Search engine and method for performing a search for objects that correspond to a search request

A method for performing a search for objects that correspond to a search request, carried out on a server having a memory that has stored therein processor code for operating a CPU of the server to cause the server to carry out the steps of the method, the method comprising:

• receiving, via an input module implemented by the processor code operating on the server, a keyword query from a user;
• and
• generating a mapping, via a search module implemented by the processor code operating on the server, of said keyword query to the object identifiers that semantically match one or more keywords contained in said keyword query, generating a search result that contains a listing of matching object identifiers corresponding to said mapping, and outputting said generated search result to the user,
• wherein said search module, prior to outputting the search result, queries a dedicated network layer information server using information identifying the user, retrieves network layer information about the user from the network layer information server responsive to the query, and incorporates the retrieved network layer information about the user within the mapping of said keyword query to identifiers of matching objects, wherein said network layer information including sophisticated information that said search module receives from the network layer information server,
• the search module considering said retrieved network layer information about the user when the search module semantically matches identifiers of objects with the keywords of the keyword query, such that if one or more of the object identifiers in the generated search result are inconsistent with the retrieved network layer information about the user, said one or more inconsistent object identifiers are either of changed or omitted in the search result output to the user.

A search engine for finding objects that correspond to a search request, comprising:

• an ALTO (Application Layer Traffic Optimization) server provided with a memory with processor code stored therein that, upon execution by a processor unit of the server, causes the server to operate as:
• an input module that receives a keyword query from a user of the server;
• and
• a search module configured to generate a mapping of said keyword query to object identifiers that semantically match one or more keywords contained in said keyword query, to generate a search result that contains a listing of matching object identifiers corresponding to said mapping, and to output said generated search result to the user,
• wherein said search module, prior to outputting the search result, queries a dedicated network layer information server using information identifying the user, retrieves network layer information about the user from the network layer information server responsive to the query, and incorporates the retrieved network layer information about the user into the search result output to the user, said network layer information including sophisticated information that said search module receives from the network layer information server,
• the search module using said retrieved network layer information about the user as part of semantically matching identifiers of objects with the keywords of the keyword query, such that if one or more of the object identifiers in the generated search result are inconsistent with the retrieved network layer information about the user, said one or more inconsistent object identifiers are either of changed or omitted in the search result output to the user.