Patent ID: 6430558
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for collaboratively searching one or more knowledge databases formed by a combination of databases from a global computer network, the apparatus comprising:a computer communications network; a plurality of serving means positioned in communication with the computer communications network for collectively providing at least one knowledge database; a plurality of client user interfacing means positioned in communication with the computer communications network for providing user interface access to the computer communications network; and collaborative searching means positioned in communication with the computer communications network and accessible through the plurality of client user interfacing means for providing collaborative searching with each of the plurality of client user interfacing means, said collaborative searching means including collaborative query searching means for conducting search queries of content of the at least one knowledge database, the collaborative query searching means including a topic filter through which to pass the search queries, a memory to store prior search queries, and a relational database responsive to search queries passing through the topic filter and the prior searches stored in memory to relate the filtered search queries to the stored prior searches, search results ranking means responsive to said query searching means for providing ranked collaborative content search results representative of objectively determined relative closeness of a requested search query to a search inputted by at least one program user and at least one other program user of the at least one knowledge database using search queries related to the search query inputted by the at least one program user when conducting a search through use of at least one of the plurality of client user interfacing means, and search results updating means for continuously updating the content search results responsive to input from other users of the plurality of client user interfacing means.