Method and system for sharing and accessing resources

Abstract

A method and system for sharing and accessing resources useable to retrieve information is provided. Data of resources used by human providers to retrieve information in response to a query from requesters are maintained in a database for use in relation to subsequent queries. The method and system identifies categories and/or keywords of queries for which the resources were used to retrieve information and indicates the resources to providers and/or requesters as a search resource(s).

1 . A method of sharing a resource across a network, comprising:
 identifying a resource utilized for a search in association with a keyword contained in the search; and   distributing the resource to providers registered to accept searches related to the keyword.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distributed resource is provided to retrieve information responsive to a subsequent search related to the keyword. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resource is associated with a category and/or subcategory of the keyword. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the providers execute the searches on behalf of and in response to a query from requesters. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resource is a search engine or an Internet directory. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resource is a private database made accessible to the providers. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the private database includes information independently compiled by one or more of the providers. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resource is set as a default resource for a subsequent search to request information in relation to the keyword. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the resource is set as the default resource when the providers registered to accept searches related to the keyword are unavailable. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling at least one of the providers to associate a new resource with the keyword upon authorization; and   presenting the new resource to the providers accepting searches related to the keyword.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 ranking the resource against other resources used for searches in association with the keyword; and   distributing each resource to the providers in accordance with the ranking.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the ranking is based on frequency of use of the resource by the providers for searches related to the keyword. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the providers select from the resources to execute the search. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said keyword is an entire content of the search. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 associating a keyword or phrase of a request with a category indicated by a provider registered to accept search requests; and   enabling the provider to select a resource to be associated with the category and making the resource available for conducting a search in response to the request.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising:
 determining whether a keyword associated with a query has a corresponding search resource; and   indicating the search resource to a user.   
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a requester device submitting a query;   a provider device receiving the query for a search; and   a database for storing at least one resource previously used for retrieving information pertaining to content of the query.   
     
     
         18 . A method of accessing resources, comprising
 recording prior usage of resources in association with a keyword or category;   displaying the resources as public resources to providers associated with the keyword or category; and   enabling each of the providers to selectively use the resources.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the said search resource is indicated to a provider. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising:
 displaying recorded resources to each provider associated with the keyword or category, where said displaying including indicating resources shared among the providers and ranked usage data of resource(s) based on percentage of the providers using the resources.