Search tool providing optional use of human search guides

Abstract

A method and system providing optional use of human search guides to allow a user to select between a human guide assisted search and an automated search. The user is provided with an option of submitting a query requesting assistance of one or more human guides, initiating a search without requesting assistance from human guide(s) using automated results, or a combination of both.

1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving a query;   a processor directing the query to a destination;   obtaining a search result based on the destination; and   wherein the destination comprises a search engine determined by a searcher or the searcher.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the search engine indexing information of searches performed by a plurality of searchers responding to user requests. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the destination based on whether the query is received by the search engine. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 choosing the searcher based on a ranking of the searcher for searches associated with the query. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 choosing the search engine based on frequency of use of the search engine by searchers including the searcher. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 choosing the search engine based on a rating of search results obtained by searchers using the search engine wherein the searchers include the searcher. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 ranking search engines including the search engine; and 
 selecting the search engine based on a selection by a user submitting the query. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 determining a highest ranking keyword of the query; 
 ranking the search engines based on historical information of searches by human searchers registered for a category associated with the keyword. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 ranking searchers including the searcher; and 
 selecting the search engine based on the ranking of the searchers. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 ranking search resources including the search engine; 
 providing a list of the search resources to the searcher; 
 directing the query to the search engine based on a selection by the searcher; and 
 obtaining the search result from the human searcher. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining whether a search result of a previous search by searchers is associated with a query matching the query; 
 directing the query to a search engine based on the determining. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 directing the query and a search result of the search engine to the searcher based on the determining and an instruction provided by a source of the query. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 submitting the query to search engines including the search engine; 
 receiving a response of the search engine for the query; 
 providing a result and the response to a source of the query and the searcher; and 
 obtaining the result as the search result based on a selection of the searcher. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 ranking an origin of the result relative and the search engine based on the selection. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 ranking an origin of the result relative and the search engine based on acceptance of the search result by the source of the query. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the search engine comprises a search resource indexing information of previous searches by searchers responsive to queries received by the searchers and search resources associated with a category determined for the query. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the search resources are associated with the category based on a rank of the searcher for the category. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the rank of the searcher is based on experience of the searcher. 
     
     
         19 . A search apparatus comprising:
 a device originating a query; and   a server directing the query to a destination, and obtaining a search result based on the destination, wherein the destination comprises a search engine determined by a searcher or the searcher.   
     
     
         20 . A persistent computer readable storage medium storing therein a program for causing a computer to execute an operation including responding to a search request, comprising:
 receiving a query;   directing the query to a destination;   obtaining a search result based on the destination; and   wherein the destination comprises a search engine determined by a searcher or the source of the query.