Patent Publication Number: US-2009228811-A1

Title: Systems and methods for processing a plurality of documents

Description:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to information search and retrieval. More specifically, systems and methods are disclosed for processing a plurality of documents. Such processed documents can be used to construct a document index that improves how search results are viewed by a search requester. 
     2. BACKGROUND 
     The use of conventional search engines to identify relevant documents requires significant concentration on the part of the user. Search results are typically in the format of between 10 and 100 words extracted from each web page that is deemed by the conventional search engine to be relevant to a search query. Thus, to find the most relevant results to a given search query, a searcher must read many of these 10 to 100 word web page extracts. 
     Given the above background, what is needed in the art are improved systems and methods for processing a plurality of documents in order to construct document repositories and using such document repositories to communicate relevant information responsive to a search query. 
     3. SUMMARY 
     The present application addresses the deficiencies present in the known art. One aspect of the present invention provides a method for processing a plurality of documents. Each respective document in the plurality of documents comprises code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. A static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents is rendered. This rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that has, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents as well as the word map for the unique web page are then each stored. In typical embodiments, the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page are electronically stored in computer readable memory. The rendering and storing is done for each document in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, the method further comprises constructing a document index from the plurality of documents. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and then obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index. In such embodiments, each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step. A static graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results is then displayed. This displaying step comprises using the word map for the static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and using this information to highlight each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. 
     Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and then obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step in the plurality of documents. A first static graphic representation of a first search result in the plurality of search results is displayed in a center position of a graphic output device. This displaying comprises using the word map for the first static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query; and using this information to highlight each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. A second static graphic representation of a second search result in the plurality of search results is also displayed. This second graphic representation is displayed in a first off-center position of the graphic output device. This second displaying step involves using the word map for the second static graphic representation generated in the rendering step (B) to identify each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and using this information to highlight each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. The second static graphic representation is displayed rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the first off-center position of the graphic output device. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the second static graphic representation in the first off-center position shifting the first static graphic representation to a second off-center position of the graphic output device, thereby causing the first static graphic representation to be displayed at the second off-center position rotated about a second axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the second off-center position of the graphic output device. Further, the second static graphic representation is shifted to the center position of the graphic output device, thereby causing the second static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the first axis of rotation. Further, a third static graphic representation of a third search result in the plurality of search results is displayed in the first off-center position of the graphic output device. The third static graphic representation is displayed rotated about the first axis of rotation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first static graphic representation in the second off-center position, shifting the first static graphic representation to the center position of the graphic output device, thereby causing the first static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the second axis of rotation and shifting the second static graphic representation to the first off-center position, thereby causing the second static graphic representation to be displayed at the first off-center position in a manner that is rotated about the first axis of rotation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the third static graphic representation from the first off-center position. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first static graphic representation in the center position of the graphic output device, the step of enlarging a size of the first static graphic representation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of a portion of the graphic output device outside of the first static graphic representation when the first static graphic representation is in an enlarged state, the step of reducing the size of the first static graphic representation to an original size. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of a displayed static graphic representation, retrieving a web page impression from the source document corresponding to the static graphic representation and replacing the static graphic representation with the web page impression. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of a displayed static graphic representation, the step of flipping the static graphic representation from a first side to a reverse side so that the reverse side of the first graphic representation is shown. In some embodiments, the reverse side of the static graphic representation contains information about the static graphic representation such as file size, origination on the Internet, the date the original document was retrieved from the Internet, a parental rating of the static graphic representation, etc. In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing a toggle bar on the graphic output device, where, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a first direction, static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from a first off-center position to a center position, and from the center position to a second off-center position responsive to the pull in the first direction and, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a second direction, static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from the second off-center position to the center position, and from the center position to the first off-center position responsive to the pull in the second direction. In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an advertisement into the plurality of search results as a static graphic representation where, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in the first direction or the second direction, an advertisement is displayed in the center position. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection and drag on the first static graphic representation in the direction of a predetermined position on the graphic output device, storing a copy of the first static graphic representation on a client device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an advertisement into the plurality of search results as a static graphic representation. In some embodiments, the static graphic representation of the source document is a graphic representation of an entire web page at a time before the submitted search query was received. 
     In some embodiments, a reflection of a displayed static graphic representation is displayed below the static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and using this submitted search query to obtain a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step in the plurality of documents. Furthermore, in some embodiments, an interactive widget is inserted as a search result in the plurality of search results. Thereafter, a first static graphic representation of a first search result in the plurality of search results is displayed in a center position of a graphic output device. This displaying includes using the word map for the first static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and using this information to highlight each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. A static graphic representation of each of one or more search results in the plurality of search results, other than the first static graphic representation, are also displayed in a plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device, where a search result in the one or more search results is the interactive widget. The static graphic representations of each of the one or more search results in the plurality of search results in the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device are rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from a document index or one or more vertical collections, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results corresponds to a document in a plurality of documents. A first annotated static graphic representation of a first search result in the plurality of search results is displayed. The first annotated static graphic representation is constructed by (i) using a stored word map for a first static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents to identify each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query, where the word map comprises each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word, and (ii) highlighting each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the first annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the displaying step displays the first annotated static graphic representation in a center position of a graphic output device and the method further comprises displaying a second annotated static graphic representation of a second search result in the plurality of search results in a first off-center position of the graphic output device, where the second annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the first off-center position of the graphic output device, and where the second annotated static graphic representation is constructed by the method comprising (i) using a stored word map for a second static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents to identify each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) highlighting each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the second annotated graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the second annotated static graphic representation in the first off-center position, the steps of shifting the first annotated static graphic representation to a second off-center position of the graphic output device, thereby causing the first annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the second off-center position rotated about a second axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the second off-center position of the graphic output device, shifting the second annotated static graphic representation to the center position of the graphic output device; thereby causing the second annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the first axis of rotation, and displaying a third annotated static graphic representation of a third search result in the plurality of search results in the first off-center position of the graphic output device, where the third annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about the first axis of rotation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation in the second off-center position, the steps of (i) shifting the first annotated static graphic representation to the center position of the graphic output device; thereby causing the first annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the second axis of rotation, and (ii) shifting the second annotated static graphic representation to the first off-center position; thereby causing the second annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the first off-center position in a manner that is rotated about the first axis of rotation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the third annotated static graphic representation from the first off-center position. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation in the center position of the graphic output device, the step of enlarging a size of the first annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of a portion of the graphic output device outside of the first annotated static graphic representation when the first annotated static graphic representation is in an enlarged state, the step of reducing the size of the first static graphic representation to an original size. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation, the steps of retrieving a web page impression from the source document corresponding to the first annotated static graphic representation and replacing the first annotated static graphic representation with the web page impression. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation, the step of flipping the first annotated static graphic representation from a first side to a reverse side so that the reverse side of the first annotated static graphic representation is shown. In some embodiments, the reverse side of the first annotated static graphic representation contains information about the first annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing a toggle bar on the graphic output device, where (i) when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a first direction, annotated static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from the first off-center position to the center position, and from the center position to a second off-center position responsive to the pull in the first direction, and (ii) when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a second direction, annotated static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from the second off-center position to the center position, and from the center position to the first off-center position responsive to the pull in the second direction. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an advertisement into the plurality of search results as a static graphic representation, where, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in the first direction or the second direction, an advertisement is displayed in the center position. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection and drag on the first annotated static graphic representation in the direction of a predetermined position on the graphic output device, storing a copy of the first annotated static graphic representation or the first static graphic representation on a client device. In some embodiments, the first static graphic representation of the source document is a graphic representation of an entire web page at a time before the submitted search query was received. 
     In some embodiments, a reflection of the first annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the first annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, a reflection of the first annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the first annotated static graphic representation and a reflection of the second annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the second annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an interactive widget as a search result in the plurality of search results and displaying an annotated static graphic representation of one or more search results in the plurality of search results, other than the first annotated static representation, in a plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device, where a search result in the one or more search results is the interactive widget, and where each annotated static graphic representation of one or more search results in the plurality of search results in the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device are rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. The computer program mechanism comprises instructions for performing any of the methods described herein. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. The computer program mechanism comprises instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The computer program product further comprises instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The computer program product further comprises instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The computer program product further comprises instructions for repeating the instructions for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, the computer program product further comprises instructions for constructing a document index from the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, the computer program mechanism further comprises instructions for receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and instructions for obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created by the instructions for rendering in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments the computer program product further comprises instructions for displaying the static graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results where the instructions for displaying comprise (i) instructions for using the word map for the static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and instructions for highlighting each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. 
     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer comprising a main memory and a processor. In such a computer one or more programs are stored in the main memory and are executed by the processor. The one or more programs collectively include instructions for implementing any of the methods described herein. 
     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer comprising a main memory and a processor. In such a computer one or more programs are stored in the main memory and are executed by the processor. The one or more program collectively include instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The one or more program collectively further include instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The one or more program collectively further include instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The one or more programs collectively further include instructions for performing the instructions for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. 
    
