Source: http://www.google.ca/patents/US20030149688
Timestamp: 2015-07-04 03:30:23
Document Index: 508840598

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 41', 'art 42', 'art 32', 'art 32']

Patent US20030149688 - Internet search supporting apparatus and method, and internet search ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA character string input in a URL input region of a browser is obtained. An HTTP request is sent, and a return code with respect thereto is confirmed. In the case where the return code is not a predetermined one, a search request is sent to a predetermined search engine. Registered search engines are...http://www.google.ca/patents/US20030149688?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20030149688 - Internet search supporting apparatus and method, and internet search supporting program using the methodAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20030149688 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/200,159Publication date7 Aug 2003Filing date23 Jul 2002Priority date6 Feb 2002Also published asUS6941296Publication number10200159, 200159, US 2003/0149688 A1, US 2003/149688 A1, US 20030149688 A1, US 20030149688A1, US 2003149688 A1, US 2003149688A1, US-A1-20030149688, US-A1-2003149688, US2003/0149688A1, US2003/149688A1, US20030149688 A1, US20030149688A1, US2003149688 A1, US2003149688A1InventorsKazuhiro MaenoOriginal AssigneeFujitsu LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (3), Classifications (11), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInternet search supporting apparatus and method, and internet search supporting program using the method
US 20030149688 A1Abstract
A character string input in a URL input region of a browser is obtained. An HTTP request is sent, and a return code with respect thereto is confirmed. In the case where the return code is not a predetermined one, a search request is sent to a predetermined search engine. Registered search engines are extracted in the order from a high priority, and whether or not the search request has been sent to all the registered search engines is determined. Then, the search request is continued to be sent to the search engines in the order from a high priority until it is determined that the search request has been sent to all the search engines. Images(8) Claims(6)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0025] Hereinafter, an Internet search supporting apparatus and method of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of the Internet search supporting apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the case where the Internet search supporting apparatus of the present invention is incorporated in a browser used for the Internet will be described. [0026] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a general browser screen on a personal computer, 2 denotes a URL name input region, and 3 denotes a web page display region. [0027] Reference numeral 4 denotes the Internet that receives an HTTP request for searching for a URL name input in the browser. In general, a return code representing a “normal return” or an “abnormal return” is returned to the HTTP request. More specifically, in the case where the return code represents a “normal return”, a web page corresponding to the input URL name is displayed on the web page display region 3. [0028] The kind of the return code is not limited to the above examples. The return code may be any possible codes. Furthermore, it is assumed that a user selects a plurality of search engines, and these engines are previously registered with the order of priority. [0029] Reference numeral 11 denotes a URL input character string sending part for extracting a character string input in the URL name input region 2 of the browser and sending it as an HTTP request. As a character string to be input in the URL name input region 2, a search prompt as well as a URL name of a web page which a user desires to display can be directly input. [0030] Thus, even in the case where an information search is conducted, a search prompt representing a search condition uses only the URL name input region 2, and does not hinder a display in the web page display region 3. [0031] Reference numeral 12 denotes a first return code confirming part for confirming a return code with respect to the HTTP request sent from the URL input character string sending part 11. A return code representing a “normal return” in the first return code confirming part 12 means that a web page corresponding to a URL name has been found, and the corresponding web page is displayed in the web page display region 3. [0032] A return code representing an “abnormal return” in the first return code confirming part 12 means that a web page corresponding to a URL name has not been found, and it is determined that a character string input in the URL name input region 2 of the browser is not a URL name, but a search character string corresponding to either of the search engines. [0033] Furthermore, it is considered that, during a search, a user successively selects search engines in the order from a high priority previously specified by the user. More specifically, in a search engine extracting part 13, search engines are extracted in the order from a high priority from a search engine registration database 14 in which a plurality of search engines are previously registered with the order of priority specified by the user, and based on a search script generated in accordance with the character string input in the URL name input region 2 of the browser, the presence of intended information is confirmed by using each search engine. [0034]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a data configuration of the search engine registration database 14 in the Internet search supporting apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, each search engine is registered as a group of record with a search script in the order from a high priority. In a search request sending part 15 (described later), a search request is automatically generated based on such a search script and sent. Needless to say, the data configuration is not particularly limited thereto. [0035] Because of the above configuration, a search can be conducted successively in the order from a high priority specified by the user, and the user is not required to be aware of which search engine is being used. [0036] Then, the search request sending part 15 sends a search request to the search site using each search engine via the Internet 4. The search request includes an address of a search site that is a destination, and a search script and a search character string corresponding to the search site. The search request is generated with reference to the search engine registration database 14. [0037] In the case where only one search engine is used, it is also considered that a search request is directly generated as a logic of a program without referring to the search engine registration database 14. [0038] Furthermore, in the case where a search script is not registered as data in the search engine registration database 14, the following can also be considered. A search script generating part 31 and a search script storing part 32 are separately provided as shown in FIG. 3, whereby a search engine is extracted and a search script corresponding thereto can be generated, or a search script that has already been generated can be read out. More specifically, automatic generation of a search script and transmission of a search request are separated, whereby it is attempted to omit the load of processing of generating a search script, if not required, and