Methods and systems for automated searching

A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for automatically initiating a search of one or more terms from a document that is accessed by a first application at a first computing system and that is performed or controlled at least in part by a second application that is hosted by a second computing system, wherein the method includes:

• automatically selecting one or more search terms from a document that is accessed by a first application at a first computing system;
• subsequent to automatically selecting the one or more search terms, using a second application hosted by a second computing system to determine how a search corresponding to the one or more search terms is to be performed and without first requiring a user to launch the second application or discontinue use of the first application;
• and
• receiving, at the first application, search results that were obtained as a result of a search performed at least in part by the second application on at least one database with the one or more search terms, and wherein the search is automatically performed in response to the first application selecting the one or more search terms and without requiring the user to initiate any display interface of the second application at the first computing system.

A computer implemented method for initiating a search of one or more terms from a document that is accessed by a first application at a first computing system and that is performed at least in part by a second application that is of a different type than the first application, the computer implemented method comprising:

• identifying one or more search terms from a document that is accessed by a first application at a first computing system;
• subsequent to identifying the one or more search terms, automatically passing the one or more search terms to a second application, the second application being of a different type than the first application, and without first requiring a user to launch the second application or discontinue use of the first application;
• and
• receiving, at the first application, search results that were obtained as a result of a search performed at least in part by the second application on at least one database with the one or more search terms, and wherein the search is automatically performed in response to the second application receiving the one or more search terms from the first application and without requiring the user to initiate any display interface of the second application at the first computing system.