Method and system for creating improved search queries
OwnerPaul Jeffrey Krupin, Donald Roy Shortinventors
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Abstract
A method and system for creating improved search queries using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies, word groups, and word types. The invention is called a search builder. The search builder is a server-based program, which houses numerous individual topic oriented search builder modules. Each module is focused on a special topic of interest. Each search builder module leads users through a series of word groups, where a user may select words to be added to a query, which will ultimately be sent to a search engine or searchable database.
Claims19
A method for creating a search string using a computer system, the computer system having a processor, a display, and a browser, the computer system programmed with a server-based program called a search builder, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a search topic;
- defining a plurality of word categories related to the search topic;
- forming a word group for each word category;
- populating each word group with a plurality of preselected words within the word category, each of the plurality of words within each word group selected to vary the scope of a search relative to the remaining words in the word group;
- generating a first search string by selecting a first word from each of a plurality of the word groups to create a search string;
- transmitting the first search string to a search engine;
- receiving a first data set from the search engine;
- creating a second search string by replacing the first word of a first word group of the first search string with second word from the first word group;
- transmitting the second search string to the search engine;
- and,
- receiving a second data set from the search engine.
A computer implemented method of searching the world wide web comprising the steps of:
- selecting a topic to be searched;
- creating a hierarchical search string comprising an ordered series of search words, one search word selected from at least one of a plurality of pre-selected, ordered controlled vocabulary word groups;
- transmitting the ordered search string to a search engine;
- and,
- receiving a first set of search results.
A method of offering search services for searching the world wide web comprising the steps of:
- providing a web site accessible through the world wide web;
- providing access through the web site to a data base of files accessible through the world wide web;
- providing a category of search that can be conducted through the web site;
- for each search category providing a plurality of word groups from which to assemble a hierarchical search string;
- cueing a remote user to construct a hierarchical search string by sequentially displaying a plurality of categorical word groups, the user selecting a first word from at least one of the displayed word groups;
- transmitting the search string to a search engine;
- and,
- receiving and displaying a first search result to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.