Patent ID: 7567964

Claim:
A data retrieval system for providing a configurable search engine, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: display a first set of search engine related options to a user having a first level of access, the first set of search engine related options being displayed in a configuration portion of a search engine interface, the first set of search engine related options comprising a plurality of search fields usable for performing searches; allow the user to specify which of the first set of search engine related options will be available to each of a plurality of searchers having a second level of access, the plurality of searchers comprising a first searcher and the search engine related options specified for the first searcher constituting a second set of search engine related options, and to further specify an extent to which each searcher is able to personalize the set of search engine related options specified for the searcher, wherein at least one search field included in the first set of search engine related options is not included in the second set of search engine related options specified for the first searcher; display the second set of search engine related options to the first searcher having the second level of access in a personalization portion of the search engine interface; allow the first searcher to specify at least one personalization setting related to at least one option in the second set of search engine related options available to that searcher in a searcher portion of the search engine interface up to the extent specified by the user; and display the searcher portion of the search engine interface to the first searcher to allow the first searcher to execute a search using the search engine, the searcher portion displaying the second set of search engine related options according to the at least one personalization setting specified by the first searcher.