# US 7,610,277 B2 · Method and system for launching a browser

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- Number: US 7,610,277 B2
- Document ID: US7610277B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/693,448
- Filed: 2007-03-29
- Published: 2008-10-02
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-29
- Assignees: Yahoo! Inc.
- Inventors: Colin Brady
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610277B2

## CPC

- G06F 16/332: Query formulation
- Y10S 707/99933: Query processing, i.e. searching
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Systems and methods are described for searching a publicly accessible network (e.g., the Internet) with an efficient use of space on a display device (e.g., a monitor, a screen) of a computer. Computers often use graphical interfaces for user interaction, and thus graphical space can be in short supply during some applications. In addition, requiring a user to navigate various graphical interfaces to access a searching utility can increase the effective time of the searching operation. Systems and methods are described for searching a network in an efficient and effective manner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for launching a browser program on a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving a first keyboard message over a publicly accessible network;
interpreting the first keyboard message as a request to perform a search on the network;
visibly displaying an interim graphical user interface on a display of the computing device in response to the request to perform the search, wherein the interim graphical user interface has a text string entry field;
while displaying the interim graphical user interface, receiving a text string via the text string entry field over the network, said text string comprises text and a type of file to be targeted;
in response to receiving the text string, constructing a search string based on the text string; and
in response to receiving the text string, issuing a launch command to activate a browser program, wherein the launch command contains the search string.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the launch command contains a search engine address.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the search engine address contains the search string.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
before issuing the launch command, transmitting the search string over the publicly accessible network to a search engine operated on a remote computer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving search results from the search engine utility; and
after receiving the search results, issuing the launch command.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the launch command includes at least part of the search results.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising:
issuing a navigation command to the browser program, wherein the navigation command includes a search result address, wherein the search result address is contained in the search results.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the search result address is a first rated search result among the search results.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving an execution command via the interim graphical user interface to perform a search with the text string;
wherein the constructing the search string is performed in response to receiving the execution command; and
in response to receiving the execution command, stopping the displaying of the interim graphical user interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the interim graphical user interface includes a plurality of input elements each of which is associated with types of files targeted by the search, the method further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the plurality of input elements; and
constructing the search string to include the type of file associated with the selected input element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a second keyboard message; and
interpreting the second keyboard message as a selection of a targeted type of file to be targeted by the search.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard message is a low-level keyboard message; and
wherein receiving the first keyboard message is performed via intercepting the low-level keyboard message.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting is performed via remapping a registry entry.

### Claim 14

A computer-operated searching system, the system comprising:
a monitoring software routine stored on a computer-readable storage medium that monitors keyboard messages;
an interface software routine stored on the computer-readable storage medium that visibly displays an interim graphical user interface on a display of a computing device, wherein the monitoring software routine activates the interface software routine upon detection of a first keyboard message by the monitoring software routine;
wherein the interface software routine receives a text string relating to a requested search, said text string comprises text and a type of file to be targeted;
a launching software routine that constructs a search string from the text string and launches a browser program using a launch command;
wherein the launch command contains the search string; and
wherein the browser program is different from the monitoring software routine, the interface software routine and the launching software routine.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the launch command contains a search engine address.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the search engine address contains the search string.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the launching software routine transmits the search string to a search engine and receives search results from the search engine; and
wherein the launching software routine further constructs the search string from the search results.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the launching software routine issues a navigation command to the browser program, wherein the navigation command includes a search result address, wherein the search result address is contained in the search results.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the search result address is a first rated search result among the search results.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the interface software routine removes the interim graphical user interface after the launching software routine launches the browser program.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the interim graphical user interface includes a plurality of input elements each of which is associated with types of files targeted by the search;
wherein the interface software routine receives a selection of one of the plurality of input elements; and
wherein the launching software routine constructs the search string to include the type of file associated with the selected input element.

### Claim 22

A method comprising:
receiving a request to perform a search on a local computer;
visibly displaying an interim graphical user interface on a display of a computing device in response to the request to perform the search, wherein the interim graphical user interface has a text string entry field;
while displaying the interim graphical user interface, receiving a text string comprising text and a type of file to be targeted via the text string entry field;
in response to receiving the text string, constructing a search string based on the text string, wherein the search string is adapted for searching the local computer; and
in response to receiving the text string, issuing a launch command to activate a browser program, wherein the launch command contains the search string.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the launch command contains the search string.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the interim graphical user interface includes a plurality of input elements each of which is associated with types of files targeted by the search, the method further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the plurality of input elements; and
constructing the search string to include the type of file associated with the selected input element.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising:
receiving a keyboard message; and
interpreting the keyboard message as a selection of a targeted type of file to be targeted by the search.