System and method for crowdsourced template based search

Abstract

A system and method for searching information based on crowd-sourced templates comprising a user input subsystem for entering one or more search terms, a database for storing a plurality of crowd-sourced templates, wherein each template is a representation of a data collection process from a plurality of sources. Subsequent search entries with tags results in display of stored templates in descending order of rank. Templates may be ranked using crowd voting or their social relevancy. Templates may be viewed, edited, and stored on the database by other users through social network sites.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for processing web information, comprising:
 capturing a user input defining at least one search tag and provided by a user using a user input subsystem connected to a computer network;   storing the captured user input in a cloud computing environment database available to a plurality of users other than the user via the computer network;   using the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input as part of search results provided in response to a search query submitted by at least one of the plurality of users;   receiving contributions of data to the user input from the at least one of the plurality of users; and   using the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input and the contributions as part of new search results provided in response to a new search query submitted by a new user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user input is added to a mashup created by at least one user other than the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the contributions are acquired by crowdsourcing allowing user to update the mashup. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating social information on the user with the user input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said social information comprises a member of a group consisting of a picture, a name, an age, friends, habits, and a social group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving contributions comprises a member of a group consisting of ranking, commenting on, and modifying said user input. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user input and said contributions of data are connected by a plurality of logical relations. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user input and said contributions of data are presented in a common webpage. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating at least one query that includes said at least one search tag;   submitting said at least one query to a plurality of search sources defined in at least one of the user input and the contributions of data to retrieve information; and   submitting said retrieved information in at least one another of said plurality of search sources to create results.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one query comprises an SQL query. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising updating a search template by adding a plurality of search tags to a plurality of input fields defining said at least one query. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of search sources are arranged in a plurality of input fields and a plurality of output fields which are connected by a plurality of logical relations. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of search sources are provided as a plurality of web links. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one search tag is at least one search word or search term. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contributions of data comprises a plurality of search resources; further comprising creating a mashup by retrieving information from said plurality of search resources and displaying said information. 
     
     
         16 . A system for facilitating retrieval of information through, a public data network, comprising:
 a user input subsystem for capturing a user input defining at least one search tag and provided by a user using a user input subsystem connected to a computer network;   a cloud computing environment database adapted for storing the captured user input to be available to a plurality of users other than the user via the computer network;   a retrieval subsystem having at least one processor adapted to:   use the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input as part of search results provided in response to a search query submitted by at least one of the plurality of users; and   use the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input and contributions of data to the user input which are received from the at least one of the plurality of users as part of new search results provided in response to a new search query submitted by a new user.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a search subsystem for searching said cloud computing environment database using said at least one search tag. 
     
     
         18 . A computer usable non-transitory storage medium having a computer program embodied thereon for generating a search template, comprising:
 capturing a user input defining at least one search tag and provided by a user using a user input subsystem connected to a computer network;   storing the captured user input in a cloud computing environment database available to a plurality of users other than the user via the computer network;   using the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input as part of search results provided in response to a search query submitted by at least one of the plurality of users;   receiving contributions of data to the user input from the at least one of the plurality of users; and   using the at least one search tag to retrieve the user input and the contributions as part of new search results provided in response to a new search query submitted by a new user.