Arranging records in a search result to be provided in response to a data inquiry of a database

Abstract

Systems and methods for arranging records in search results to be provided in response to a data inquiry of a database. After search results including records are received, a determination is made with respect to the order of the records in the search results. This determination may be based on various factors such as the destination of the search results, the preferred status of certain records over other records, a marketing determination with respect to the records, a frequency determination with respect to the number of times that a record or records may have already been provided in response to data inquiries, a weighting factor determination or a combination of one or more of these factors. In response to the determination of the order of the records in the search results, the records then are arranged into ordered records based on the determination. This order may be an alphabetical order, a preferred order based on the preferred status of certain records over other records, a least frequent first order, a highest weighting factor first order, or a combination of these orders. The search results with the records arranged into ordered records are then provided in response to the data inquiry.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for an information retrieval service to charge a client for including information records of the client in one or more search results provided to one or more users of the information retrieval service, the method comprising: 
 charging the client based at least in part on the location within the one or more search results in which the information records of the client are placed.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the amount charged to the client increases the closer to the beginning of the one or more search results the information records of the client are located.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a search result weighting factor is assigned to the information records of the client based on the amount charged to the client.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein at least some of the information records assigned the weighting factor are advertisements.  
   
   
       28 . A method of providing information by a search service provider comprising: 
 accepting an information record and a premium level associated with the information record, from a client; and    determining the frequency with which the information record is provided as part of a plurality of search results generated by the search service provider based upon the premium level that is associated with the information record.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the information record is an advertisement.  
   
   
       30 - 45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . A method for implementing an information retrieval service, the method comprising: 
 compiling a database of information records, wherein at least some of the information records in the database are provided by a plurality of clients;    charging at least some of the plurality of clients;    accepting a search request from a user of the information retrieval service;    searching the database of information records to compile a search result that contains information records responsive to the search request;    determining if any of the information records in the search result comprise preferred records;    rearranging the order of the information records in the search result to place at least one of the preferred records before the other information records in the search result; and    providing the ordered search results to the user.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein one of the preferred records is placed in the first position in the ordered search result.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein charging at least some of the plurality of clients comprises charging at least some advertisers for including their information records in the information database.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the search request from the user is provided over the Internet.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the database of information records comprises a distributed database of information records.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein a search engine performs the search of the database of information records.  
   
   
       52 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . A method for implementing an information retrieval service, the method comprising: 
 compiling a database of information records, wherein at least some of the information records in the database are provided by a plurality of clients;    charging at least some of the plurality of clients;    accepting a search request via a voice input from a user of the information retrieval service;    searching the database of information records to compile a search result that contains information records responsive to the search request;    arranging an order of at least some of the information records in the search result such that records obtained from clients that were charged are located in more favorable positions in the ordered search results; and    providing the ordered search results to the user.