or more web sites for searching. When the web sites are selected, they are combined with the user-input keyword for conducting the keyword search. Alternatively, the user can select a category for conducting the keyword search. Accordingly, all the sites under that category are combined with the user-input keyword for the web search. Furthermore, the users can select multiple sites and categories for the keyword search.
• After the user inputs the keyword and selects the web sites, query strings are created for a plurality of search engines, such as GOOGLE, MICROSOFT BING, and YAHOO!. Additionally, the user can search for documents based on file extension and document type.
• According to another embodiment, a method is provided for web site rating. The web sites input by the users are numerically rated based on user operations and search activities. For example, every time a user adds a web site, the rating of the web site will increase. Every time the user selects a web site for keyword search, the rating also increases. When a site is removed from a category, the rating decreases. Commercial web sites can purchase points to increase the rating of their sites.
• On the search results page, the results from one search engine are displayed to the user, along with links to the results from other search engines. In addition to these results, a set of suggested sites is also displayed. These suggested sites are determined based on the ratings of the web sites for the same category and/or for similar keywords. On the suggested sites list, the web sites are ordered based on their rating, from the highest to the lowest. Selecting a suggested site brings the user to a page displaying the search results obtained from that web site using the user-specified keyword. Additionally, the user has the option to add the selected site into his or her site list.
• In keeping with various embodiments, a method is provided for customizing search engine queries. The method comprises receiving user input comprising one or more web sites, grouping the one or more web sites into one or more categories, receiving another user input for selecting at least one of the one or more web sites under at least one of the one or more categories, and conducting a user-initiated keyword search on the at least one selected web site associated with the one or more categories using at least one search engine.
• In keeping with some alternative embodiments, a method is provided for rating web sites. The method includes receiving user input comprising one or more web sites, grouping the one or more web sites into one or more categories, and rating the one or more web sites in accordance with predetermined criteria associated with the one or more categories.
• In keeping with still some alternative embodiments, a user interface is provided for the user to conduct web search customization. The user interface includes a web site input field for receiving one or more web sites from a user, a category field for grouping the one or more web sites into one or more categories and for selecting at least one of the one or more web sites for conducting a keyword search, and a keyword field for receiving a search keyword from the user for conducting the keyword search on the selected at least one web site using one or more search engines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
• FIG. 1 depicts a system for providing web search customization and Internet site rating;
• FIG. 2A depicts a method for storing, grouping, and rating web sites in a database;
• FIG. 2B depicts a method for deleting a web site from a category;
• FIG. 2C depicts a main sites table for storing all user-input web sites and their global ratings;
• FIG. 2D depicts a favorite sites table for user “Joe” and a favorite sites table for user “Mike;”
• FIG. 2E depicts a table associated with the “Guitar” category;
• FIG. 2F depicts a keyword table associated with KEYWORD1;
• FIG. 2G depict another embodiment where a main sites table, a category table, and a keyword table are used to manage the user-input websites and the web site ratings.
• FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary user interface for inputting and grouping web sites;
• FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary user interface for managing groups specified by users;
• FIG. 5 depicts a method for customizing a user-initiated web search based on user-input keywords and user-identified web sites and rating the web sites according to the user initiated web search;
• FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary user interface for customizing a user-initiated web search based on user-input keywords and user-identified web sites; and
• FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary user interface for displaying and managing search results generated by the customized web search.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Now turning to the drawings and referring toFIG. 1, asystem100 is depicted therein according to one embodiment of the invention for customizing user-initiated web search and for rating web sites stored in a computer readable medium of a digital database.
• System100 includes anapplication server114 for providing a web-based application services that customize user-initiated web search on the Internet and conducting web site rating. Specifically, theapplication server114 includes one or more computerreadable media116 that store computer code for executing instructions comprising web-based application services. The computer codes for implementing the web-based application is executed by theapplication server114 that is accessed by auser terminal112 via a web browser over anetwork108, such as the Internet or an intranet. As further shown inFIG. 1, a user terminal can also take form of a cell phone orsmart phone118 connected to theInternet108 through awireless connection120. Similarly, thesmart phone118 can access theapplication114 through theInternet108 and render a mobile web browser for providing the web search customization functionalities described herein.
