Method and system for entering search queries

Abstract

Method and apparatus for entering search queries are disclosed. The method includes presenting a web page, wherein the web page includes at least a story and a thumbnail image associated with the story, dragging the thumbnail image to a search box on the web page, releasing the thumbnail image to the search box, and populating the search box with keywords associated with the thumbnail image.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 displaying, on a display of a computing device, a webpage within a browser interface of a browser executing on the computing device, said webpage comprising a set of displayed digital items, said browser interface comprising a content display area that displays the webpage and a search toolbar for executing a network search;   receiving, by the computing device, a first input related to multiple digital items displayed on said webpage;   analyzing, via the computing device, each of said multiple digital items, and based on said analysis, identifying context information for each digital item identified by said first input;   receiving, by the computing device, a second input, said second input corresponding to said multiple digital items and identifying said search toolbar;   auto-populating, via the computing device, said search toolbar with a generated search query upon receiving said second input, said auto-population comprising compiling said context information of each of the multiple digital items, generating said search query based on said compilation and displaying said search query in said search toolbar; and   communicating, via the computing device over a network to a server, instructions generated by the search toolbar to execute the network search for digital content based on said search query.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving modifications to said search query prior to said communication, said modification modifying an order of said contextual information during said compilation and generation of the search query, wherein said communication is based on said modified search query.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first input comprises a sequence of selection of each of the multiple digital items, wherein said auto-population of said search query is based on said sequence such that context information of a first identified digital item appears before context information of a subsequently identified digital item. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving a third input related to a subset of digital items displayed on said webpage;   monitoring said third input and interactions with the webpage that are caused by said third input; and   during said monitoring, performing said analysis on said subset of digital items identified by said third input.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said second input corresponds to an ending of said first input. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said context information comprises network data that is associated with each digital item. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said context information comprises descriptive information related to each digital item. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one digital item of said webpage displayed digital items comprise text associated with a story. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said webpage displayed digital items comprises interactive digital icons associated with specific content at least partially referenced by webpage. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said search toolbar is associated with said webpage. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said input comprises a drag and drop operation. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a computing device, perform a method comprising:
 displaying, on a display of the computing device, a webpage within a browser interface of a browser executing on the computing device, said webpage comprising a set of displayed digital items, said browser interface comprising a content display area that displays the webpage and a search toolbar for executing a network search;   receiving, by the computing device, a first input related to multiple digital items displayed on said webpage;   analyzing, via the computing device, each of said multiple digital items, and based on said analysis, identifying context information for each digital item identified by said first input;   receiving, by the computing device, a second input, said second input corresponding to said multiple digital items and identifying said search toolbar;   auto-populating, via the computing device, said search toolbar with a generated search query upon receiving said second input, said auto-population comprising compiling said context information of each of the multiple digital items, generating said search query based on said compilation and displaying said search query in said search toolbar; and   communicating, via the computing device over a network to a server, instructions generated by the search toolbar to execute the network search for digital content based on said search query.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 receiving modifications to said search query prior to said communication, said modification modifying an order of said contextual information during said compilation and generation of the search query, wherein said communication is based on said modified search query.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein said first input comprises a sequence of selection of each of the multiple digital items, wherein said auto-population of said search query is based on said sequence such that context information of a first identified digital item appears before context information of a subsequently identified digital item. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 receiving a third input related to a subset of digital items displayed on said webpage;   monitoring said third input and interactions with the webpage that are caused by said third input; and   during said monitoring, performing said analysis on said subset of digital items identified by said third input.   
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein said second input corresponds to an ending of said first input. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein at least one digital item of said webpage displayed digital items comprise text associated with a story. 
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein said search toolbar is associated with said webpage. 
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein said input comprises a drag and drop operation. 
     
     
         47 . A computing device comprising:
 a processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising:
 logic executed by the processor for displaying, on a display of the computing device, a webpage within a browser interface of a browser executing on the computing device, said webpage comprising a set of displayed digital items, said browser interface comprising a content display area that displays the webpage and a search toolbar for executing a network search; 
 logic executed by the processor for receiving, by the computing device, a first input related to multiple digital items displayed on said webpage; 
 logic executed by the processor for analyzing, via the computing device, each of said multiple digital items, and based on said analysis, identifying context information for each digital item identified by said first input; 
 logic executed by the processor for receiving, by the computing device, a second input, said second input corresponding to said multiple digital items and identifying said search toolbar; 
 logic executed by the processor for auto-populating, via the computing device, said search toolbar with a generated search query upon receiving said second input, said auto-population comprising compiling said context information of each of the multiple digital items, generating said search query based on said compilation and displaying said search query in said search toolbar; and 
 logic executed by the processor for communicating, via the computing device over a network to a server, instructions generated by the search toolbar to execute the network search for digital content based on said search query.