Patent ID: 7007008

Claim:
A method for performing a search to identify items and categories of items that relate to a search term, the method comprising: receiving at least one search term; comparing the search term with a list of recommended items to determine whether matches exist; accessing a list of previously received search terms stored in an electronic data store that were used to perform searches; comparing the search term with the list to determine whether matches exist between the search term and the list of previously received search terms; comparing the search term with a hierarchy of category identifiers and terms related to one or more categories to determine whether matches exist; and displaying results based on matches that are determined to exist, wherein: the matches between the search term and the list of previously received search terms are displayed as a list of related search terms that were entered for previously performed searches, and the matches between the search term and the list of recommended items are displayed as a list of recommended web sites that are identifiably designated as recommended web sites.