Automatically modifying a custom search engine for a web site based on administrator input to search results of a specific search query

#The present invention relates to the field of search engines, and more particularly to a system and method for automatically creating a custom search engine for a website.

#In recent years, web traffic and web sites have proliferated. It is common for most companies and many users to create and maintain personal or professional web sties, including blogs, company web sites (both exposed to the Internet or hosted for internal use), etc. At the same time, search engines are extremely important for allowing users to locate relevant content of websites.

#Many website managers desire the ability to allow customers or visitors to the website to search for content within that website. Currently, visitors may use a general search engine while using a “site” modifier to search a single website (e.g., using search engines such as Google®). However, website managers may wish to provide a search engine within their site rather than forcing users to use an external search engine.

#A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a network system comprising two or more computer systems configured according to one embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for automatically creating a custom search engine for a website;

#While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

#The following is a glossary of terms used in the present application:

#Memory Medium—Any of various types of memory devices or storage devices. The term “memory medium” is intended to include an installation medium, e.g., a CD-ROM, floppy disks 104, or tape device; a computer system memory or random access memory such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM, etc.; a non-volatile memory such as a Flash, magnetic media, e.g., a hard drive, or optical storage; registers, or other similar types of memory elements, etc. The memory medium may comprise other types of memory as well or combinations thereof. In addition, the memory medium may be located in a first computer in which the programs are executed, or may be located in a second different computer which connects to the first computer over a network, such as the Internet. In the latter instance, the second computer may provide program instructions to the first computer for execution. The term “memory medium” may include two or more memory mediums which may reside in different locations, e.g., in different computers that are connected over a network.