Patent ID: 6983273

Claim:
A method for indicating characteristics of a plurality of linked sources of information comprising the steps of: performing an analysis of code content of each linked source of information to determine if portable language scripts are employed, if markup language include commands are employed, if embedded links spawn additional web browser frames, and if embedded links redirect a web browser; establishing characteristic factors for each linked source of information according to said analysis of said information; co-opting a plurality of content ratings services via an electronic communication interface selected from the group electronic data interchange protocol and structured query language protocol; responsive to determination of a discrepancy between one or more ratings services and said established characteristic factors, prompting a user to perform a supplemental analysis; responsive to input to from a user, updating said characteristic factors according to said supplemental analysis; providing a plurality of iconic symbols, each iconic symbol representing a characteristic factor; and responsive to a search engine query, producing a list of said linked sources, said list comprising one or more iconic symbols associated with each reference to said linked sources, said icons indicating one or more functional characteristics of said linked information selected from the group of characteristic factors of session tracking employed, third-party certified, subscription required, login required, password required, encryption employed, spawns additional browser frames, slow to load, deep-linked source, redirects access, and republishes information source.