    
     
       4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a search query prompt for searching one or more document repositories in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a search query prompt in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a partial search query has been entered, and responsive thereto, suggested vertical categories have been provided. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a search query prompt in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a more complete search query has been entered relative to  FIG. 3 , and responsive thereto, updated suggested vertical categories have been provided. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the display of a first annotated static graphic representation from the search query of  FIG. 4  in a center position of a graphic output device and displaying a second annotated static graphic representation from the search results for the search query of  FIG. 4  in a first off-center position of the graphic output device, where the second annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the first off-center position, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates how, responsive to a selection of the second annotated static graphic representation in the first off-center position of  FIG. 5 , (i) the first annotated static graphic representation is shifted to a second off-center position (to the left of the center position), thereby causing the first annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the second off-center position rotated about a second axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the second off-center position, (ii) the second annotated static graphic representation is shifted to the center position, thereby causing the second annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the first axis of rotation, and (iii) a third annotated static graphic representation is displayed in the first off-center position (to the right of the center position), where the third annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about the first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the first off-center position in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  further illustrates how, relative to  FIG. 6 , annotated static graphic representations can be shifted in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates how the search term “hydroxyl” is highlighted (shown by ovals) in each of the displayed annotated static graphic representations in the search result responsive to the search term “hydroxyl” in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates how the search terms “hydroxyl” and “chemical” are highlighted in each of the displayed annotated static graphic representations in the search result responsive to the search terms “hydroxyl” and “chemical” in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates how the search term “restaurant” is highlighted in each of the displayed annotated static graphic representations in the search result responsive to the search term “hydroxyl” in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates how text-based representations of search hits can be provided in conjunction with the annotated static graphic representations of search hits in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates how a common toggle bar can be used to jointly scroll through text-based representations of search hits and annotated static graphic representations of search hits in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the architecture of a vertical index in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary method in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure details novel advances over known search engines. A search query or a partial search query is submitted to a search engine. Upon receiving the search query or partial search query, the search engine optionally identifies vertical collections in an optional vertical collection index that are relevant to the search query. In embodiments that make use of vertical collections, the names of the candidate vertical collections are then returned to a client computer where they are displayed. For example, consider  FIG. 2 , which comprises a prompt  202  for a search query. Turning to  FIG. 3 , a search requester enters the partial search query “sp” into prompt  202 . In response, the search engine returns five vertical collections  144  that match the partial search query: photography, mathematics, soccer, history, and entertainment news &amp; gossip. The user can select one of the optional vertical collections  144  from  FIG. 3  and proceed to search the vertical collection  144  with the original search expression or new search expressions. Alternatively, the user can continue typing in a search query. Alternatively still, the user can press the “Search All” button  510  and search a document index that represents the entire Internet or intranet with the search expression “sp.” In some embodiments, there are no vertical collections offered and the user simply presses a predetermined key, such as carriage return, or the search all button, or some logical equivalent (e.g., a predetermined mouse key click or combination of clicks) and a document index that represents the entire Internet, intranet, or some other distributed set of documents is searched. As used herein, a document index represents the entire Internet when documents were pulled from more than 100 locations, more than 1000 locations, more than 100,000 locations, more than one million, or more than one billion locations on the Internet, an intranet, or some set of documents distributed amongst a plurality of computers (e.g., more than 10, more than 100 computers). 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , the search requester chooses to complete the expression “sp” so that it reads “spears.” In response, the search engine optionally returns two vertical collections that match the updated search query: entertainment news &amp; gossip as well as quotations. In embodiments that provide vertical collections, the user can select one of the vertical collections  144  from  FIG. 4  and proceed to search the vertical collection with the original search expression or new search expressions. Alternatively, the user can continue typing in a search query. Alternatively still, the user can press the “Search All” button  510  and search a document index that represents the entire Internet or intranet with the search expression “spears.” As stated before, in some embodiments, no vertical collections are used and the user simply has the option to search a predetermined document index. 
     As set forth above, in some embodiments, vertical collections are used rather than an index that represents the entire Internet. A “vertical collection” comprises a set of documents (e.g., URLs, websites, etc.) that relate to a common category. For example, web pages pertaining to sailboats constitute a “sailboat” vertical collection. Web pages pertaining to car racing constitute a “car racing” vertical collection. In some embodiments, users search a vertical collection so that only documents relevant to the category or categories represented by the vertical collection are returned to the user. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for helping a searcher identify the right vertical collection to search. In some embodiments, users search a document index representative of the entire Internet or intranet rather than a vertical collection. More information on vertical collection suggestion technology that can be used in the systems and methods described herein is disclosed in United States Patent Publication No. 20070244863 entitled “Systems and Methods for Performing Searches within Vertical Domains” and United States Patent Publication No. 20070244862 entitled “Systems and Methods for Ranking Vertical Domains,” each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Now that an overview of the novel search query process and its advantages have been provided, a more detailed description of a system in accordance with the present application is described in conjunction with  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a search engine server  178  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, search engine server  178  is implemented using one or more (not shown) computer systems. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that search engines designed to process large volumes of search queries, such as search engine server  178 , may use complicated computer architectures not shown in  FIG. 1 . For instance, a front end set of servers may be used to receive and distribute search queries from numerous client  100 s among a set of back-end servers that actually process the search queries. In such a system, vertical search engine server  178  as shown in  FIG. 1  would be one such back-end server. 
     Search engine  178  will typically have one or more processing units (CPUs)  102 , a network or other communications interface  110 , a memory  114 , one or more magnetic disk storage devices  120  accessed by one or more controllers  118 , one or more communication busses  112  for interconnecting the aforementioned components, and a power supply  124  for powering the aforementioned components. Data in memory  114  can be seamlessly shared with non-volatile memory  120  using known computing techniques such as caching. Memory  114  and/or memory  120  can include mass storage that is remotely located with respect to the central processing unit(s)  102 . In other words, some data stored in memory  114  and/or memory  120  may in fact be hosted on computers that are external to vertical search engine  178  but that can be electronically accessed by vertical search engine over an Internet, intranet, or other form of network or electronic cable (illustrated as element  126  in  FIG. 1 ) using network interface  110 . 
     Memory  114  preferably stores:
         an operating system  130  that includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks;   a network communication module  132  that is used for connecting search engine  178  to various client computers such as client computers  100  ( FIG. 1 ) and possibly to other servers or computers via one or more communication networks, such as the Internet, other wide area networks, local area networks (e.g., a local wireless network can connect the client computers  100  to vertical search engine  178 ), metropolitan area networks, and so on;   a query handler  134  for receiving a search query from a client computer  100 ;   a search engine  136  for searching either a selected optional vertical collection  144  or a document index  150 , where document index  150  can, for example, represent the entire Internet or an intranet, for documents related to a search query and for forming a group of ranked documents that are related to the search query;   an optional vertical index  138  comprising a plurality of vertical indexes  140 , where each vertical index is an index of a corresponding vertical collection  144 ;   an optional vertical search engine  142 , for searching optional vertical index  138  for one or more vertical index lists  140  that are relevant to a given search query;   an optional plurality of vertical collections  144 , each optional vertical collection  144  comprising a plurality of document identifiers  146  and, for each respective document identifier  146 , a static graphic representation  148  of the source URL for the document represented by the respective document identifier  146  as well as a word map  168  for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word;   a document index  150  comprising a list of terms, a document identifier uniquely identifying each document associated with terms in the list of terms, and the sources of these documents; and   a document repository  152  comprising a source URL or a reference to a source URL for each document in the document repository and (ii) a static graphic representation of the source URL for each document in the document repository.       

     Search engine  178  is connected via Internet/network  122  to one or more client devices.  FIG. 1  illustrates the connection to only one such client device  100 . However, in practice, search engine  178  can be connected to 10 or more of the client devices  100 , 100 or more of the client devices  100 , more typically 1000 or more of the client devices  100 , more typically still 10,000 or more of the client devices  100 , and more typically still, 100,000 or more of the client devices  100 . In typical embodiments, a client device  100  comprises:
         one or more processing units (CPUs)  2 ;   a network or other communications interface  10 ;   a memory  14 ;   optionally, one or more magnetic disk storage devices  20  accessed by one or more optional controllers  18 ;   a user interface  4 , the user interface  4  including a display  6  and a keyboard or other input device  8 ;   one or more communication busses  12  for interconnecting the aforementioned components; and   a power supply  24  for powering the aforementioned components.       

     In some embodiments, data in memory  14  can be seamlessly shared with non-volatile memory  20  using known computing techniques such as caching. In some embodiments the client device  100  does not have a magnetic disk storage device. For instance, in some embodiments, the client device  100  is a portable handheld computing device and network interface  10  communicates with Internet/network  126  by wireless means. 
     Memory  14  preferably stores:
         an operating system  30  that includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks;   a network communication module  32  that is used for connecting client device  100  to search engine  178 ;   a web browser  34  for receiving a search query from client computer  100 ; and   a display module  36  for instructing the web browser  34  on how to display search results relevant to a submitted search query.       

     In some embodiments, a document index  150  is constructed by scanning documents on the Internet and/or intranet for relevant search terms. An exemplary document index  150  is illustrated below: 
                                             Term   Document Identifier                          term 1   docID 1a , . . . , docID 1x             term 2   docID 2a , . . . , docID 2x             term 3   docID 3a , . . . , docID 3x             .           .           .           term N   docID Na , . . . , docID Nx                          
In some embodiments, the document index  150  is constructed by conventional indexing techniques. Exemplary indexing techniques are disclosed in, for example, United States Patent publication 20060031195, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. By way of illustration, in some embodiments, a given term may be associated with a particular document when the term appears more than a threshold number of times in the document. In some embodiments, a given term may be associated with a particular document when the term achieves more than a threshold score. Criteria that can be used to score a document relative to a candidate term include, but are not limited to, (i) a number of times the candidate term appears in an upper portion of the document, (ii) a normalized average position of the candidate term within the document, (iii) a number of characters in the candidate term, and/or (iv) a number of times the document is referenced by other documents. High scoring documents are associated with the term. In preferred embodiments, document index  150  stores the list of terms, a document identifier uniquely identifying each document associated with terms in the list of terms, and, optionally, the scores of these documents. In some embodiments, the document identifier uniquely identifying each document is a uniform resource location (URL) or a value or number that represents a uniform resource location (URL). Those of skill in the art will appreciate that there are numerous methods for associating terms with documents in order to build document index  150  and all such methods can be used to construct document index  150  of the present invention.
 