to reduce a processing load in each module. [0039] Furthermore, the specification of a search script may be changed due to the alteration of a URL name, upgrade, release-up, or the like on the search engine side. In this case, in order to obtain the changed specification of a search script, a second return code confirming part 41 is provided as shown in FIG. 4 so as to confirm a return code from each search site with respect to a search request containing a search prompt. In the case where a return code represents an “abnormal return”, it is determined that the sent search script does not correspond to the search script whose specification has been changed in the search engine. [0040] In a search script specification obtaining part 42, the changed specification of the search script is obtained from each search site, and stored in the search engine registration database 14 or the search script storing part 32. Because of this, a search request can be sent in accordance with the changed specification of a search script subsequently. [0041] It is also considered that a search prompt open server 51 on the Internet is provided. As shown in FIG.5, the search prompt open server 51 keeps the specification of a search prompt in the latest state with respect to all the accessible search engines in the Internet environment. When the specification of a search prompt is changed with respect to a predetermined search engine, the search prompt open server 51 updates the search engine registration database 14 or the search script storing part 32 in all the Internet search supporting apparatuses that are being used. [0042] The method for updating the specification of a search prompt corresponding to a search engine is not particularly limited to the above method, and any method capable of updating the specification without allowing a user to be aware of it can be used. [0043] Next, a flow of processing for realizing an Internet search supporting apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flow chart showing processing of a program for realizing an Internet search supporting method of the embodiment according to the present invention. [0044] In FIG. 6, a character string input in the URL name input region 2 is extracted (Operation 601), and the extracted character string is sent as an HTTP request (Operation 602). A return code with respect to the HTTP request is confirmed (Operation 603). [0045] In the case where such a return code does not represent a “normal return” (Operation 604: No), it is determined that a search prompt is input in the URL name input region 2, and a search request with the same contents is sent to a search engine with the highest priority to the user (Operation 605). [0046] Then, whether or not the search requests have been sent to all the search engines is confirmed (Operation 606). In the case where there remains a search engine to which the search request has not been sent (Operation 606: No), the search request is sent in the order from a high priority (Operation 607). [0047] Finally, in the case where a return code with respect to the first HTTP request represents a “normal return” (Operation 604: Yes), the corresponding web page is displayed on a browser (Operation 608). Alternatively, in the case where search requests have been sent to all the search engines (Operation 606: Yes), search results of one or a plurality of search pages are displayed on a browser (Operation 608). [0048] As described above, in the present embodiment, an HTTP request is issued unconditionally based on only the character string input in the URL input region in the case where a search is conducted using the Internet, whereby whether or not a search is a web page search or a character string search can be determined in accordance with a return code. Therefore, it is not required to provide character string input regions separately for a web page display and a web page search, and it is not required to switch a search screen. Thus, a search operation can be simplified. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to reduce the load of processing of generating a search script corresponding to a search engine by the user. [0049] Furthermore, a user can search for information with respect to all the previously specified search engines without being aware of a search engine. Thus, it becomes possible to confirm the presence of information necessary to the user without causing search omission. [0050] A program for realizing the Internet search supporting method of the embodiment according to the present invention may be stored not only in a portable recording medium 72 such as a CD-ROM 72-1 and a flexible disk 72-2, but also in another storage apparatus 71 provided at the end of a communication line, or a recording medium 74 such as a hard disk and a RAM of a computer 73, as shown in FIG. 7. During execution, the program is loaded and executed on a main memory. [0051] Furthermore, a search engine registration database or the like generated by the Internet search supporting apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention may be stored not only in a portable recording medium 72 such as a CD-ROM 72-1 and a flexible disk 72-2, but also in another storage apparatus 71 provided at the end of a communication line, or a recording medium 74 such as a hard disk and a RAM of a computer 73, as shown in FIG. 7. For example, the search engine registration database can be read by the computer 73 when the Internet search supporting apparatus of the present invention is utilized. [0052] As described above, according to the Internet search supporting apparatus of the present invention, an HTTP request is issued unconditionally based on only the character string input in the URL input region in the case where a search is conducted using the Internet, whereby whether or not a search is a web page search or a character string search can be determined in accordance with a return code. Therefore, it is not required to provide character string input regions separately for a web page display or a web page search, and it is not required to switch a search screen. Thus, a search operation can be simplified. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to reduce the load of processing of generating a search script corresponding to a search engine by a user. [0053] Furthermore, a user can search for information with respect to all the previously specified search engines without being aware of a search engine. Thus, it becomes possible to confirm the presence of information necessary to the user without causing search omission. [0054] The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS81219979 Feb 200521 Feb 2012Limelight Networks, Inc.Universal search engineWO2012174457A2 *15 Jun 201220 Dec 2012Microsoft CorporationSurfacing applications based on browsing activityWO2012174457A3 *15 Jun 201210 May 2013Microsoft CorporationSurfacing applications based on browsing activity* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification1/1, 707/E17.108, 707/999.003International ClassificationG06F17/30Cooperative ClassificationY10S707/99935, Y10S707/99933, Y10S707/99943, Y10S707/99938, Y10S707/99945, G06F17/30864European ClassificationG06F17/30W1Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescription23 Jul 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: FUJITSU LIMITED, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MAENO, KAZUHIRO;REEL/FRAME:013131/0107Effective date: 2002052827 Jun 2006CCCertificate of correction4 Feb 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 46 Feb 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services