Patent ID: 7617192
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer method of processing a search query from a user, the method comprising: inquiring of a plurality of searchlet applications via a content broker as to whether each respective searchlet is capable of performing a search in accordance with a received user search query directed to a database, wherein each searchlet is tuned so it performs searches to identify pages related to only a specialized content grouping of pages, and wherein each searchlet provides a response that is affirmative or negative as to its respective capability for performing the search as a result of internal evaluation to determine if it is tuned sufficiently to capably perform the search; passing the user search query to those searchlets that responded to the search capability inquiry in the affirmative, such that each affirmatively capable searchlet returns a response to the content broker comprising a single page, or no page at all if the passed search query fails; providing the search results returned from the searchlets in response to the user search query such that the search results returned from each respective searchlet are identified with the searchlet that returned them; wherein inquiring comprises directing an initial inquiry to a first tier of searchlets and passing comprises passing the search query to affirmatively responding searchlets of the first tier, and if no search results are returned from the first tier of searchlets, then repeating inquiring and passing to subsequent tiers of searchlets until either a search result is returned or no additional tiers of searchlets remain to inquire.