     There is no limit to the number of terms that may be present in document index  150 . Moreover, there is no limit on the number of documents that can be associated with each term in document index  150 . For example, in some embodiments, between zero and 100 documents are associated with a search term, between zero and 1000 documents are associated with a search term, between zero and 10,000 documents are associated with a search term, or more than 10,000 documents are associated with a search term within document index  150 . Moreover, there is no limit on the number of search terms to which a given document can be associated. For example, in some embodiments, a given document is associated with between zero and 10 search terms, between zero and 100 search terms, between zero and 1000 search terms, between zero and 10,000 search terms, or more than 10,000 search terms. 
     In the context of this application, documents are understood to be any type of media that can be indexed and retrieved by a search engine, provided that such documents code for a unique web page that is available on the Internet. Thus, in the present invention, there is a one-to-one correspondence between a document and a unique web page available on the Internet. A document may code for one or more web pages as appropriate to its content and type. In the present disclosure, there are many documents indexed. Typically, there are more than one hundred thousand documents, more than one million documents, more than one billion documents, or even more than one trillion documents present in document index  150 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, for each document referenced by document index  150 , search engine server  178  stores or can electronically retrieve (i) the source document or a document identifier  146  (document reference) that can be used to retrieve the source document, (ii) a static graphic representation  148  of the source document, and (iii) a word map  168  for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the source document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. Of course, some documents reference by document index  150  may not contain words and, consequently, for such documents there will be no word map  168  or the word map  168  will contain no words. In some embodiments, the document identifier  146  is stored in document index  150  while the static graphic representation  148  of the source document and the word map  168  are stored in document repository  152 . In some embodiments, the document identifier  146 , the static graphic representation  148 , and the word map  168  of each source document tracked by search engine server  178  is stored in document index  150 . In some embodiments, the document identifier  146 , the static graphic representation  148 , and the word map  168  of the each source document tracked by search engine server  178  is stored in document repository  152 . It will be appreciated that document identifiers  146 , static graphic representations  148 , and word maps  168  may be stored in any number of different ways, either in the same data structure or in different data structures within search engine server  178  or in computer readable memory or media that is accessible to search engine server  178 . 
     In some embodiments each static graphic representation of a document is a bitmapped or pixmapped image of a web page encoded by the code in the corresponding document. As used herein, a bitmap or pixmap is a type of memory organization or image file format used to store digital images. A bitmap is a map of bits, a spatially mapped array of bits. Bitmaps and pixmaps refer to the similar concept of a spatially mapped array of pixels. Raster images in general may be referred to as bitmaps or pixmaps. In some embodiments, the term bitmap implies one bit per pixel, while a pixmap is used for images with multiple bits per pixel. One example of a bitmap is a specific format used in Windows that is usually named with the file extension of .BMP (or .DIB for device-independent bitmap). Besides BMP, other file formats that store literal bitmaps include InterLeaved Bitmap (ILBM), Portable Bitmap (PBM), X Bitmap (XBM), and Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap (WBMP). In addition to such uncompressed formats, as used herein, the term bitmap and pixmap refers to compressed formats. Examples of such bitmap formats include, but are not limited to, formats, such as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and GIF, to name just a few, in which the bitmap image (as opposed to vector images) is stored in a compressed format. JPEG is usually lossy compression. TIFF is usually either uncompressed, or losslessly Lempel-Ziv-Welch compressed like GIF. PNG uses deflate lossless compression, another Lempel-Ziv variant. More disclosure on bitmap images is found in Foley, 1995,  Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, Addison - Wesley Professional,  p. 13, ISBN 0201848406 as well as Pachghare, 2005, Comprehensive Computer Graphics: Including C++, Laxmi Publications, p. 93, ISBN 8170081858, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In typical uncompressed bitmaps, image pixels are generally stored with a color depth of 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 48, or 64 bits per pixel. Pixels of 8 bits and fewer can represent either grayscale or indexed color. An alpha channel, for transparency, may be stored in a separate bitmap, where it is similar to a greyscale bitmap, or in a fourth channel that, for example, converts 24-bit images to 32 bits per pixel. The bits representing the bitmap pixels may be packed or unpacked (spaced out to byte or word boundaries), depending on the format. Depending on the color depth, a pixel in the picture will occupy at least n/8 bytes, where n is the bit depth since 1 byte equals 8 bits. For an uncompressed, packed within rows, bitmap, such as is stored in Microsoft DIB or BMP file format, or in uncompressed TIFF format, the approximate size for a n-bit-per-pixel (2 n  colors) bitmap, in bytes, can be calculated as: size width×height×n/8, where height and width are given in pixels. In this formula, header size and color palette size, if any, are not included. Due to effects of row padding to align each row start to a storage unit boundary such as a word, additional bytes may be needed. 
     As stated above, a word map  168  for the static graphic representation  148  of a document comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. Advantageously, in the present invention, this word map is extracted by parsing the code for a unique web page encoded by a document and constructing a static graphic representation for the unique web page. For example, in some embodiments, the code for a unique web page that corresponds to a document is parsed in order to construct the bitmapped or pixmapped image of the web page. During this parsing, each word that is to be rendered in the bitmapped or pixmapped image is identified. Any applicable style sheets, HTML features, or other attributes are fully interpreted during this parsing so that the exact size and location and appearance of each word that is to be rendered in the bitmapped or pixmapped image is known. While such information is required for the bitmapped or pixmapped image it is also advantageously used to construct the word map  168  for the document. The contents of an exemplary word map  168  are shown in the following table: 
                                                                                 Font/   Feature           Instance   x-coordinate   y-coordinate   x-size   y-size   Point   (e.g.,       Word   number   (pixels)   (pixels)   (pixels)   (pixels)   Size   attribute)                                                                Hello   1   125   300   10   400   Times   Italic,                               Roman/   Underline                               12           2   497   400   12   400   Times   Italic,                               Roman/   Underline                               10       Goodbye   1   302   948   100   300   Ariel/9   Boldface           2   562   332   73   500   Courier/9   None                    
From the table, it is apparent that a word map will contain information for each of a plurality of words that are encoded in the static graphic representation (e.g., bitmapped or pixmapped web page) corresponding to a document. In an exemplary word map  168 , each instance of a word in the static graphic representation is listed along with some indicia of the size and location of the instance of the word in the static graphic representation. In some embodiments, if the size of the area occupied by a word is approximated as a rectangle, then the indicia for the size is a reference corner of the rectangle (e.g., the lower left hand corner, the lower right hand corner, the upper left hand corner, the upper right hand corner of the rectangle in the static graphic representation) coupled with an x-size and a y-size in pixels from the reference corner. In some embodiments, the size of the area occupied by a word is tracked by finding the center of the word map in the static graphic representation and then overlapping a two-geometric object such as a square, rectangle, ellipse or circle that encompasses the word in the word map. The area in the static graphic representation occupied by the word is then deeded to be the size of this two-geometric object. Of course any number of ways could be used to track the location and size of an instance of a word in the static graphic representation in the word map  168  and all such ways are within the scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, the size of the area in the word map  168  is tracked by indicating a starting location and orientation of the word and then using the point size and the font of the word, and any applicable attribute (e.g., underlining, bold-face, italics, etc.) to determine the size of the area occupied by the word in the static graphic representation. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the present invention track the area occupied by a word in a static graphic representation even in instances where the word wraps from the far right hand side of one line of the static graphic representation to the far left hand side of the next line of the static graphic representation.
 
