Bidirectional mapping between applications and network content

A method of enabling a local application to be invoked on a mobile computing device in response to a request for a web page, the method comprising:

• receiving a search results page returned to the mobile computing device by a search engine, wherein the search result page includes a hyperlink that points to a webpage that belongs to a website;
• obtaining, from the website comprising the web page, an application mapping document that identifies the webpage as a source of content for the application when the application is executed by the mobile computing device;
• receiving an indication that the hyperlink has been selected by a user of the mobile computing device;
• and
• invoking the application to execute on the mobile computing device instead of presenting the webpage in a browser, wherein the application is invoked based upon the indication that the hyperlink has been selected and the application mapping document.

A mobile computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
• transmitting a query to a server computing system that is in network communication with the mobile computing device, wherein the server computing system executes a search engine;
• receiving a search engine results page (SERP) from the server computing system, wherein the SERP includes hyperlinks to webpages identified by the search engine as being relevant to the query;
• upon receiving the SERP, displaying the SERP by way of a first application executing on the mobile computing device, wherein the SERP is displayed on a display of the mobile computing device;
• receiving a selection of a hyperlink from amongst the hyperlinks, wherein the hyperlink points to a webpage in the webpages, and further wherein the webpage belongs to a website;
• and
• in response to receiving the selection of the hyperlink, invoking a second application that is installed on the mobile computing device, wherein the second application is different from the first application, and further wherein upon being invoked, content from the webpage is displayed on the display of the mobile computing device by way of the second application.