• The web-based application is coded in a browser-supported language (such as HTML, JavaScript, Java, etc.) and relies on a common web browser (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) to render the application on theuser terminal112. In particular, when accessing the web-based application services provided by theapplication server114, theuser110 starts a web browser on theuser terminal112 and inputs a URL or an IP address associated with the web-based application. In response to the connection request, theapplication server114 transmits program codes in the form of the browser-supported language to theuser terminal112. Upon being executed by the web browser running on theuser terminal112, the program codes instruct the web browser to render user interfaces to interact with theuser110. According to the various embodiments, the user interfaces are designed to allow users to input search keywords, to input and identify web sites to customize web search, and to manage and group the web sites, and provide the users with search results and suggested web sites based on the web site ratings. The web search customization and web site rating are further discussed below.
• Theapplication server114 further includes adatabase116 for storing user-input web sites. Thedatabase116 includes a plurality of tables for storing the web sites. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 2C, one of these tables is a main sites table250 for storing the web sites input by all of the users of thesystem100. For each user, the database also includes a favorite sites table for storing the sites that are indicated by the user or identified by the system as his/her favorite sites for purposes of conducting various searches thereon. For example, as shown inFIG. 2D, thedatabase116 includes a favorite site table260 for user “Joe” and a favorite site table265 for another user “Mike.” According to an alternative embodiment, a plurality of users may share one favorite site table. For example, the favorite sites of users “Joe” and “Mike” are combined into a single favorite site table.
• As shown inFIG. 2E, thedatabase116 also includes other tables, each associated with a group or category. According to one embodiment, these groups or categories are specified and input by users. For example, when a user creates a category or a group called “Guitar” and saves all the user's favorite guitar sites under that category, theserver114 then stores the user's guitar sites into a table270 associated with the “Guitar” category and updates the ratings of the web sites that are input by the user. In one embodiment, these categories and sites are only associated with that particular user and are not available to other users of the system. Alternatively, when a user creates a category or a group (e.g., “Guitar” group) and saves all the user's favorite guitar sites under that category, theserver114 then stores the user's guitar sites into a table containing categories and sites for an entire user population along with a field tying each category and site to the specific user responsible for supplying that input. Alternatively, these categories are generated by theapplication server114 automatically when receiving the user input web sites. For example, when theapplication server114 receives a user input including a web site “www.fenderforum.com,” it automatically generates a “Guitar” category for storing the web site.
• As shown inFIGS. 2C and 2E, the main sites table250 and the tables associated with the categories270 include information, such as numerals under the “Rating”column indicating the rating of each web site saved therein. In particular, the “Rating” column in the main sites table250 stores a global rating of each web site in the system, indicating the system-wide popularity of each web site. The “Rating” column in the table for each category, such as table270 for the “Guitar” category, stores a category rating of each web site under that category, indicating the category-wide popularity of the web site.
• Thedatabase116 can take forms of SQL databases, OQL databases, proprietary databases, or other commercially available databases well known to one skilled in the art.
• Theapplication server114 is designed to communicate with thesearch engines102,104, and106, such as GOOGLE, MICROSOFT BING, YAHOO!, etc. As further described below, the web application running on theapplication server114 allows theuser110 to select one or more web sites for customizing the keyword search on thesearch engines102,104, and106.
• FIG. 2 depicts aprocess200, when executed by the web application, instructs theserver114 to receive, group and manage user-input web sites. Theprocess200 also instructs theserver114 to perform web site rating based on the user operations on the web sites. In keeping with the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, theprocess200 first instructs theserver114 to receive a user input web site (step202) and determine if that web site is already in a main sites table in the database116 (step204). If the newly entered web site does not exist in the main sites table, the web site is added to the main sites table as a new entry (step206) and an initial global rating is set for the web site. If, on the other hand, the web site has been previously entered and currently exists in the main sites table, a point or points are added to the global rating of the web site (step208).
• Instep210, theprocess200 further instructs theserver114 to determine if a user has selected a category for the web site. If the user does not identify a category for the web site, the web site is entered into the favorite sites table associated with the user, such as table260 or265 (step212). If, on the other hand, the user specifies a category for the newly entered web site, the web site is inserted into the table associated with the user-specified category (step214). The category rating of the web site is increased for the selected category (216). For example, a point or points are added to the numerical rating of the web site stored in the table associated with the selected category.
• Alternatively, a user input web site is assigned to a category according to the knowledge of the web sites available to the public or theapplication server114. In another example, when the user inputs a web site “www.foodnetwork.com,” an analysis is conducted on the web site by searching its introduction page and automatically assigning the web site to the “Cooking” category based on the search result. In an alternative example, when the user inputs the web site “www.foodnetwork.com,” the favorite site table is searched to check whether this web site has already been input by other users, and the website is assigned to the category that the majority of users have assigned to the website.