     In some embodiments, the word map  168  tracks more than ten different words in a corresponding static graphic representation  148  and for each respective word in the more than ten different words, the location and the area in the static graphic representation  148  occupied by each instance of the respective word in the static graphic representation. 
     Advantageously, the features, such as those identified in the table above, of words in a document that are obtained from the process of rendering the static graphic representation can be used in the construction of the document index. By way of illustration, in some embodiments, a given term may be associated with a particular document based upon not only features such as how many times the term appears in the document, but also the location of the term in the static graphic representation, the size of the area in the static graphic representation occupied by a term, and attributes of the term in the static graphic representation such as italics, underlining, boldfacing, strikethrough, font color, shadow, font, or font size. Many of these features are not easily decipherable from the code for the web page in the document code. For example, in some instances the code for a web page of a document makes use of web style sheets. This is a form of separation of presentation and content for web design in which the markup (e.g., HTML or XHTML) of a webpage contains the page&#39;s semantic content and structure, but does not define its visual layout (style). Instead, the style is defined in an external stylesheet file using a language such as CSS or XSL. This design approach is identified as a “separation” because it largely supersedes the antecedent methodology in which a page&#39;s markup defined both style and structure. Thus, in many instances, because of the use of style sheets, embedded applets, complex JAVA scripts, and other complexities of code use to construct web pages, it is simply not possible to ascertain the location, size, and other features of a term in a document until the web page encoded by the document has been rendered into a static graphic representation such as a bitmapped or pixmapped image. In some embodiments, the static graphic representation is generated using a web browser for which source code is available, such as Mozilla Firefox, in which an extension is added that extracts features about each word as the browser is rendering a static graphic representation of the web page including where on the static graphic representation  148  the word will be located, the size of the word, and any attributes associated with the word. As used herein, a static graphic representation  148  of a web page can be an image of the rendered web page at a given instant in time or a time averaged representation of the web page over a period of time (e.g., one second or more, ten seconds or more, a minute or more, two minutes or more, etc.). Thus, a static graphic representation fully encompasses dynamic web pages that include applets such as ticker tapes or other dynamic components that cause the representation of the web page to change over time. Any dynamic components in a web page can either be ignored when constructing the word map for the document encoding the web page, averaged over a period of time, or a snapshot of such dynamic components (e.g., snapshots) can be used for the purposes of constructing the static graphic representation of the web page. 
     In some embodiments of the present application, vertical collections  144  are used. Vertical collections  140  are constructed using documents in document index  150  that pertain to a particular category. For example, one vertical collection  144  may be constructed from documents indexed by document index  150  that pertain to movies, another vertical collection  144  may be constructed from documents indexed by document index  150  that pertain to sports, and so forth. Vertical collections  144  can be constructed, merged, or split in a relatively straightforward manner. In some embodiments, there are hundreds of vertical collections  144  set up in this manner. In some embodiments, there are thousands of vertical collections  144  set up in this manner. 
     Once the document index  150  has been constructed, it is possible to construct the vertical index  138 . To accomplish this, in some embodiments, each vertical collection  450  is inverted. In some embodiments, each vertical collection  144  has the form: 
                             Vertical collection (V 1 ) 144-1                                              DocId 146-1-1             Static Graphic DocId 148-1-1             Word Map DocId 168-1-1             DocId 146-1-2             Static Graphic DocId 148-1-2             Word Map DocId 168-1-2             .           .           .           DocId 146-1-P             Static Graphic DocId 148-1-P             Word Map DocId 168-1-P                          
In some embodiments, each DocId in the vertical collection  144  further includes a document quality score. Inversion of each of the vertical collections  144  and the merging of each of these inverted vertical collections leads to an inverted document-vertical index having the following data structure:
 
                            Inverted document-vertical index                             Document   Associated vertical           identifiers   collections 144                       DocId 1-1     V a , . . . , V x             DocId 1-2     V b , . . . , V y             .           .           .           DocId 1-P     V c , . . . , V z             DocId 2-1     V d , . . . , V aa             .           .           .                        
Thus, for each given document in document index  150 , a list of vertical collections  144  associated with the given document can be obtained by taking the associated vertical collections for the given document from the inverted vertical collection. There can be several vertical collections  144  associated with any given document in this manner. Further, there is no requirement that each document be associated with a unique set of vertical collections  144 .
 
     Thus, as seen above, with the inverted document-vertical index, it is now possible to create a vertical index  138  by substituting the document identifiers in document index  150  with the corresponding vertical collections associated with such document identifiers as set forth in the inverted document-vertical index. In one approach, this is done by scanning the document index  150  on a termwise basis, and collecting the set of vertical collections  144  that are associated with the documents that are, themselves, associated with each term as set forth in the inverted document-vertical index. For example, consider a term  1  in the exemplary document index  150  presented above. According to document index  150 , term  1  is associated with docID 1a , . . . , docID 1x . Thus, for each respective docID i  in the set docID 1a , . . . , docID 1x , the inverted document-vertical index is consulted to determine which vertical collections  144  are associated with the respective docID i . Each of these vertical collections  144  are then associated with term  1  in order to construct a vertical index list  140  for term  1 . Thus, starting with the entry for term  1  in document index  150 , 
                                                term 1   docID 1a , . . . , docID 1x                          
the set of vertical collections associated with docID 1a , . . . , docID 1x  are collected from the inverted document-vertical index in order to construct the vertical index list  140 :
 
                                                term 1   V 1 , V 2 , . . . , V N                          
where each of V 1 , V 2 , . . . , V N  is a vertical collection identifier that points to a unique vertical collection  144 . This data structure is a vertical index list  140 . As illustrated, a vertical index list  140  is a list of vertical collection identifiers of vertical collections  144  sharing a definable attribute (e.g., “term 1”). If term  1  was “vacation,” than vertical index list  140  contains the identifiers of the vertical collections  144  holding documents containing the word “vacation.” The predicate defining the list, “term 1” in the above example, is referred to as the “head term.”
 
