Search enhancement system and method having rankings, explicitly specified by the user, based upon applicability and validity of search parameters in regard to a subject matter

A system implemented across a network, comprising:

• a screen for explicitly entering a quantized relevance value by a user at a user terminal of at least one general search parameter in regard to at least one subject matter, the screen comprising at least one general parameter value entry window for entering a general search parameter and at least one entry field for entering a quantized relevance value by the user to be associated with an entered general search parameter;
• an application module for obtaining from the user at the user terminal one or more general search parameters, and for receiving at least one quantized relevance value explicitly entered by the user through the at least one entry field of the screen;
• a storage for storing at least one of the set of obtained general search parameters and the received quantized relevance values for refinement of at least one subsequent search initiated by the user;
• means for receiving a search query from the user, the search query comprising one or more query parameters other than at least one of the earlier obtained general search parameters;
• means for determining a subiect matter of the received search query;
• means for selecting one or more of the stored obtained general search parameters based upon the entered quantized relevance values of the stored obtained general search parameters with the determined subiect matter of the received search query, wherein the selection is at least partially based on at least one of the stored quantized relevance values;
• and
• means for providing a refined search, wherein the refinement comprises any of:
• means for using the selected ones of the stored obtained general search parameters at least in part in conjunction with at least one of the received query parameters to perform the search at a search engine,
• means for performing the search at a search engine with at least one of the received query parameters and subsequently refining search results with at least one of the selected ones of the stored obtained general search parameters, and
• means for performing the search at a search engine with at least one of the received query parameters and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results with the selected ones of the stored obtained general search parameters.

A method for performing a search in response to a search query, the method comprising:

• transmitting to a user an interface for explicitly entering at least one quantized relevance value by the user in association with at least one general search parameter in regard to at least one subject matter, the interface comprising at least one general parameter value entry window for entering a general search parameter and at least one entry field for entering a quantized relevance value by the user to be associated with an entered general search parameter;
• receiving from the user and storing a quantized relevance value in association with a subject matter category and a general search parameter;
• categorizing a search query received from the user within the subject matter category;
• in response to categorizing the search query within the subject matter category, creating a set of search parameters based on the search query, the quantized relevance value and the general search parameter;
• and
• performing the search based on the set of created search parameters;
• wherein the step of creating the set of search parameters comprises determining the relevance of the general search parameter within the subiect matter category, based on the quantized relevance value;
• and
• wherein the step of performing the search based on the set of created search parameters comprises any of:
• using the general search parameter in conjunction with the received search query to perform the search if the general search parameter is determined to be relevant;
• performing the search with the received search query and subsequently refining search results with the general search parameter if the general search parameter is determined to be relevant;
• and
• performing the search with the received search query and subsequently providing any of organizing and sorting of the search results with the general search parameter if the general search parameter is determined to be relevant.