• FIG. 2B illustrates anotherprocess230, when executed by the web application, instructs theserver114 to remove a web site from a category. According toFIG. 2B, a user input is received for deleting a web site from a user-selected category (step232). The web site is removed from that category for that user (step234). Accordingly, the global rating and the category rating of the web site is decreased for that selected category (step236).
• FIGS. 2C-2E illustrate exemplary embodiments for each of the main site table (250), the favorite site table for user “Joe”(260), the favorite site table for user “Mike” (265), and a table for the category “Guitar” (270). Each table has a “web site” column for storing the web sites that the user inputs. As discussed above, the main sites table250 shown inFIG. 2C is a global table for storing all of the web sites input into thesystem100. The favorite site table for each user (260 or265), as shown inFIG. 2D, stores the web site identified by the user as his/her favorite sites or by the system when the user does not specify a category for the web site. The table270 for category “Guitar” shown inFIG. 2E is used to store the web sites that are assigned to the “Guitar” category by all the users or the system. In addition, the main sites table250 further includes a rating column for storing the global rating of each web site stored therein. Similarly, the “Guitar” table270 also includes a rating column for storing the category rating of each web site under the “Guitar” category. One skilled in the art would understand that thesystem100 has a plurality of users and a plurality of tables, each associated with different categories, such as a “Home” category table, a “Travel” category table, a “Music” category table, and the like.
• As depicted inFIG. 2G, an alternative embodiment comprises one main site table282 for storing the favorite sites of all users using thesystem100. This table282 contains all of the users, the web sites that they have inputted and the web site's assigned categories indicated by a category field. If a web site does not have an assigned category, the category field is left blank. Each site and its category are then tied to a user field for the purposes of limiting the ability to view and edit these sites and categories to individual users who input the site and category, if desired.
• This embodiment further includes a category table284 and a keyword table286, which store the web sites, their ratings, their categories, and their ratings, respectively. Specifically, the category table284 stores all of the categories inputted by the users and those sites that have been assigned to each of those categories. The rating field of table284 stores the rating of each web site within its category. Similarly, the keyword table286 stores all of the keywords that have been searched for by all the users and those web sites that have been selected by users for those keyword searches. The rating field of table286 stores the rating of each web site for individual keywords.
• In keeping with this embodiment, when a user first registers for thesystem100, the system selects a number of default sites and default categories for the user. These sites and categories are selected by the system according to certain criteria. For example, when a person (e.g., a web site's owner) has an interest in a web site, this person can purchase the “spot” in the default sites and categories for the web site. For example, the default categories for a user include “SHOPPING,” “SPORTS,” and “HEALTH” categories. The “SHOPPING” category includes by default “ebay.com” and “amazon.com,” the “SPORTS” category includes by default “ESPN.com,” the “HEALTH” category include by default “webMD.com,” etc. The user can then build upon this list or delete it completely if he wants.
• FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the interface. As shown inFIG. 3, theinterface300 includes a number of fields, such as text boxes, menus, and buttons, for the user to interact with theprocess200. In particular, theinterface300 includes agroup field302 for a user to select a group or category to which the web sites are added. Theinterface300 also includes a plurality of site fields304 and notefields306 for the user to inputting the web sites to be added to thedatabase116 and putting notes that help the user to identify the web sites in a later time. When the user clicks theadd sites button308, the web sites and their associated notes entered into the site fields304 and notefields306 will be transmitted to thedatabase116 and added into the group (e.g., “Guitar” group) identified in thegroup field302. The web application on theapplication server114 processes each of the web sites according to theprocess200 depicted inFIG. 2A.
• Theinterface300 further includes afield309 for displaying all of the web sites that are currently included in the group identified ingroup field302. The user can further select individual web sites listed infield309 and delete or regroup them. For example, the user can select and highlight the site “thegearpage.net” infield309 using a mouse and click thedelete sites button310 to delete the “thegearpage.net” site from the “Guitar” group. Alternatively, the user can click the “Group them!” button314 to regroup the “thegearpage.net” site into another group identified in the draw-down menu312.
• As discussed above, each time the user operates on the web sites through theinterface300, theprocesses200 or230 will be triggered to add or delete a web site and to adjust the rating of the web site according to the user operations.
• Theinterface300 further includes an “Add/Update group”link303. When the user clicks the “Add/Update group”link303, anotherinterface400 shown inFIG. 4 is rendered for the user to manage the groups under his/her account. As shown inFIG. 4, theinterface400 includes anadd group field402 for the user to input names of the groups to be added to his/her account. Once the user clicks the “Add new group”button404, those groups listed in theadd group field402 are added into thegroup list406. The user can also delete a group from thegroup list406 by highlighting a group in thelist406 and clicking the “Delete group”button408. Furthermore, the user can also rename a group by highlighting a group in thelist406 and clicking the “Rename Group”button410. Theinterface400 also includes a “Return to site selection”link412 for returning to theinterface300 shown inFIG. 3.