     By considering all the terms in a collection of terms, vertical index  138  is constructed. There may be a large number of terms in the collection of terms. Vertical index  138  comprises vertical index lists  140 , along with an efficient process for locating and returning the vertical index list  140  corresponding to a given attribute (search term). For example, a vertical index  138  can be defined containing vertical index lists  140  for all the words appearing in a collection. Vertical index  138  stores, for each given word in the collection, a vertical index list  140  of those vertical collections  144 . Each such vertical collection  144  in the vertical index list  140  for the given word holds at least some documents containing the given word. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a specific structure for vertical index  138  is provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, vertical index  138  comprises a hash lookup table and a vertical index list storage component. The hash lookup table contains pointers or file offsets that pinpoint the location of an individual vertical index list  140 . A hash of a given head term (search term) provides the correct offset to corresponding list of vertical collections  144  that hold documents for the given head term. For example, consider the case in which the head term is “vacation.” The head term is hashed to give, in this example, the offset  03 . A table lookup at offset  03  in vertical index  138  gives the list of identifiers {vertId 31 , vertId 32 , vertId 33 , vertId 34 , . . . } that correspond to the head term “vacation.” Each identifier in the set {vertId 31 , vertId 32 , vertId 33 , vertId 34 , . . . } corresponds to a vertical collection  144  that contains documents with the “vacation” head term. Continuing to refer to  FIG. 13 , the vertical index lists are shown as having different lengths because that is the usual case. In some embodiments, a term specific score is associated with each vertical identifier in each vertical index list. 
     Steps for constructing a vertical index  138  have been detailed above. The vertical index  138  includes, for each respective head term in a collection of head terms, the list of vertical collections  144  having documents that contain the respective head term. To optimize vertical index  138 , additional steps are taken in some embodiments to rank each vertical collection  144  referenced in each respective vertical index list  140  so that only the most significant vertical collections  144  are returned for any given search query. Methods for ranking vertical collections are disclosed in United States Patent Publication Number 20070244863 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , an exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The method details the steps taken to construct a document index  150 , where for each document in the document index there is an associated static graphic representation  148  of the document and a word map of the document  168 . In step  1402 , a plurality of documents is obtained. This plurality of documents may be 100 or more documents, 1000 or more documents, 10,000 or more documents, a million or more documents, a billion or more documents, or a 100 billion or more documents. Each respective document in the plurality of documents comprises code for a unique web page available on the Internet or an Intranet that corresponds to the respective document. In some instances the code for a web page of a document makes use of web style sheets. In such instances, the page&#39;s semantic content and structure is defined by a markup language (e.g., HTML or XHTML) and the page&#39;s visual layout (style) is defined in an external stylesheet file using a language such as CSS or XSL. In such instances, the code for the web page is considered to be both the markup language code as well as the external stylesheet file code. Thus, as used herein, the code for a document includes any and all style sheets, embedded applets, complex JAVA scripts, and other complexities of code used to define the web page that is obtained when the code for the document is rendered. 
     In step  1404 , a static graphic representation of a unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents is rendered. In other words, the code for a unique web page encoded by a document is parsed in order to construct the bitmapped or pixmapped image of the web page. During this parsing, each word that is to be rendered in the bitmapped or pixmapped image is identified. Any applicable style sheets, HTML features, Java code, or any other code or other attributes embedded in the code or referenced by the code in the document is fully interpreted during this parsing so that the bitmapped or pixmapped image of the web page is a true and exact replica of the web page encoded by the document. During this parsing, the exact size and location and appearance of each word that is to be rendered in the bitmapped or pixmapped image is determined. In this way, for each respective word in the plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word is determined. While such information is required for the bitmapped or pixmapped image it is also advantageously used to construct the word map  168  for the document. 
     In step  1406 , the static graphic representation  148  and the word map  168  obtained for a document in the plurality of documents is stored. In some embodiments, these constructs are stored as illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the context of vertical collections  144 . That is, for each document identifier  146  in a vertical collection  144 , the static graphic representation  148  and the word map  168  for the document identifier is associated and stored in a data structure that contains the vertical collection  144 . However, there is no requirement that the word map  168  or the static graphic representation  148  for a document be stored in the same data structure, much less in a data structure that contains a vertical collection  144 . First, storage of data in this way may be disadvantageous because a given document uniquely represented by a document identifier  146  may be in several different vertical collections  144 . Thus, storage of the static graphic representation  148  and the word map  168  of a document along with a document identifier in each of the vertical collections  144  that the document appears in would lead to redundant storage of the static graphic representation  148  and the word map  168  and resultant inefficiency.  FIG. 1  is merely used to exemplify the property that there is a word map  168  and a static graphic representation  148  for each document that are constructed, for example, using the methods disclosed above in conjunction with step  1404 . One of skill in the art, upon the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that any of a number of ways may be used to electronically store word maps  168  and static graphic representations  148  of documents so that such constructs can be readily accessed when needed in subsequent steps disclosed below. For example, the word maps  168  and/or static graphic representations  148  can be stored in the document repository or standalone data structures or databases. 
     As indicated in block  1408  of  FIG. 14 , the rendering step  1404  and the storing step  1406  are performed for each document in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, multiple instances of step  1404  are run in parallel (at the same time) for multiple documents in the plurality of documents in order to expedite processing of the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, steps  1404  and  1406  are repeated for each document in the plurality of documents. However, accomplished, the net result of steps  1402  through  1408  is a word map  168  and a static graphic representation  148  of each document in a plurality of documents available on the Internet, an Intranet, or some other wide area network. Such a stored collection of documents has enormous utility in enhancing web searching as the following optional and exemplary steps will now illustrate. 
     In optional step  1410  a document index  150  (or a vertical index  138 ) is constructed from the plurality of documents. This document index  150  (or the vertical index  138 ) has the advantage over conventional document indexes because, for each respective document in the document index (or the vertical index  138 ), the static graphic representation  148  and the word map  168  for the respective document is accessible. Thus, when the document index  150  (or the vertical index  138 ) is used to support a search engine, the static graphic representations  148  of the documents that are hits to a search query can be provided rather than a few choice words from the documents as is the case in conventional search engines. For instance, in optional steps  1412  through  1416 , a submitted search query from a search requester is received, a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query is obtained from the document index  150 , where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation  148  of a document in the plurality of documents corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step  1404 , and a static graphic representation  148  of a search result in the plurality of search results is displayed. 
     In more detail, in optional step  1412 , a search query is received from client computer  100 . A search query typically comprises a list of one or more keywords, possibly joined by the Boolean operators AND, OR, as well as NOT, and optionally grouped with parentheses or quotes. Examples of search queries include: (i) “Florida discount vacations,” (ii) “The President of the United States,” “(car OR automobile) AND (transmission OR brakes),” and “boat.” A search query comprises any combination of alphanumeric and/or nonalphanumeric characters. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a search query is the contents of prompt  202  at a given time point. In some embodiments, the search query is in the form of an http request. 
     In some embodiments, a user can, along with a search query, select an icon  510  for a vertical collection  144  by selecting any of the icons representing vertical collections  144  that are displayed. In typical embodiments, no icons for vertical collections  144  are displayed when prompt  202  is empty and, thus, at the stage when prompt  202  is empty, the user cannot select a vertical collection  144  in such embodiments. In some embodiments, icons for popular and/or sponsored vertical collections  144  are displayed when prompt  202  is empty. 
     In step  1414 , a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query are obtained from a document index or one or more vertical collections, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents corresponding to the respective search result created in rendering step  1404 . In some embodiments, step  1414  comprises a determination as to whether a user has selected to make a search of a document index representative of the entire Internet (e.g., referring to  FIG. 3 , the user has pressed button  5   10 ). Referring to  FIG. 3 , a user can, for example, select button  510  at any time. 
     If a user has elected to search a specific vertical collection  144 , the search query is decomposed into atomic vertical search queries. An atomic search query consists of a single term or predicate condition. For example, the search query “(car OR automobile) AND (transmission OR brakes)” includes the single terms “car”, “automobile”, “transmission”, “brakes” and the predicate conditions of precedence “( )”, AND, as well as OR. In typical embodiments, only one of the atomic vertical search queries in a search query will be new or altered. Thus, the atomic vertical search query that is new or has been altered is first identified. To illustrate, consider the last search query received by search engine  178  from a given device  100  was “car OR auto” whereas in the current instance, the search is “car OR automobile”. The vertical search query “car OR automobile” is broken down to the atomic vertical search queries “car” and “automobile.” The atomic vertical search query “car” remains unchanged relative to the query and therefore is not hashed. The atomic vertical search query “automobile” on the other hand, previously had the form “auto” and is therefore is hashed. In some embodiments, rather than rehashing the full atomic vertical search “automobile” the hash of “auto” from the search request from the user is used and a cumulative hash is performed with the additional characters “mobile” in order to arrive at the full hash for “automobile” in the step. In some embodiments, such cumulative hashing is not performed. Cumulative hashing is preferable in some embodiments so that recommended verticals collections  144  can be returned to client computer  100  before the user has had a chance to enter many more keystrokes into prompt  202 . Thus, any technique that will speed up the computation is desirable. 
     In some embodiments atomic vertical search queries are not hashed. In such embodiments, vertical index  138  is not ordered by the hash values of atomic vertical search queries. In some embodiments, more than one atomic vertical search query within the vertical search query is new or has been altered. In such embodiments, each new or altered atomic vertical search query is separately hashed when a search query is received. If a precursor expression is available for any of these altered atomic vertical search queries, the hash of such precursor expressions is used to speed up the hash of the corresponding altered atomic vertical search query. 
     In embodiments that make use of vertical collections  144  and in which the user elected to search a vertical collection, the vertical index list  140  for each new or altered atomic vertical search query in the vertical query is identified. In embodiments where vertical index  138  is a hash table, such as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , this operation is a simple hash lookup using the respective hash of each new or altered atomic vertical search query. In some embodiments, a hash is not used to accomplish this operation. For example, in some embodiments, vertical index  138  is some other form of data structure that contains vertical indices  138 , such as an array, list, stack, queue, tree, or database. Such data structures are described in Brookshear,  Computer Science,  2003, Addison-Wesley, New York, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the vertical index lists  140  that correspond to atomic vertical search queries that are not new in the search query are already known from previous computations and are therefore not obtained when the search results for a new search are requested. In some embodiments, the vertical index of each atomic vertical search query in the vertical search query is identified each time a search request is made. Regardless of the embodiment in embodiments where a user requested to search one or more verticals, the vertical index list  140  of each atomic vertical search query in the search query is identified. 
     In embodiments that make use of vertical collections, a list of recommended vertical collections  144  based upon a given search query from client computer  100  is composed. In the case where the search query includes only one atomic vertical search term, each of the names of the vertical collections  144  referenced in the vertical index  138  is extracted for the atomic vertical search term that was identified. In the case where the search query includes more than one atomic vertical search term, more work is required. Consider the case in which there are two atomic vertical search terms in a search query in which there is either no operator between the two search terms or the two search terms are joined by an “AND” operator. In this case, the names of the vertical collections  144  for each atomic vertical search term are first identified using the processes described above. So, if the atomic vertical search terms are term 1  and term 2 , this operation results in the identification of the following: 
                                                term 1     VC 1-1 , VC 1-2 , . . . , VC 1-N             term 2     VC 2-1 , VC 2-2 , . . . , VC 2-M                          
Then, in order to identify a list of recommended vertical collections  144  in this instance, the intersection of each list of vertical collections  144  is taken in some embodiments of the present invention. This means that only those vertical collections  144  that are common to both vertical index lists  140  are included in the list of recommended vertical collections  144  in such embodiments. In some embodiments, in addition to the requirement that each recommended vertical collection be present in both index lists  140 , each recommended vertical collection must have a minimum relevancy score(v,t).
 
     Next consider the case in which two atomic vertical search terms are joined by an “OR” operator. Here, the union of the vertical collections  144  in the two vertical index lists  140  for the two search terms is taken. That is, vertical collections  144  that are in either vertical index list  140  are selected for inclusion in the list of names of candidate vertical collections that are sent back to client computer  100  in response to entry of the partial search query. As used herein, a partial search query is any query entered into prompt  202  before a vertical suggestion  144  or the “looksee” prompt  202  has been selected by a user. In some embodiments the relevancy score for each vertical collection  144  in each selected vertical index list  140  is also used to determine which vertical collections  144  are selected for the list of names of candidate vertical collections  144 . For example, in some embodiments, those vertical collections  144  that are represented in the vertical index list  140  of both atomic vertical search terms are summed. Because of this summing operation, there is a tendency for those vertical collections  144  that are represented in the vertical index list  140  of both atomic vertical search terms to appear in the list or recommended vertical collections  144  in such embodiments. However, it is still quite possible in such embodiments for vertical collections  144  that appear in only one of the two vertical index lists  140  to be recommended if such vertical collections  144  have a high score. The following example illustrates the point. Consider the vertical indexes  140  for term 1  and term 2  in which the quality or relevancy score of each vertical collection  144  has been computed and in which term 1  and term 2  are related by an “OR” operator: 
                                                term 1     VC 150 (score 150,t1 ), VC 170 (score 170,t1 ), VC 175 (score 175,t1 )           term 2     VC 151 (score 151,t2 ), VC 170 (score 170,t2 ), VC 175 (score 175,t2 )                        
Thus, for purposes of determining which vertical collections  144  are to be incorporated into the list of recommended vertical collections responsive to a given vertical search query, the following computations are made:
 
       VC 150 =score 150,t1    
         VC   170 =score 170,t1 +score 170,t2    
         VC   175 =score 175,t1 +score 175,t2    
       VC 151 =score 151,t2    
     Here, VC 170  and VC 175  benefit from the summation of two scores whereas VC 150  and VC 151  each receive only one score. However, it is still quite possible that VC 150  or VC 151  may have a higher score than VC 150  and VC 151  and therefore be included in the list of recommended vertical collections. 
     For two atomic vertical search terms joined by a NOT operator, those vertical collections  144  in the vertical index list  140  of the negated search term are subtracted from the list of vertical collections  144  in the vertical index list  140  associated with the non-negated search term to arrive at a recommended list of vertical collections for a given partial search request. To illustrate, consider the vertical index lists  140  for term 1  and term 2  in which the quality or relevancy score of each vertical collection  144  has been computed and in which term 1  and term 2  are related by a “NOT” operator: 
                                                term 1     VC 150 (score 150,t1 ), VC 170 (score 170,t1 ), VC 175 (score 175,t1 )           term 2     VC 151 (score 151,t2 ), VC 170 (score 170,t2 ), VC 175 (score 175,t2 )                        
Thus, in this case, only the vertical collection VC 150  would be selected for inclusion in the list of recommended vertical collections  144 .
 
