Searching system having a server which automatically generates search data sets for shared searching

Abstract

A system has a primary server storing search data sets (“staks”) and a linked social network server. Interaction with the server is via a client and a Web site. There is a software agent code executing on the client. The software agent component provides full integration with underlying search engines so that users can continue to search in the normal way, using their favourite search engines, while benefiting from management of search staks, automatic stak selection, and result promotion. The system allows users to manage their staks and providing a range of social networking style services to help users make contact with other like-minded searchers. In addition, it allows users to search for relevant staks. The software agent component provides browser-based access to allow users to manage and share their searchers direct from their browser, as well as providing the benefits of search promotions as they search normally. The Web site provides a wide range of additional features to users and allows them to monitor their own activity and stak activities in more detail, and includes a wide range of social networking style features based around the sharing of search information. The engine provides back-end functionality needed to drive a search service including: the management, storage and indexing of stak information; the generation of search promotions; user management; stak search and recommendations.

1 . A searching system comprising a search server comprising interfaces for communication with databases or with underlying search engines, wherein the search server is adapted to:
 receive a search query from a client system under instructions from a user; and   retrieve search results and transmit the results as a response to the client system;   wherein the search server is adapted to store search data sets of relevant results for queries by users who are member of the set,   wherein the search server is adapted to select a search data set of which the user for the query is a member, and to use said search data set in providing the response to the query;   wherein the search server is adapted to download data concerning the selected search data set to the user; and   wherein the search server is adapted to automatically update the search data set according to the results selected by the user.   
   
   
       2 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to automatically generate the search data set according to tagging of results by members of the search data set. 
   
   
       3 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said tagging includes a vote quantifier applied by a member to a result. 
   
   
       4 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search data set includes both Web site and individual Web page results. 
   
   
       5 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to apply an identifier to the search data set in response to a user instruction and to associate members with the search data set in response to user instructions. 
   
   
       6 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a social network server adapted to communicate with the search server and to manage a plurality of search data sets, and the search server is adapted to communicate with the social network server to update and select the search data set. 
   
   
       7 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the search server is a Web server and is adapted to operate a Web site which allows interaction with the social network server for associating members with the search data sets; and wherein the system is adapted to transmit invitations to users identified in the social network server to become members of search data sets. 
   
   
       8 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to manage compound search data sets containing related search data sets. 
   
   
       9 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the server is adapted to download to a client system a software agent having software code and settings allowing access by the client system to the search server, and to
 create a new search data set,   share search data sets with other users, and   allow the client system to share individual search data set items directly with other users or with entire communities of which they are a member, and   provide users with lists of search data sets of which they are currently members.   
   
   
       10 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the software agent allows the client system to:
 resubmit a query to the search server upon selection of a search data set,   retrieve a recommendation relevant to a selected search data set,   automatically identify and select a search data set suitable to a current search by analysis of a current search context,   output recent search activity and search statistics, and   select a search data set suitable to a search as a query is being entered, with dynamic updating of the selection.   
   
   
       11 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the software agent allows the client system to:
 under user instructions, enter a search query including a trigger to identify which search data set they would like to search in the context of, re-rank and annotate the results of the response using historical usage information derived from the search data sets, and   augment the results of the response with additional results taken from a search data set that is identified as being relevant to a current search.   
   
   
       12 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the software agent allows the client system to:
 process historical information associated with results taken from a search data set as part of evidence-based filters to decide upon a result's relevance to a current search, use reputation information derived from historical actions of search data set members to adjust the ranking of results selected by those members when recommending those results in response to new queries,   access a tagging function whereby a result can be tagged with a set of keywords and added to a search data set,   re-use page tags provided by users to augment a response to a query whose terms overlap with tag terms or a result, and   allow users to populate search data sets with data from external sources, for integration with existing set data or to seed new sets.   
   
   
       13 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the software agent allows the client system to:
 export search data set content in a format that may be imported into external data sources or stored for backup purposes, and   
     generate a compound search data set that draws upon the content of other search data sets when identifying suitable historical search information to present the end-user with. 
   
   
       14 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the software agent allows the client system to:
 navigate through the results with results being pre-cached to improve response times, allow the user to tag or share a previewed result, or to open it in a new browser tab, and   configure search settings.   
   
   
       15 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a user's reputation score is calculated based on the extent to which their search actions within a particular search data set assist other users to locate relevant information. 
   
   
       16 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to embed widgets in external Web pages or Web page containers, providing users with access to content. 
   
   
       17 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to control a Web site providing each subscribed user with access to pages that provide:
 access to data feeds concerning recent activity in a user's search data sets,   tools for filtering recent activity data under a category,   a set list, showing search data sets that the user is a member of and giving summary information on each,   a display of a user's search communities,   search data set recommendation, enabling a user to be recommended sets that they might be interested in joining,   searching for results that have previously been selected in a search data set by entering queries, and   browsing a search data set of which the user is a member and public search data sets.   
   
   
       18 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to enable the user to apply settings on each search data set of which they are a member. 
   
   
       19 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said settings include extent of access to data concerning other users of a service for the search data sets, and whether searching actions will result in the search data set content being updated. 
   
   
       20 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the server is adapted to allow an owner of a search data set to set permissions on the search data set at a global, individual, or role-based level, to control whether different searching actions will result in the set content being updated. 
   
   
       21 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises an automatic update component adapted to automatically download any update-codes that are available from an appropriate update server, said update codes providing instructions for parsing additional underlying search engines so that search data sets include results that have been selected as part of other search engine result-lists and so that results from search data sets can be inserted as part of other search engine result lists. 
   
   
       22 . The searching system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search server is adapted to download a software agent to the client system to allow a user to benefit from results that have been selected from different search engines, wherein new search engines can be added in update codes, and whereby the user is benefits from results from different search engines without needing to access separate meta search engines.