Method and apparatus for searching distributed networks using a plurality of search devices
US6370527B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99937
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A meta-search engine apparatus and method for searching distributed networks using a plurality of search devices. The meta-search engine apparatus sends search queries to a plurality of search engines and compiles the results obtained from each of these search engines into a single ranked list. The results obtained from each of the search engines includes a listing of the titles of found sources of the search terms, or related search terms, and a summary of the source. The compilation and ranking is based primarily on the occurrence of search terms, or related search terms, in the titles and summaries but may also be based on, for example, relative weights given to each search engine, the number of search engines returning the same source as a result of a search, weighting of sections of the results obtained from the search engines, and the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.