Systems and methods for compound searching

Abstract

An apparatus includes at least one computing device configured to send a search query to at least one network server; receive questions from the at least one network server based on the search query; send responses to the at least one network server based on the questions; and receive a search result from the at least one network server based on the responses. The at least one computing device is further configured to send the search query and/or receive the search result via a cellular telephone network, a wireless fidelity network, and/or a digital subscriber line network. A system includes at least one server configured to receive a search query from a computing device; send questions to the computing device based on the search query; receive information from the computing device based on the questions; and send a search result to the computing device based on the information.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one computing device configured to:
 send a search query to at least one network server; 
 receive two or more questions from the at least one network server based on the search query; 
 send at least two responses to the at least one network server based on the two or more questions; and 
 receive a search result from the at least one network server based on the at least two responses. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to at least one of send the search query or receive the search result via at least one of a cellular telephone network, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, or a digital subscriber line (DSL) network. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to receive the search result from the at least one network server based on a stored profile associated with the at least one computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the search result includes a ranked list of information returned from one or more search engines associated with the at least one network server. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the information is returned from the one or more search engines based on respective search queries submitted via respective search engines of the one or more search engines. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to send the search query via a web page. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further configured to:
 send location information to the at least one network server; and   receive at least one question of the two or more questions from the at least one network server based on the location information.   
     
     
         8 . An system, comprising:
 at least one server of a network configured to:
 receive a search query from a computing device; 
 send questions to the computing device based on the search query; 
 receive information from the computing device based on the questions; and 
 send a search result to the computing device based on the information. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
 generate the search result utilizing at least one search engine coupled to the network.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
 submit one or more search queries via respective search engines of the at least one search engine; and   generate the search result based on the one or more search queries.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
 rank pages returned by the at least one search engine into a ranked list; and   send the ranked list to the computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
 record a history of at least one search query received from the computing device; and   generate the search result based on the history.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
 receive location information from the computing device; and   generate the search result based on the location information.   
     
     
         14 . An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 sending a search query to at least one server of a network;   receiving at least two questions from the at least one server in response to the sending the search query;   sending two or more responses to the at least one server based on the receiving the at least two questions; and   receiving one or more search results from the at least one server in response to the sending the two or more responses.   
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving the at least two questions and the one or more search results from the at least one server via at least one of a cellular telephone network, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, or a digital subscriber line (DSL) network.   
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending the search query to the at least one server via a web page.   
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending information associated with the location of the computing system to the at least one server; and   receiving one or more questions of the at least two questions from the at least one server based on the information.   
     
     
         18 . An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a query from a computing device;   sending questions to the computing device based on the query;   receiving information from the computing device based on the questions; and   sending a search result to the computing device based on the information.   
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 submitting, in response to the receiving the query, search queries via respective search engines; and   generating the search result in response to the submitting the search queries.   
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 ranking pages returned by the respective search engines; and   sending a result of the ranking to the computing device.