     More complex logical expressions can be built using combinations of atomic vertical search queries joined by Boolean expressions such as AND, OR as well as NOT. Moreover, precedence can be introduced using parentheses. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other forms of logic can be used to merge or split lists of vertical collections  144  in vertical index lists  140  in order to arrive at a final set of list of recommended vertical collections  144  for a given partial search query and all such forms of logic are within the scope of the present invention. 
     In some embodiments, the list of recommended vertical collections  144  contains a maximum number of vertical collections  144 . For some partial search expressions, the number of vertical collections  144  identified does not exceed this maximum. However, for some search expressions, the number of vertical collections  144  identified does exceed the maximum possible number of recommended vertical collections  144 . In such embodiments, the term-based relevancy score associated with each vertical collection  144  is used to determine which vertical collections are included in the recommendation list of vertical collections for a given vertical search query. Only top scoring vertical collections  144  are selected for the list. 
     The above described process for identifying recommended vertical collections  144  based on a given search query lookup is designed to be fast. In some embodiments, a recommended list of vertical collections  144  is returned to client computer  100  between each character stroke entered by a user into prompt  202 . Correspondingly, in some embodiments, client computer  100  sends a new search query each time the user enters a new character into prompt  202  of  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, client computer  100  sends a new vertical search query each time an end of string signal is detected. Such an end of string signal is detected by client computer  100  in some embodiments when a pause in the typing of the user is detected. For example, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , if there is a delay (e.g., a 1 second, a 2 second delay, a 3 second delay, etc.) between entering the “p” ( FIG. 3 ) and the “e” ( FIG. 4 ), then the end of string signal is detected by client computer  100  and the string “spe” is sent to the remote server (vertical engine server  178 ) as a partial search query. In some embodiments, an end of string signal is also detected when a space character or carriage return, or other designated character, is entered into prompt  202  by a user. 
     In some embodiments, a check is performed to determine whether an updated query has been received from client computer  100 . For example, in some embodiments, a determination is made as to whether a new http request has arrived from the client computer  100  with an updated search query. If an updated search query has been received then recommended vertical collections are not reported. If a new or revised vertical search query has not arrived, then the recommended vertical collections  144  are reported to client computer  100  where they are displayed. In some embodiments, the recommended vertical collections are reported to client computer  100  even when a new search query has arrived from client computer  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the list of recommended vertical collections that is returned to client computer  100  includes both the identity of the recommended vertical collections  144  (names) and a relevancy score for each vertical collection  144 . Such relevancy scores are computed using any scoring function that assesses the relevance of a vertical collection  144  to given search query. 
     When a user selects a prompt for a vertical collection  144 , the search query is made using the selected vertical collection  144 . In such instances, step  1414  of  FIG. 14  comprises searching the selected vertical collection  144  for those documents that are most relevant to the search query. In some embodiments, search engine  136  performs the search of the selected vertical collection  144 . In some embodiments, a search engine that is specialized for only searching vertical collections  144  performs the search. 
     When a user elects to search a document index representative of the entire Internet (e.g., by selecting button  510  of  FIG. 2 ), the search query is made using document index  150 . In such instances, the document index  150  is searched by search engine  136  for those documents that are most relevant to the search query. 
     In step  1416 , the high ranking documents are reported to client computer  100  where they are displayed, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 5-12 , in accordance with instructions provided from display module  36  to web browser  34 . In some embodiments, display module  36  and web browser  34  are, in fact, integrated into the same program. In some embodiments, display module  36  and web browser  34  are different programs. Thus, in summary, a submitted search query is received from a search requester on a client computer  100 . Then, as described above, the search query is processed to obtain search results relevant to the submitted search query and these search results are submitted to the client device  100 . In some embodiments, each search result in the plurality of search results comprises: (i) a source document or a reference to a source document  152 , (ii) a static graphic representation  148  of the source document (where the static graphic representation  154  of the source document was obtained from the source document at a time before the submitted search query was received), and (iii) the location of where the words in the original search query appear in the static graphic representation  148 . The location of where the words in the original search query appear in the static graphic representation of a given search result (document) are obtained from the word map  168  for the document. 
     In some embodiments, each search result in the plurality of search results comprises: (i) a source document or a reference to a source document  152 , and (ii) an annotated static graphic representation of the source document in which words in the submitted search query are highlighted in the annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, an annotated static graphic representation is constructed by (i) using a stored word map  168  for a first static graphic representation  148  of a document in the plurality of documents in the search result to identify each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) highlighting each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the first annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, for each annotated static graphic representation there is a corresponding static graphic representation, where a major if not only difference between the annotated static graphic representation and the corresponding static graphic representation is that words in the search request are annotated (e.g., highlighted) in the annotated static graphic representation but not in the static graphic representation. In some embodiments the above-described steps are performed on search engine server  178 . In such embodiments it is not necessary to transmit the word map for a document in the plurality of documents that are hits to a search query to computer  100 . For example, in such embodiments, if the search query is “spears” and the annotated static graphic representations are built on search engine server  178 , then the static graphic representations  148  for the plurality of documents most relevant to “spears” are found using search engine server  178  and then the word maps  168  for these plurality of documents are used to highlight each instance of the word “spears” in these static graphic representations  148  thereby forming corresponding annotated static graphic representations  148 . The annotated static graphic representations  148  are then sent from search engine server  178  to computer  100  where the annotated static graphic representations are displayed. 
     In some embodiments the steps of building annotated static graphic representations are performed on computer  100  rather than on search engine server  178 . In such embodiments, the static graphic representation of each document in the plurality of documents in the search result together with at least those portions of the word maps  168  for the plurality of documents that pertain to the words in the search query are transmitted to the computer  100  from which the search query originated. For example, in such embodiments, if the search query is “spears” and the annotated static graphic representations are built on computer  100 , then the static graphic representations for the plurality of documents most relevant to “spears” are found using search engine server  178  and then the portions of word maps  168  relating to the location of word “spears” in these static graphic representations  148  for the plurality of documents as well as the static graphic representations  148  for the plurality of documents themselves is sent from search engine server  178  to computer  100  where annotated static graphic representations are built and displayed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an annotated static graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results is displayed. In  FIG. 6 , each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the search query “spears” in the submitted search query is highlighted in yellow. The yellowed areas in the static graphic representation are illustrated by black or white ovals. The annotations in the annotated static graphic representations can be the highlighting of search terms in the static graphic representations using any color (e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, or any combination thereof), underlining the search terms, bold facing the search terms, and/or circling or otherwise marking the search terms that appear in the static graphic representations thereby forming the corresponding annotated static graphic representations. 
     In some embodiments, a submitted search query is received from a search requester (step  1412 ), and a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query is obtained from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation  148  of a document corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step  1404  in the plurality of documents (step  1414 ). Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an annotated static graphic representation  602  of a first search result in the plurality of search results is displayed in a center position  602  of a graphic output device (step  1416 ) The annotated static graphic representation is constructed by (i) using the word map  168  for the first static graphic representation generated in the rendering step  1404  to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) highlighting each area in the static graphic representation in the center position  602  that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments of the present disclosure and as further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , another annotated static graphic representation of a second search result in the plurality of search results is displayed in a first off-center position  604  of the graphic output device (to the right of the center position  602  in the case of  FIG. 6 , to the left of the center position in other embodiments) where the second annotated static representation is constructed by using the word map  168  for the static graphic representation  148  generated in the rendering step  1404  to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and highlighting each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query to construct the second annotated static graphic representation occupying position  604 , where the annotated static graphic representation at position  604  is displayed rotated (e.g., at least one degree out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least two degrees out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least three degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least five degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 ) about a first axis of rotation  606  that lies between the center position  602  and the first off-center position  604  of the graphic output device in the manner illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, responsive to a selection of the annotated static graphic representation of the source document in the first off-center position  604 , the search result at position  604  is shifted from the first off-center position  604  to the center position  602 . This transition from the first off-center position  604  to the center position  602  is illustrated by  FIGS. 6 and 7  where a user has clicked on the annotated static graphic representation in position  604  twice so that annotated static graphic representations have shifted to the left twice in the transition from  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, in the initial display of search results, one search result is displayed in the center position  602  and all the remaining search results are cascaded to the right of the center position  602  on the display. The set of search results cascaded to the right of the center position of the display includes a static graphic representation at first off-center position  604 . Responsive to a selection of the annotated static graphic representation in first off-center position  604  (or any of the annotated static graphic representations cascaded to the right of the first off-center position  604 ), the annotated static graphic representation in the center position  602  in  FIG. 5  is shifted to a second off-center position  608  of the graphic output device (as seen in  FIG. 6 ), thereby causing the annotated static graphic representation that was in center position  602  to now be displayed at the second off-center position  608  rotated (e.g., at least one degree out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least two degrees out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least three degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least five degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 ) about a second axis of rotation  610  that lies between the center position  602  and the second off-center position  608  of the graphic output device. As part of this action, the annotated static graphic representation occupying first off-center position  604  in  FIG. 5  is shifted to the center position (at position  602 ) of the graphic output device where it is now displayed in a manner that is no longer rotated about the first axis of rotation  606 . As further part of this action, an annotated static graphic representation of a third search result in the plurality of search results is now displayed in the first off-center position  604  of the graphic output device rotated about the first axis of rotation  606 . The movements described here are illustrated in the transition from  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 6 , where the annotated static graphic position in position  604  has been selected twice, so that each annotated static graphic representation has shifted two positions to the left. In other words, the steps outlined above in this paragraph each occur twice. 
     Just as graphic representations can be shifted from the first off-center position  604 , to the center position  602 , and then to the second off-center position  608 , the reverse is also true. When a user clicks on a graphic representation occupying the second off-center position  608 , the graphic representation occupying the second off-center position  608  is shifted to the center position  602  and the graphic representation formally occupying the center position  602  is shifted to the first off-center position  604 . Thus, in the above-identified manner, a user can easily view the graphic representation of search result hits in a seamless and efficient manner. 
