Patent ID: 7752217

Claim:
A search device, comprising: an input unit configured to input a search formula that is transmitted by a client terminal and includes one or more keywords in a first format; a search information storage unit which stores a plurality of URLs of a plurality of site servers, and keywords for each URL that relate to information provided by a corresponding site server; a conversion program storage unit which stores a record corresponding to one of the site servers to which a site search server and dedicated information storage are attached, the record including a URL of the one of the site servers and a conversion program, the site search server executing a site search for searching the dedicated information storage in response to a request for the site search, and the conversion program being used (a) for converting the first format of the search formula into a second format in conformity to a grammar of the site search executed by the site search server, and (b) for generating a site search identifier including the search formula in the second format and a CGI (common gateway interface) name causing the site search server to execute the site search based on the search formula in the second format; a search unit which searches URLs corresponding to the search formula in the first format from the search information storage unit, to obtain searched URLs; a link generation unit configured to (a) compare each of the searched URLs with the URL included in the record stored in the conversion program storage unit, to obtain one of the searched URLs which is matched with the URL included in the record, (b) obtain the conversion program from the record, (c) convert, using the obtained conversion program, the first format of the search formula into the second format, and (d) generate, using the obtained conversion program, the site search identifier including the CGI name and the search formula in the second format; a search result generation unit configured to generate a first search result as a response to the search formula in the first format, the first search result including a first link designating the one of the searched URLs and enabling the client terminal to click through to the information of the one of the site servers, and a second link designating the site search identifier and enabling the client terminal to request the site search server to execute the site search; and an output unit configured to output the first search result to the client terminal.