Patent ID: 7499914
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-executed method comprising: receiving, from a requesting entity, a search query comprising one or more query words, wherein the one or more query words include a particular keyword; determining whether the particular keyword is a first hint keyword; if the particular keyword is the first hint keyword, then searching a first set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words, wherein the first set of one or more databases is selected based on the first hint keyword; if the particular keyword is not the first hint keyword, then searching a second set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words; wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises one or more of the following: (a) comparing the particular keyword against a list of words that are not hint keywords; (b) comparing a type of the particular keyword against a list of types of keywords that are not hint keyword types; (c) detecting a pattern in the particular keyword, wherein the pattern is identified by a business rule to be indicative of a hint keyword; and (d) detecting a pattern of usage based on a query log, wherein the pattern of usage identifies the particular keyword as the first hint keyword, wherein the query log comprises a record of a previous search query and an indicator of a particular document in which the requesting entity has expressed an interest, and wherein the particular document is from a set of results based on the previous search query; wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises: finding a match for the particular keyword in a query log, wherein the query log maintains a history of prior queries; identifying the particular keyword to be the first hint keyword based on matches in the query log; retrieving information regarding a first set of one or more documents resulting from the step of searching either the first set of one or more databases or the second set of one or more databases; and returning, to the requesting entity, the information regarding the first set of one or more documents.