     In some embodiments, responsive to a selection of the annotated static representation of the source document of the search result occupying the center position  602  of the graphic output device  6 , the size of the static graphic representation is enlarged. For instance, in some embodiments, the annotated static representation of the source document is enlarged by at least 10 percent, at least 20 percent, at least 30 percent, or at least 100 percent. Furthermore, responsive to a selection of a portion of the graphic output device  6  outside of the annotated static representation of the source document occupying the center position  602  while it is in its enlarged state, the size of the annotated static graphic representation of the source document is reduced back to the original size that it was before it was enlarged. 
     In some embodiments, responsive to a selection of the annotated static representation occupying the center position  602 , a web page impression from the source document of the first search result is retrieved. In other words, a “live” version of the document obtained from the URL or other address where the document was found while building the document index  150  is obtained and used to replace the annotated static graphic representation of the source document. 
     In some embodiments, responsive to a selection of the annotated static representation of the source document of the search result occupying the center position  602  of the graphic output device, the annotated static graphic representation of the source document is flipped from a first side to a reverse side so that the reverse side of the annotated static graphic representation is shown. In some embodiments, the reverse side of the annotated static graphic representation contains information associated with the annotated static graphic representation (e.g., source of document, size of document, file type of document, a date and/or time when the static graphic representation of the document was created, a date and/or time when the document was accessed during a web crawl, etc.). In some embodiments, the annotated static graphic representation is flipped to the opposite side each time a first designated portion of the annotated static graphic representation is selected (e.g., the top portion) and is enlarged when a second designated portion of the annotated static graphic representation is selected (e.g., anything outside of the top portion). 
     In some instances, a toggle bar  620  is provided. See, for example,  FIG. 6 . When the search requester pulls the toggle bar  620  in a first direction (e.g., to the left), the displayed annotated static graphic representations of the search results shift from the first off-center position  604  to the center position  602 , and from the center position  602  to the second off-center position  608  responsive to the pull in the first direction. When the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a second direction (e.g., to the right), the annotated static graphic representations of search results shift from the second off-center position  608  to the center position  602 , and from the center position  602  to the first off-center position  604  responsive to the pull in the second direction. 
     In some embodiment, one of the graphic representations displays in the first off-center position  604 , the center position  602 , or the second off-center position  608  is an advertisement. In other words, rather than being a “hit” to a search query that was obtained from a vertical collection  144  or a document index  150 , the graphic representation is an advertisement for services or products that may or may not be related to the search query. In some embodiments, the use of advertisements in this manner is accomplished by embedding the advertisement into the plurality of search results as an annotated static graphic representation so that, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar  620  in the first direction or the second direction, an advertisement is displayed in the center position  602 . 
     In some embodiments, responsive to a selection and drag of the annotated static graphic representation of the source document occupying the first off-center position  604 , the center position, or the second off-center position  608 , a copy of the annotated static graphic representation of the source document of the first search result is stored in a predetermined or user specified location on the client device (e.g., a location in memory  20  and/or memory  114  of client device  100 ). This is advantageous for storing the annotated static graphic representation of hits to search queries. 
     In some embodiments, when the annotated static graphic representation occupying the center position  602  is displayed for a predetermined amount of time without user input (e.g., for two seconds or more, for three seconds or more, for five seconds or more) the annotated static graphic representation is automatically transformed, without user input, to a live impression from the source document. 
     In some embodiments, one or more advertisements are embedded into the plurality of search results returned to a device  100  by search engine server  178  as static graphic representations. In some embodiments, a static graphic representation of a source document is a graphic representation of an entire web page at a time before the submitted search query was received. In some embodiments, the displaying step  1416  further comprises displaying a reflection  648  of the annotated static graphic representation below the static graphic representation. A reflection  648  is illustrated in  FIG. 5-13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 14 , in some embodiments, steps  1412  through  1416  comprises (i) receiving a submitted search query from a search requester (step  1412 ), (ii) obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created in the rendering step  1404  in the plurality of documents (step  1414 ), where step  1414  further comprises embedding an interactive widget as a search result in the plurality of search results, and (iii) displaying a first graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results in a center position  602  of a graphic output device  6  (step  1416 ). In such embodiments, the displaying step  1416  comprises (i) using the word map  168  for the graphic representation generated in the rendering step  1404  to identify each area in the graphic representation in the center position  602  that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) highlighting each area in the graphic representation in the center position  602  that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. In such embodiments, the displaying step  1416  further comprises displaying a graphic representation of each of one or more search results in the plurality of search results, other than the graphic representation displayed in the center position  602 , in a plurality of off-center positions  604  of the graphic output device, where a search result in the one or more search results is the interactive widget, and where the graphic representations of the one or more search results in the plurality of search results in the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device are rotated (e.g., at least one degree out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least two degrees out of the plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least three degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 , at least five degrees out of plane of the graphic output device  6 ) about a first axis of rotation  606  that lies between the center position  602  and the plurality of off-center positions  604  of the graphic output device. When a user uses the selection interactions described above to cause the widget to occupy the center position  602  on the display  7 , the widget become activated. When activated, information entered into the widget is transmitted to a predetermined address of a remote computer where the information is process and information is returned to the interactive widget. In this manner, the interactive widget can be used to order products, rentals, answer surveys, join network social clubs, play interactive computer assisted games, or to perform any other activity that is facilitated by a graphical user interface. 
     In some embodiments, each of the documents in document index  150  and/or a vertical collection  144  that have been used by search engine  136  to perform a search based upon the search query provided by the user, are independently classified into one or more categories. For example the first document in the search results may be deemed to in categories one, three, five, and seven (e.g., sports, major league baseball, blogs, and news) and the second document in the search results may be deemed to be in categories five and seven (blogs and news). Such categorization provides advantages. For example, the search requester can request to remove a particular search result from the plurality of search results that were obtained in response to the user&#39;s original search query. For example, consider the above case in which the categories of the first document and the second document are described. Suppose that the search request removes the second document. In response to this request, the original search query is resubmitted with the specific request to not retrieve documents that are only in the blogs category or are only in the news category (or are only in both the blogs category and the news category). As a result, new search results relevant to the modified search query are obtained. Advantageously, the new search results are focused on the categories of documents in document index  150  or vertical collection  144  that the user did not exclude from the search. 
     In typical embodiments, the graphic representation of the source document of each of the hits in the search results is a graphic representation of an entire web page taken from the location where the source document resides at a time before the submitted search query was received. For instance, the graphic representation of the entire web page may be taken when the source document is crawled during construction of the vertical collection. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, prior to obtaining the search results, a designation of a vertical collection in a plurality of vertical collections from the search requester. For instance, the user can select any of the icons for vertical collections  144  that are illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 12 . In such embodiments, the search query and the designation of the vertical collection is submitted to search engine server  178 . Responsive to this request from the user, search engine  136  (or a specialized search engine used to search the designated vertical collection  144 ) searches the designated vertical collection  144  with the search query and returns a plurality of search results to the client  100 . 
     In some embodiments, responsive to a search query from a search requester, client  100  submits the search query to search engine server  178  without a designation of a vertical collection  144 . In such instances, search engine  136  of search engine server  178  searches document index  150  using the search query and provides the search results back to client  100 . Client  100  then displays the plurality of search results from the search engine server  178 . In such embodiments, the document index that is searched, document index  150 , is representative of the entire Internet (e.g., document index  150  is a random sampling of all the documents addressable by the Internet). This means that, typically, the documents in document index  150  are not restricted to a particular category of documents, such as sports, but rather can be of any category found in the Internet. In some embodiments, offensive documents are excluded from document index  150 . 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a method for modifying a set of search results. First, a search request is received by a search requester. Then, a plurality of search results is obtained that are relevant to the submitted search query from a document index. If the architecture illustrated in  FIG. 1  is used to perform such a search, the search request is received by web browser  34  and communicated to search engine server  178  by network communication module  32  across Internet/network  126 . Responsive to the search request, search engine  136  performs a search against a vertical collection  144  or document index  150  and then the search results are returned to client  100  by network communication module  132  using Internet/network  126  where the search results are displayed by web browser  34  as instructed by display module  36 . Each search result in the plurality of search results comprises: (i) a source document or a reference to a source document, (ii) a graphic representation of the source document, where the graphic representation of the source document was obtained from the source document at a time before the submitted search query was received, and where each search result in the plurality of search results belongs to one or more categories, and (iii) a designation of where in the graphic representations the words in the original search expression appear. Then, the search requester removes a search result from the plurality of search results. Responsive to the instructions to remove the search result, the search query is modified to account for the removal of the search result from the plurality of search results, thereby forming a modified search query. For instance, as in the example of two documents each belonging to multiple categories given above, the categories of documents to which the document that was removed by the user belongs are specifically excluded in the modified search query. A search of the document index  150  and or vertical collection  144  is then performed using the modified search query and the plurality of search results relevant to the modified search query are sent to client for  100  for display in accordance with the instructions provided in display module  36 . 
     Use of Annotated Static Graphic Representations 
     In some embodiments, static graphic representations are formed on search engine server  178  rather than on device  100 . In such embodiments, the store static graphic representations that are associated with a plurality of documents that are hits to a search request are identified. Then, each of the static graphic representations is converted to a annotated static graphic representation and it is these annotated static graphic representation that are sent to a client instead of static graphic representation and associated word maps. In  FIG. 6 , each area in the annotated static graphic representation that is occupied by the search query “spears” in the submitted search query is highlighted in yellow. The yellowed areas in the annotated static graphic representation are illustrated by black or white ovals. The annotations in the static graphic representations can be the highlighting of search terms in the static graphic representations using any color (e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, or any combination thereof), underlining the search terms, bold facing the search terms, and/or circling or otherwise marking the search terms that appear in the static graphic representations thereby forming the corresponding annotated static graphic representations. 