• Now turning toFIG. 5, aprocess500 is provided, which allows a user to customize the keyword search on various search engines and for rating the web sites stored in thedatabase116 based on the user-initiated search.
• In particular, theprocess500, when executed by the web application, instructs theserver114 to receive a keyword(s) input by the user (step502). The user input also includes one or more web sites or categories selected by a user through the user interface provided by the web application (step502). Instep504, theprocess500 instructs theserver114 to determine if a user selects a category for conducting the keyword search (504). If a category is selected, all the web sites under the category are selected (step506). Instep508, the global rating and the category ratings of these selected web sites are increased. As shown inFIG. 6, when the “Guitar” category is selected, the ratings of all of the web sites under user's “Guitar” category are increased. Alternatively, if only one web site, such as “thegearpage.net,” is selected by the user, then only the ratings of the “thegearpage.net” site are increased. As described above, the change in the rating of a web site for a particular category is reflected in the table associated with the category. For example, when the rating of the “thegearpage.net” is increased, the corresponding rating field in table270 is modified to reflect the change.
• Instep510, a search string is generated based on the user input information for each of thesearch engines102,104, and106. In particular, the search string includes a logical combination of the user input keywords and user-specified web sites. In addition, the search string is generated in a syntax provided by the specifications of the corresponding search engine. For example, assuming the user input keywords include “KEYWORD1 AND KEYWORD2” and the user-specified web sites include WEBSITE1 andWEBSITE 2, the search string may take the form of “KEYWORD1 AND KEYWORD1 SITE:WEBSITE1 SITE:WEBSITE2.” Alternatively, the search string may be in the form of KEYWORD1 AND KEYWORD1 (SITE:WEBSITE1 OR SITE:WEBSITE2). After reading this specification, one skilled in the art will understand that the search string may take other forms that comply with the syntax of a particular search engine.
• Instep512, a keyword rating of each web site selected by the user is increased. The keyword rating of a web site for a particular keyword indicates how many times the web site has been selected for searching that keyword. Referring to the above example, each of the WEBSITE1 and WEBSITE2 has a keyword rating for KEYWORD1 and a keyword rating for KEYWORD2. When the user selects WEBSITE1 and WEBSITE2 for conducting the keyword search, the keyword ratings of both web sites for the KEYWORD1 and KEYWORD2 are increased. In keeping with this keyword rating, thedatabase116 further includes a keyword table for each keyword for storing the web sites the users searched for the keyword and their keyword ratings.FIG. 2F illustrates an exemplary keyword table280 for KEYWORD1. The table280 includes a web site column for storing all of the web sites that the users have searched for KEYWORD1 and a rating column for storing the keyword ratings of the web sites.
• Instep514, theprocess500 instructs theserver114 to determine if a search engine is specified by a user for conducting the keyword search. If the user specifies a search engine, such assearch engine102, the proper query string is submitted to the search engine and obtains and displays the search results returned from the search engine (step518). If, on the other hand, the user does not specify a particular search engine, a default search engine or all of the available search engines are selected for conducting the keyword search (step516).
• According to an alternative embodiment, a user is allowed to select more than one category or web site and use different search engines for different categories or web sites when conducting the keyword search. For example, the user can select a “Music” category and a “Guitar” category for the keyword search. The user is allowed to conduct the search on the all “Music” web sites using GOOGLE and on all “Guitar” web sites using MICROSOFT BING.
• In keeping with this embodiment, if a user conducts a keyword search without specifying a site or category, the entire Internet is searched using the search engine(s). Those search results as described above are presented to the user.
• According to an alternative embodiment, the keyword search involving a web site also increases the keyword ratings of that web site for other keywords similar to the one specified by the user. For example, if a user conducts a keyword search using keyword “1969 Mustang” and the web site “www.classicmusclecars.com,” in addition to increasing the keyword rating of the web site for keyword “1969 Mustang,” the system also increases the keyword ratings of the web site for keywords that are similar to “1969 Mustang,” such as “1970 Mustang,” “1969 Charger,” “1969 Corvette,” etc.
• FIGS. 6 and 7 depict one embodiment of a user interface for the user to customize keyword search according to theprocess500. Similarly tointerfaces300 and400, theinterface600 also includes a number of fields for the user to interact with theprocess500. In particular,interface600 includes asearch keyword field602 for the user to input search keywords. Website selection field604 allows a user to select through a mouse or keyword one or more web sites listed in thefield604. As shown inFIG. 6, the user can select the web sites by highlighting them individually. Alternatively, if the user selects a category, such as “Guitar,” all of the web sites under the user's “Guitar” category are automatically selected and highlighted. Theinterface600 further includes atime frame field606 and afile type field608 that allow the user to limit the search results to certain time period and file type. For example, if the option “Past 24 hours” is selected, theinterface600 only displays search results posted within the past 24 hours. Alternatively, if the “mp3” file type is selected, theinterface600 only displays search results containing mp3 files. Multiple file types may be selected at the same time. For example, a user can select both “mp3” and “wma” formats for a music search.
• Theinterface600 further includes areset button612 for the user to clear the inputs and selections infields602,604,606, and608.
