Anonymous search system using human searchers
US8280921B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/951
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and a method are disclosed for performing a search with the assistance of a computer. The system may assign a unique identifier to a user, to a query submitted to the system by the user, to a human searcher that may respond to the query, and to a result produced by a human searcher in response to the query. These unique identifiers may be stored in a database, and associated with one another. The system may receive a query from the user during a first communication session, and present the query to the searcher to perform a search responsive to the query. The searcher may produce search results and transmit the results to the system during the first communication session. The system may receive the search results from the searcher during the first communication session, and forward the results to the user. Because the system maintains a database of unique identifiers for each original query associated with the unique identifier of the posing user and responding searcher, the system may establish an anonymous communication channel between the user and the searcher during the initial session when the query is posed and answered, and also during follow-up sessions that may oc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.