Search tools and techniques

Abstract

The invention provides tools and techniques for assisting searches of large information collections, such as the Internet or databases. An initial search from a given user A is used to help identify related productive searches by other users. Those searches (keywords and/or searched portions) are then used to focus the search effort of user A. Activities by other users in response to search results are tracked to help a search assistant automatically identify the results those other users deemed of greatest interest.

1 . A method of assisting a search, comprising: 
 receiving an initial search of a user A;    from the initial search identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user; and    using the related productive search to focus a search by user A.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises tracking activity by the other user on a computer device of the other user, including tracking more than merely the number of times a link is followed by the other user.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said tracking tracks at least one of: scrolling to view more of a result, returning to a previously displayed result, cut-and-paste copying of data from a result, saving an image of a displayed result.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is semantically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is lexically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a search result of the other user which has a significant number of the same search results as the initial search.  
   
   
       7 . A system for searching, comprising: 
 a computer device for a user A to access a collection of information;    data representing other users' access to the collection; and    a search assistant for automatically receiving an initial search of user A, from the initial search identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user, and using the related productive search to focus a search by user A.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the search assistant comprises software running on hardware and the search assistant is capable of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user by tracking activity by the other user on a computer device of the other user, including tracking more than merely the number of times a link is followed by the other user.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the search assistant comprises software capable of tracking at least one of the following activities by other users: scrolling to view more of a result, returning to a previously displayed result, cut-and-paste copying of data from a result, saving an image of a displayed result.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the search assistant comprises software capable of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user by identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is semantically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the search assistant comprises software capable of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user by identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is lexically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the search assistant comprises software capable of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user by identifying a search result of the other user which has a significant number of the same search results as the initial search.  
   
   
       13 . A focused search produced by a process for assisting a search, wherein the process comprises: 
 receiving an initial search of a user A;    from the initial search identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user; and    using the related productive search to focus a search by user A.    
   
   
       14 . The search of  claim 13 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises tracking activity by the other user on a computer device of the other user, including tracking more than merely the number of times a link is followed by the other user.  
   
   
       15 . The search of  claim 14 , wherein said tracking tracks at least one of: scrolling to view more of a result, returning to a previously displayed result, cut-and-paste copying of data from a result, saving an image of a displayed result.  
   
   
       16 . The search of  claim 13 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is semantically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       17 . The search of  claim 13 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a keyword search which has at least one keyword that is lexically linked to at least one keyword of the initial search.  
   
   
       18 . The search of  claim 13 , wherein the step of identifying at least one related productive search of at least one other user comprises identifying a search result of the other user which has a significant number of the same search results as the initial search.