Business application search

Abstract

A method of searching data on a computer system includes accepting a search query, searching multiple applications on the computer system for data related to the search query wherein the data can be in a variety of formats and displaying search results wherein the search results comprise data related to the search query.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying, by a client computer of a user, a user interface of an e-mail client application, the user interface comprising a list of e-mail folders and a search box;   configuring the e-mail client application to connect to a search application hosted by a server computer system, wherein the search application is configured to obtain search results comprising data associated with a plurality of web-based applications and authenticate security rights to the search results;   receiving, by the e-mail client application, user input for selecting to search at least one web-based application of the plurality of web-based applications;   submitting, by the e-mail client application to the search application, a search query entered by the user into the search box; and   displaying, by the email client application in the user interface, search results returned by the search application in response to the search query, the search results comprising data associated with the at least one web-based application, wherein the data associated with the at least one web-based application includes only data to which the user has security rights.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search results are displayed in the user interface within a pane that is adjacent to the list of e-mail folders. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search results are presented in a webpage hosted by the server computer system which is displayed within the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search results comprise a summary of the data from the one or more web-based applications. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein search results that comprise data associated with multiple web-based applications are categorized by web-based application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of web-based applications comprises business applications that are accessible by the user via a web-browser application of the client computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to selection by the user of a search result associated with a respective web-based application, accessing the respective web-based application via a web-browser application of the client computer for allowing the user to access data included in the search result selected by the user.   
     
     
         8 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor for executing computer-executable instructions; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions for:
 displaying a user interface of an e-mail client application, the user interface comprising a list of e-mail folders and a search box; 
 configuring the e-mail client application to connect to a search application hosted by a server computer system, wherein the search application is configured to obtain search results comprising data associated with a plurality of web-based applications and authenticate security rights to the search results; 
 receiving, by the e-mail client application, user input for selecting to search at least one web-based application of the plurality of web-based applications; 
 submitting, by the e-mail client application to the search application, a search query entered by a user of the computer system into the search box; and 
 displaying, by the email client application in the user interface, search results returned by the search application in response to the search query, the search results comprising data associated with the at least one web-based application, wherein the data associated with the at least one web-based application includes only data to which the user has security rights. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the search results are displayed in the user interface within a pane that is adjacent to the list of e-mail folders. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the search results are presented in a webpage hosted by the server computer system which is displayed within the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein search results that comprise data associated with multiple web-based applications are categorized by web-based application. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of web-based applications comprises business applications that are accessible by the user via a web-browser application of the computer system. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions for:
 in response to selection by the user of a search result associated with a respective web-based application, accessing the respective web-based application via a web-browser application of the computer system for allowing the user to access data included in the search result selected by the user.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:
 displaying a user interface of an e-mail client application, the user interface comprising a list of e-mail folders and a search box;   configuring the e-mail client application to connect to a search application hosted by a server computer system, wherein the search application is configured to obtain search results comprising data associated with a plurality of web-based applications and authenticate security rights to the search results;   receiving, by the e-mail client application, user input for selecting to search at least one web-based application of the plurality of web-based applications;   submitting, by the e-mail client application to the search application, a search query entered by a user of the computer system into the search box; and   displaying, by the email client application in the user interface, search results returned by the search application in response to the search query, the search results comprising data associated with the at least one web-based application, wherein the data associated with the at least one web-based application includes only data to which the user has security rights.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the search results are displayed in the user interface within a pane that is adjacent to the list of e-mail folders. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the search results are presented in a webpage hosted by the server computer system which is displayed within the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the search results comprise a summary of the data from the one or more web-based applications. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein search results that comprise data associated with multiple web-based applications are categorized by web-based application. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of web-based applications comprises business applications that are accessible by the user via a web-browser application of the client computer. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , further storing computer-executable instructions for:
 in response to selection by the user of a search result associated with a respective web-based application, accessing the respective web-based application via a web-browser application of the computer system for allowing the user to access data included in the search result selected by the user.