Patent ID: 8452800
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A collaborative search system configured to actively coordinate search activities of a plurality of individuals with a shared information need, wherein the active coordinating comprises: a memory comprising program instructions; and one or more processors coupled to said memory, wherein the program instructions are executable by at least one of said one or more processors to implement a joint search result component configured to: receiving at least two relevant documents from at least two of the plurality of individuals; causing search activities of a first one of the plurality of individuals to actively affect a second set of information provided to a second one of the plurality of individuals, and causing search activities of the second one of the plurality of individuals to actively affect a first set of information provided to the first one of the plurality of individuals; setting two of the at least two received documents as a first endpoint and a second endpoint and traversing a shortest path of a document space of search results derived from the search activities resulting in the two of the at least two received documents between the first endpoint and the second endpoint to find candidate relevant documents; and displaying the found candidate relevant documents on a joint display subsystem; wherein when one of the found candidate relevant documents occurs within other paths of user-selected relevant endpoints, flagging the one of the found candidate relevant documents as being relevant; wherein the active coordination of search activities of a plurality of individuals occurs synchronously with the search activities of the plurality of users.