• After inputting the keywords and making necessary selections infield602,604,606, and608, the user can click thesearch button610 to start theprocess500 for keyword search and web site rating. As shown inFIG. 7, in response to the user-initiated web search, theinterface600 displays the search results obtained according to theprocess500 inresult field718.
• According to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 7, theinterface600 provides a number of fields for the user to further customize the search results. For example, theinterface600 includes afield704 for the user to select a particular search engine for conducting the keyword search. As shown inFIG. 7, when the “Results from Google” option is selected, theresult field718 only displays the search results obtained from the GOOGLE search engine. Alternatively, if the “Results from Bing” option is selected, theresult field718 will display the results obtained from the BING search engine. Although not shown, options for displaying results from other search engines can also be included in thefield704 of theinterface600.
• Alternatively, theinterface600 includes a group of radio buttons (not shown) for selecting which search engine(s) to perform the web search. For example, each of the radio buttons is used to indicate a search engine such as GOOGLE, BING, YAHOO!, etc. The user can choose one or more of these search engines for the web search by choosing the radio buttons representing them. Theresult page718 then shows the search results obtained from the search engine(s) selected by the user.
• Theinterface600 further includes afield716 for displaying search results of a particular type. As shown inFIG. 7, thefield716 includes an “Images” and a “Video” links. When the user clicks one of these links, the research results of the image type or video type are displayed to the user.
• Theinterface600 further includes a recommendedsite field712 for displaying to the user a number of web sites recommended by the system based on web site rating. As shown inFIG. 7, the recommendedsite field712 includes a list of recommended sites (list713) for the category that the user has selected inprocess500 and a list of recommend sites (list714) for the keywords that the user has searched for. For example, inFIG. 7, the user selects the “Guitar” category for conducting the keyword search. Accordingly, thelist713 shows a number of web sites from the table270 associated with the “Guitar” category. The web sites are listed in their category ratings' descending order for the “Guitar” category. Thelist714 shows a number of web sites from the table280 associated with the keyword that the user has searched for. Similarly, the web sites are listed in their keyword ratings' descending order for that keyword. The web sites' ratings are updated as described above with respect toprocesses200,230, and500.
• In an alternative embodiment, theinterface600 also includes a list of recommended web sites in accordance with the global rating. For example, after the user conducts a web search, all of the web sites within thedatabase116 are ranked according to their global ratings. Theinterface600 then displays a ranked list of the web sites in the global rating's descending order, showing the most popular web sites on the top of the list followed by the next most popular web site.
• With respect to the web site rating, the number of points added to or taken from each web site's rating is determined by the design of the system. For example, when a web site is added into the system, the global rating of the web site is increased by one (1) point. When the user adds the web site to a certain category, the web site's rating for that category is increased by one (1) point. When the user removes a web site from a category, the web site's rating for that category is decreased by one (1) point. When the user conducts a keyword search by selecting a web site from a category, the web site's rating for the category and the rating for the keyword are each increased by one (1) point. One skilled in the art will recognize that the users' operations can also increase or decrease a web site's rating by more than one (1) point.
• As discussed above, the rating of each web site stored in thedatabase116 is a measure of the popularity of the web site. For example, the global rating of the web site reflects a system-wide popularity of the web site among the user population including all the users of thesystem100. The category rating of the web site reflects the popularity of the web site for the given category. The more users add the web site to the same category or the more users conduct keyword search on the web site for the category, the higher the rating of the web site for the category. Similarly, the keyword rating reflects the popularity of the web site for the given keyword. The more users search the keyword on the web site, the higher the keyword rating of the web site for that keyword.
• According to another embodiment, the web site rating system described herein can be used to promote commercial web sites and to generate revenues for the operator of thesystem100. In particular, a customer can purchase from the system operator a number of points to be added to the rating of a particular web site, so that the web site will appear toward the top inlists713 and714 in theinterface600. For example, inFIG. 7, the customer who owns the “thegearpage.net” web site can purchase a number of points from the system operator and add those points to the rating of the “thegearpage.net” web site for the “Guitar” category. The points added to the rating of the web site will move the “thegearpage.net” web site to or close to the top oflist713 for the “Guitar” category. As a result, other users searching within the “Guitar” category will more readily notice the web site and will be more inclined to select the “thegearpage.net” web site to customize their keyword search. Alternatively, a person who has an interest in the web site can also purchase points for the web site to be added to its rating.
• Similarly, a web site's owner can also purchase points from the system operator to be added to the web site's rating for certain keywords. The web site's owner can use the keyword rating to promote the services and products provided by the web site. For example, inFIG. 7, the owner of the “thegearpage.net” web site can purchase points and add the points to the web site's rating for the keyword “Gibson Les Paul Deluxe,” so that the web site will appear toward the top oflist714 every time a user searches for the guitar product named “Gibson Les Paul Deluxe.” As a result, the web site will be more noticeable to the user who will be more inclined to search for and purchase the product from the “thegearpage.net” web site.
