Patent ID: 7363295
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for searching the Internet in an instant messaging environment, the method comprising: recognizing at least a portion of an instant message, from a first user to a second user and entered into an instant messaging application on a first client computer, as a search query, wherein recognizing the instant message entered by the first user as a search query comprises identifying a character string in the instant message as a search trigger; causing the search query to be displayed inline in an instant messaging window on the first client computer and in a second instant messaging window on a second client computer; causing a web search based on the search query in response to identifying the search trigger in the instant message, the web search retrieving search results; and causing at least one of the search results to be displayed inline in the instant messaging window on the first client computer and inline in the second instant messaging window on the second client computer.