     In some embodiments, a submitted search query from a search requester is received and a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query are obtained from a document index  150  or one or more vertical collections  144 , where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results corresponds to a document in a plurality of documents. A first annotated static graphic representation of a first search result in the plurality of search results is displayed. The first annotated static graphic representation is constructed by (i) using a stored word map for a first static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents to identify each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query, where the word map comprises each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word, and (ii) highlighting each area in the first static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the first annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the displaying step displays the first annotated static graphic representation in a center position of a graphic output device and the method further comprises displaying a second annotated static graphic representation of a second search result in the plurality of search results in a first off-center position of the graphic output device, where the second annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the first off-center position of the graphic output device, and where the second annotated static graphic representation is constructed by the method comprising (i) using a stored word map for a second static graphic representation of a document in the plurality of documents to identify each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) highlighting each area in the second static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query thereby forming the second annotated graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the second annotated static graphic representation in the first off-center position, the steps of shifting the first annotated static graphic representation to a second off-center position of the graphic output device, thereby causing the first annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the second off-center position rotated about a second axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the second off-center position of the graphic output device, shifting the second annotated static graphic representation to the center position of the graphic output device; thereby causing the second annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the first axis of rotation, and displaying a third annotated static graphic representation of a third search result in the plurality of search results in the first off-center position of the graphic output device, where the third annotated static graphic representation is displayed rotated about the first axis of rotation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation in the second off-center position, the steps of (i) shifting the first annotated static graphic representation to the center position of the graphic output device; thereby causing the first annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the center position in a manner that is no longer rotated about the second axis of rotation, and (ii) shifting the second annotated static graphic representation to the first off-center position; thereby causing the second annotated static graphic representation to be displayed at the first off-center position in a manner that is rotated about the first axis of rotation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing the third annotated static graphic representation from the first off-center position. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation in the center position of the graphic output device, the step of enlarging a size of the first annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of a portion of the graphic output device outside of the first annotated static graphic representation when the first annotated static graphic representation is in an enlarged state, the step of reducing the size of the first static graphic representation to an original size. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation, the steps of retrieving a web page impression from the source document corresponding to the first annotated static graphic representation and replacing the first annotated static graphic representation with the web page impression. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection of the first annotated static graphic representation, the step of flipping the first annotated static graphic representation from a first side to a reverse side so that the reverse side of the first annotated static graphic representation is shown. In some embodiments, the reverse side of the first annotated static graphic representation contains information about the first annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing a toggle bar on the graphic output device, where (i) when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a first direction, annotated static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from the first off-center position to the center position, and from the center position to a second off-center position responsive to the pull in the first direction, and (ii) when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in a second direction, annotated static graphic representations of search results in the plurality of search results shift from the second off-center position to the center position, and from the center position to the first off-center position responsive to the pull in the second direction. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an advertisement into the plurality of search results as a static graphic representation, where, when the search requester pulls the toggle bar in the first direction or the second direction, an advertisement is displayed in the center position. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, responsive to a selection and drag on the first annotated static graphic representation in the direction of a predetermined position on the graphic output device, storing a copy of the first annotated static graphic representation or the first static graphic representation on a client device. In some embodiments, the first static graphic representation of the source document is a graphic representation of an entire web page at a time before the submitted search query was received. 
     In some embodiments, a reflection of the first annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the first annotated static graphic representation. In some embodiments, a reflection of the first annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the first annotated static graphic representation and a reflection of the second annotated static graphic representation is displayed below the second annotated static graphic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises embedding an interactive widget as a search result in the plurality of search results and displaying an annotated static graphic representation of one or more search results in the plurality of search results, other than the first annotated static representation, in a plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device, where a search result in the one or more search results is the interactive widget, and where each annotated static graphic representation of one or more search results in the plurality of search results in the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device are rotated about a first axis of rotation that lies between the center position and the plurality of off-center positions of the graphic output device. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. The computer program mechanism comprises instructions for performing any of the methods described herein. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. The computer program mechanism comprises instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The computer program product further comprises instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The computer program product further comprises instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The computer program product further comprises instructions for repeating the instructions for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, the computer program product further comprises instructions for constructing a document index from the plurality of documents. In some embodiments, the computer program mechanism further comprises instructions for receiving a submitted search query from a search requester and instructions for obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created by the instructions for rendering in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments the computer program product further comprises instructions for displaying the static graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results where the instructions for displaying comprise (i) instructions for using the word map for the static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and instructions for highlighting each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. 
     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer comprising a main memory and a processor. In such a computer one or more programs are stored in the main memory and are executed by the processor. The one or more programs collectively include instructions for implementing any of the methods described herein. 
     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer comprising a main memory and a processor. In such a computer one or more programs are stored in the main memory and are executed by the processor. The one or more program collectively include instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The one or more program collectively further include instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The one or more program collectively further include instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The one or more programs collectively further include instructions for performing the instructions for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. 
     Computer Program Products and Computer Implementations 
     Still another aspect of the present application provides a computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism comprising instructions for performing any of the methods disclosed herein. For instance, in one embodiment, the computer program mechanism comprises instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The computer program mechanism further comprises instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The computer program mechanism further comprises instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The computer program mechanism further comprises instructions for performing the instructions for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments the computer program mechanism optionally comprises instructions for constructing a document index from the plurality of documents. In some embodiments the computer program mechanism optionally comprises instructions for receiving a submitted search query from a search requester. In some embodiments the computer program mechanism optionally comprises instructions for obtaining a plurality of search results relevant to the submitted search query from the document index, where each respective search result in at least a portion of the plurality of search results comprises the static graphic representation of a document corresponding to the respective search result created by the instructions for rendering in the plurality of documents. In some embodiments the computer program mechanism optionally comprises instructions for displaying the static graphic representation of a search result in the plurality of search results where the instructions for displaying comprise (i) instructions for using the word map for the static graphic representation generated in the rendering step to identify each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query and (ii) instructions for highlighting each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by a word in the submitted search query. 
     Another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer comprising a main memory, a processor and one or more programs (e.g. display module  36 ) stored in the main memory and executed by the processor that includes instructions for performing any of the methods disclosed herein. For example, in one embodiment, the one or more programs collectively include instructions for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. The one or more programs further collectively include instructions for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. The one or more programs further collectively include instructions for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page. The one or more programs further collectively include instructions for performing the instruction for rendering and the instructions for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. 
     Still another aspect of the present application provides a system for providing search results responsive to a search query that comprises means for carrying out any of the methods disclosed in the instant application. One embodiment of such a system is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and describe above. In one embodiment, such a system comprises means for obtaining a plurality of documents, each respective document in the plurality of documents comprising code for a unique web page available on the Internet that corresponds to the respective document. In the embodiment, the system further comprises means for rendering a static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to a document in the plurality of documents, where the rendering comprises generating a word map for the static graphic representation that comprises, for each respective word in a plurality of words in the document, each area in the static graphic representation that is occupied by the respective word. In the embodiments, the system further comprises means for storing the static graphic representation of the unique web page corresponding to the document in the plurality of documents and the word map for the unique web page as well as means for performing the means for rendering and the means for storing for each document in the plurality of documents. 
     Vertical Collections are Optional 
     The use of vertical collections  144  is entirely optional in the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure specifically encompasses embodiments that do not make use over vertical collections. In such embodiments, icons for vertical collections  144  are not displayed on client device  100 . 
     References Cited and Alternative Embodiments 
     All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     The present invention can be implemented as a computer program product that comprises a computer program mechanism embedded in a computer readable storage medium. For instance, the computer program product could contain the program modules shown in  FIG. 1 . These program modules can be stored on a CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic disk storage product, or any other computer readable data or program storage product. The software modules in the computer program product may also be distributed electronically, via the Internet or otherwise, by transmission of a computer data signal (in which the software modules are embedded). 
     Many modifications and variations of this invention can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The specific embodiments described herein are offered by way of example only. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The invention is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.