• According to a further embodiment as shown inFIG. 7, when the user clicks the “+” sign arranged after each web site in thelist713 or714, the selected web site is automatically added to the current category (i.e., the “Guitar” category) or any category selected by the user. When the user clicks the “search” sign after each web site in thelist713 or714, a keyword search is performed on that selected web site.
• As discussed above, theprocesses200,230, and300 may be implemented in the form of web applications running on theapplication server114. When a user connects to theapplication server114 through theuser terminal112,user interfaces300,400, and600 are rendered on theuser terminal112 for the user to interact with theprocesses200,230, and300.
• According to some other embodiment, a user of thesystem100 can create a list of his favorite web sites and group them under various categories as needed. The user can then search any of those web sites directly from the search interface such asinterface600. Other users of the system cannot see or manipulate his site lists or his categories, nor can he see sites others users' site lists or categories.
• Thesystem100 can also rate these web sites based on how many times the global user population searches them for specific keywords and/or how many times they are added by the user population to their own lists and categories.
• Based on these ratings, thesystem100 presents a list of sites (e.g., top 5 or 10 sites) to any user who searches for the same or similar keywords or categories. In addition, advertisers can buy rating points to push their sites up closer to the top for specific keywords and categories.
• In an exemplary embodiment, 1000 different users created a category called “Guitar” and all added the web site “www.guitar.com” to the category. If a user “Joe” conducts a web search in his own “Guitar” category for keyword “les paul,” thesystem100 can determine that user “Joe” searches his “Guitar” category and then presents the web site “www.guitar.com” as a recommended site, if the web site “www.guitar.com” has a category rating for the “Guitar” category that is within the top 5 or 10 sites within the “Guitar” category.
• Additionally, thesystem100 can also determine that user “Joe” searches for the keyword “les paul” and determine what web sites other users have included in their web searches for the same keyword “les paul.” If a lot of other users have searched “www.guitar.com” so that its keyword rating for keyword “les paul” is within the top 5 or 10 sites for the keyword, then the site would be listed as a recommended site.
• Furthermore, if “www.guitar.com” web site's owners purchase points for the “les paul” keyword or the “Guitar” category, thesystem100 then adds those points to the corresponding rating so that it will be shown to a user searching for the “les paul” keyword or the “Guitar” category.
• In keeping with another embodiment, theInterfaces300,400, and600 are implemented as a browser plug-in rendered as a toolbar on a web browser such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, FIREFOX, etc. One skilled in the art will readily understand how to implement this interface after reading the description.
• According to another embodiment, a user of thesystem100 can send or transfer his/her categories and/or web sites to another person who may or may not be a user of thesystem100. For example, the user “Joe” may select the “Guitar” category including all of the web sites therein. Theinterface600 then provides the user “Joe” with a list of the users of the system so that “Joe” can select another user, such as “Mike,” from the list to send the “Guitar” category. The system then generates a message and presents the message to the user “Mike” as soon as “Mike” logs onto the system, indicating that he has received a category sent by “Joe.” The user “Mike” can choose to accept the category or reject it. If the user “Mike” chooses to accept the category, thesystem100 then makes a copy of the “Guitar” category from “Joe's” account and all of the web site therein and transfers the copy to “Mike's” account. Specifically, thesystem100 generates more entries in the main sites table282 for storing the “Guitar” category including the web sites that are newly added. At the same time, thesystem100 also updates the category table284 and keyword table286 accordingly to reflect the newly added “Guitar” category.
• Alternatively, the system may allow a user to send the selected category to a person via email. For example, after selecting the “Guitar” category, the user “Joe” can input an email address in an email field provided oninterface600 and click a “send” button to instruct thesystem100 to generate and send an email message including the selected “Guitar” category. Still alternatively, the selected category may also be sent via a text message to a cell phone or smart phone device. Theinterface600 may provide the user with a phone number field for specifying the phone device to send the selected category.
• In an alternative embodiment, thesystem100 also allows a user to select and transfer one or more categories and web sites to another person, who may or may not be a user of the system.
• In still an alternative embodiment, thesystem100 allows a user to make some or all of their sites and categories public, that is, viewable by other users.
• Specifically, thesystem100 provides a user with an interface, which allows the user to add another user's profile into a “Favorite User List.” For example, ifUser 1 addsUser 2 to his/her “Favorite User List,” the interface provided by thesystem100 allowsUser 1 to click onUser 2's profile to viewUser 2's public sites and categories list and to search them in the same manner he/she searches onUser 1's own sites and categories. Alternatively, the interface provided by thesystem100 allowsUser 1 to importUser 2's public sites and categories into his own sites and categories list, thereby including these imported sites and categories intoUser 1's account.
• All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
• The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
• Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims (8)

