Meta-web

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, the invention dynamically generates content and presentation to a user by modifying conventional content, e.g. rendering, restructuring, filtering, or supplementing such content, based on information, e.g. annotations, stored in a database. The invention, referred to as the Meta-Web, allows a user at a Web browser, which may be any standard Web browser supported by a standard computing platform, to posit a query which is routed to a Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server returns search results to the Web browser and the user may then explore the results, for example by clicking on a URL in the search results. The results returned to the user are produced after the Meta-Web server forwards the query to a search engine. The search engine then returns the results to the Meta-Web server. Unique to the invention is the provision of a registry 14 which also receives search results and/or other information from the Meta-Web server, and that accumulates knowledge, meta-knowledge that was created at a time of entry of such knowledge, and meta-knowledge in the form of one or more annotations that accumulate over time, where the annotations include any of, but are not limited to, usefulness of said knowledge, additional user opinions, certifications of veracity of said knowledge, commentary by users, and connections between the knowledge and other units of knowledge. The Meta-Web server either combines both the search results and information from the registry, or operates upon the search results in accordance with information contained in the registry. The search results are augmented or modified by the registry under control of the Meta-Web server, which then builds a results page. The results pages is then forwarded to the user's Web browser.

1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a search engine for receiving a search query from a browser with which a user enters a search query and which displays result pages from said search engine to said user, the result pages comprising Web pages;   a registry for receiving and storing user annotations and other metadata;   an information server for creating said result pages dynamically from said search results generated by said search engine by performing a look-up in said registry to determine whether there is a user annotation or other metadata associated with said search results and by ordering said search results according to their relevance, said relevance dynamically determined according to said user annotations and other metadata stored in said registry, said information server subsequently sending said result pages to said browser for viewing by said user entering said query; and   an annotation tool for providing a mechanism to input said user annotations and other metadata to be stored in said registry, said annotation tool dynamically added to any content that is served to a user by said information server;   wherein said annotation tool comprises one or more local tools in said browser, which provide functions that allow a user to comment, ask questions related to the search result, indicate that the search result is relevant, and to indicate that the search result is not relevant, all of which is stored in said registry;   wherein each annotation provided by a user and stored in said registry dynamically alters subsequent searches, thereby providing more relevant search results;   wherein said user selects portions of documents which are then used by said information server to identify annotations in said registry and dynamically generate information relating thereto; and   a related items button for a portion of text that is highlighted by said user that provides related items and information for said highlighted text.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein content displayed to said user is dynamically extracted from said registry by said information server. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said information server constructs a search query page which includes a field into which a user can enter one or more search terms. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a relevance button that is displayed to said user to create a display item which explains the relevance of a term.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for said user to select an item to frame said item in a page for purposes of user annotation.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein annotations are linked to a user's search space so that further queries by said user return said annotations. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more items selected by said user lead to a product node, wherein said information server performs an independent search to collect data with regard to a particular product, and wherein said information server dynamically creates a Web page for said user that comprises information collected in real time. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said information comprises:
 annotations comprising offers by one or more merchants to sell said product and, optionally, other information of interest in connection with said product.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter for said search results based on a user profile, where said user profile comprises any of user performances and user information, wherein said user information comprises any of trusted reputation systems, preferred vendors, and areas of user understanding, interest, or user competency.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said search results are sorted in a way that is personalized for said user. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said personalization comprises an endorsement by a personal friend. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more connections are formed by said information server based on personal information of said user and other information, all of which reside in said registry or within a realm of resources available to said information server. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a information object which represents a product node that is dynamically created by said information to group together all information relating to a product.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a buy button with which a user can enter into a personalized purchase transaction to bring said user to a preferred vendor or list of vendors.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an action that updates a user's profile in said information server and that takes said user back to a results screen;   wherein said information server uses said updated user profile to re-write said search results.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a comment button for allowing said user to add a comment to a document or portion of a document;   wherein said user comment is added to said registry.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for asking a question related to a document.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 multiple instances of action buttons that are presented to said user to help the user judge the relevancy of a particular portion of a document.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said registry establishes connections between said objects therein, said connections comprising typed lines between said registry objects, said links optionally comprising relationships between said objects, said objects optionally comprising representation of any of products, people, places, categories, groups, organizations, roles, documents, portions of documents, certifications, ratings, dates, and times. 
     
     
         20 . A information apparatus, comprising:
 a search engine for receiving a search query from a browser with which a user enters a search query and which displays result pages from said search engine to said user, the result pages comprising Web pages;   a registry for receiving and storing user annotations and other metadata;   a information server for creating said result pages dynamically from said search results generated by said search engine by performing a look-up in said registry to determine whether there is a user annotation or other metadata associated with said search results, said information server subsequently sending said result pages to said browser for viewing by said user entering said query; and   an annotation tool for providing a mechanism to input said user annotations and other metadata to be stored in said registry, said annotation tool dynamically added to any content that is served to a user by said information server;   wherein each annotation provided by a user and stored in said registry dynamically alters subsequent searches, thereby providing more relevant search results;   wherein said user selects portions of documents which are then used by said information server to identify annotations in said registry and dynamically generate information relating thereto; and   a related items button for a portion of text that is highlighted by said user that provides related items and information for said highlighted text.