Method and apparatus for classifying a search by keyword

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for classifying a search by keyword. A web-accessible database containing content searchable by a networked user is provided that associates keywords sponsored by an advertiser with content. A user may search the database by keyword, thereby producing a set of hypertext documents. A subset of the hypertext documents containing sponsored keywords are classified into categories corresponding to the keyword used by the user.

1 . A method for classifying a search by keyword comprising: 
 providing a web-accessible database containing content searchable by a networked user;    associating keywords sponsored by an advertiser with said content;    producing a set of hypertext documents responsive to a keyword search by the user; and    classifying a subset of said set of hypertext documents containing sponsored keywords into categories corresponding to said keyword used by said user.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes information corresponding to said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said information further includes non-textual information associated with said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said non-textual information includes graphics.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes categories associated to said second set of keywords.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said subset of hypertext documents is further associated to an additional set of categories.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for classifying a search by keyword comprising: 
 a networked computer hosting a web-accessible database containing content searchable by a networked user, said computer configured to: 
 associate keywords sponsored by an advertiser with said content;  
 produce a set of hypertext documents responsive to a keyword search by the user; and  
 classify a subset of said set of hypertext documents containing sponsored keywords into categories corresponding to said keyword used by said user.  
   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes information corresponding to said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said information further includes non-textual information associated with said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said non-textual information includes graphics.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes categories associated to said second set of keywords.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said subset of hypertext documents is further associated to an additional set of categories.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for classifying a search by keyword comprising: 
 means for providing a web-accessible database containing content searchable by a networked user;    means for associating keywords sponsored by an advertiser with said content;    means for producing a set of hypertext documents responsive to a keyword search by the user; and    means for classifying a subset of said set of hypertext documents containing sponsored keywords into categories corresponding to said keyword used by said user.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes information corresponding to said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said information further includes non-textual information associated with said sponsored keywords.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said non-textual information includes graphics.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said subset of hypertext documents includes categories associated to said second set of keywords.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said subset of hypertext documents is further associated to an additional set of categories.