1-25. (canceled)

26. A method for communications over a network comprising the steps of:

receiving a search query from a first location on a network;

determining, by querying a database over said network, results of said search query and ranking said results based on predetermined criteria;

identifying at least one pre-defined group, defined by a person associated with said first location on said network, to which at least one said result of said search query belongs;

modifying said ranking by raising in an ordered list of said search results said at least one said result which belongs to said group;

sending data via said network to said first location comprising said results of said search query as modified by said raising said at least one said result which exists in said group.

27-29. (canceled)

30. A method for communications over a network comprising the steps of:

receiving data representative of a search query, wherein output of said search query comprises a list of websites;

determining that said search query is within a favorite category associated with a first user;

changing an order in which said websites are listed in results sent via said network to be exhibited at said location where said search query was sent, based on said search query returning a website within said favorite category associated with a first user.

31. The method ofclaim 30, wherein said first user is additionally a user sending said search query.

32. The method ofclaim 30, wherein said receiving data comprises receiving said search query from a second user, said determining comprises determining that said search query comprises a term associated with said favorite category of said first user, and said determining is carried out prior to said changing.

33. The method ofclaim 32, further comprising counting a number of times a particular website appears in related categories to said search term of a plurality of said first users and wherein, during said changing of said order, the greater said number of times, the higher said website is listed.

34. The method ofclaim 30, further comprising a step of receiving data from said first user indicating that a website in said results should be added to said favorite category, and adding said website in said results to said favorite category.

Images