Search Tool Using Multiple Different Search Engine Types Across Different Data Sets

A computer-implemented method for efficient searching of multiple data sets, the method implemented on a computing device by a processor configured to execute instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the computing device to perform acts comprising:

• receiving a search input directed to a search space;
• selecting a first search engine configured to conduct a first type of search in the search space across programs and web-related items;
• selecting a second search engine configured to conduct a second type of search in the search space across files and communications;
• using the first search engine to conduct a search of the programs and web-related items and the second search engine to conduct a search of the files and communications;
• and
• causing a display of results of the search conducted by the first search engine and results of the search conducted by the second search engine.

A computing device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implement acts comprising
• receiving a search input;
• selecting a first search engine configured to conduct a linear search in a search space across a first one or more data sets;
• selecting a second search engine configured to conduct an index search in the search space across a second one or more data sets different from the first one or more data sets;
• and
• using the first search engine to conduct a linear search of the first one or more data sets and using the second search engine to conduct an index search of an index which indexes content in the second one or more data sets.

A computer-implemented method implemented on a computing device by a processor configured to execute instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the computing device to perform acts comprising:

• receiving a query string entered letter-by-letter as search input;
• responsive to determining that the query string is less than a threshold number of letters, using a first search engine to search programs, web-related items, or both, for the letter or letters of the query string as each letter of the query string is entered;
• responsive to determining that a number of letters in the query string is equal or greater than the threshold number of letters, repeating the using of the first search engine and also using a second search engine to search files, communications, or both for the query string;
• and
• causing a display of search results on a letter-by-letter basis.