Method and apparatus for enhancing online searching

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for processing search results obtained in response to a user query. This may include examining document pointers returned by a search engine to identify a source from which the documents are available and generating at least two visual abstracts of each of the documents. Each of the visual abstracts may be of a different size. The method and system may also include formatting a stream of data such that when the data is displayed, a smaller one of the visual abstracts appears adjacent to a corresponding search result.

1 . A method of processing search results obtained in response to a user query, the method comprising: 
 providing document pointers returned by a search engine to identify a source from which documents are available;    generating at least two visual abstracts for one of said documents, each of said visual abstracts being of a different size; and    formatting a stream of data such that when said data is displayed on a display screen regarding said one of said documents, a smaller one of said visual abstracts appears adjacent to a corresponding search result.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said visual abstract is generated by manipulating said document so as to enhance a visibility of at least a portion of said document while degrading visibility of at least another portion of said document.  
   
   
       3 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a larger one of said visual abstracts on said display screen when requested by said user.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising storing data relating to said larger one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said larger one of said visual abstracts is displayed on said display screen when a cursor is moved over said smaller one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said larger one of said visual abstracts is removed from said display screen when said cursor is moved away from said smaller one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       10 . A method of processing search results obtained in response to a user query, the method comprising: 
 examining document pointers returned by a search engine to identify a source from which documents are available;    obtaining said documents from said source;    generating a visual abstract for each of said documents, each visual abstract being formed by manipulating a corresponding source document so as to enhance visibility of at least a first portion of said source document while degrading visibility of at least a second portion of said source document, and    formatting a stream of data such that when said data is displayed on a display screen, each visual abstract appears adjacent to a corresponding search result.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising creating a larger visual abstract of one of said documents.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising storing data relating to said larger one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying said larger one of said visual abstracts on said display screen on demand.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said larger one of said visual abstracts is displayed on said display screen when a cursor is moved over said smaller one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said larger one of said visual abstracts is removed from said display screen when said cursor is moved away from said smaller one of said visual abstracts.  
   
   
       17 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said portion of said source document to be enhanced corresponds to at least one of a title and a heading of said source document.  
   
   
       20 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method of searching for a document, said method comprising: 
 supplying a search request;    providing abstracts of documents on a screen display that correspond to said search request, said abstracts including a written summary and a first visual abstract of each of said documents;    creating a second visual abstract of one of said documents, wherein said second visual abstract is larger than said first visual abstract; and    displaying said second visual abstract when requested by a user.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said visual abstract is created by manipulating a source document so as to enhance visibility of at least a first portion of said source document.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said first portion corresponds to one of a title and a heading of said document.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said second visual abstract is displayed on said display screen when said user moves a pointing device over a corresponding one of said first visual abstracts.  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising storing data relating to said second visual abstract in a cache database.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising deleting said data relating to said second visual abstract in said cache database after a predetermined amount of time.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , as embodied in a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for processing search results obtained in response to a user query.  
   
   
       30 - 33 . (canceled)