Search controls using sliders and lightboxes

A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:

• injecting code into each web page loaded by an Internet browsing application, resulting in the Internet browsing application:
• presenting a search control to accept Internet search input to be communicated to at least one search engine capable of receiving a search request and outputting search results, the search control visually covering at least a portion of a content display area of the Internet browsing application, the content display area being of a first size and the portion being of a second size smaller than the first size, the content display area to provide a view of content retrieved by the Internet browsing application, the presenting of the search control including at least one of shading, darkening, dimming, blurring, or opaquing the content display area outside of the search control, the presenting of the search control occurring in response to a period of user inactivity;
• receiving input in the search control, the input corresponding to the search request to be communicated to the at least one search engine;
• combining a tracking code with the input received by the search control to form a search request, the tracking code associated with at least one of a user, the Internet browsing application, a session of the Internet browsing application, and an identifier;
• and
• communicating the search request to the at least one search engine.

A system, comprising:

• a processor, a memory device, and a network interface device operatively coupled via a bus;
• instructions stored in the memory device and executable on the processor to:
• inject code into each web page loaded by an Internet browsing application, the injected code causing the Internet browsing application to:
• present a search control to accept Internet search input to be communicated to at least one search engine capable of receiving a search request and outputting search results, the search control visually covering at least a portion of a content display area of the Internet browsing application, the content display area being of a first size and the portion being of a second size smaller than the first size, the content display area to provide a view of content retrieved by the Internet browsing application, the presenting of the search control including at least one of shading, darkening, dimming, blurring, or opaquing the content display area outside of the search control, the presenting of the search control occurring in response to a period of user inactivity;
• receive input in the search control, the input corresponding to the search request to be transmitted to the at least one search engine;
• combine a tracking code with the input received by the search control to form a search request, the tracking code associated with at least one of a user, the Internet browsing application, a session of the Internet browsing application, and an identifier;
• and
• transmit, via a network interface device, the search request to the at least one search engine.