US6636854B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for augmenting web-indexed search engine results with peer-to-peer search results
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2000-12-07
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Granted: 2003-10-21
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Expires: 2020-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for augmenting conventional search engine results with peer-to-peer search results. Rather than relying solely on an index search in a database that has only indexed a minor portion of the entire World Wide Web, a server-based, peer-to-peer search is initiated in conjunction with the index search. The results from both search processes can be combined so that the user receives an augmented search result with more information than a search result from either process by itself. The entities that are involved in the search can also establish financially rewarding relationships. The server operator agrees to share a percentage of its revenue with peer-to-peer nodes as an incentive to join its registered set of root nodes and expand its peer-to-peer connections. The identified sources of information that provided the search hits can be used by the operator of the search engine in a compensation transaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Rabindranath Dutta
- 👤 Steven Michael French
- 👤 Janani Janakiraman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9538; G06F16/951; G06F16/10; G06F16/18; G06F16/182; G06F16/1834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for searching for information within a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; generating a result message with the result information; and returning the result message to the client.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for searching for information within a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; generating a result message with the result information; and returning the result message to the client.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: retrieving, at the client, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: retrieving, at the server, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and forwarding the file to the client.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: identifying a source for result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; determining an operator associated with the source; and compensating the operator for participating in the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising: detecting whether the client requests additional information from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and computing an amount of compensation in response to the client requesting additional information.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for searching for information within a distributed data processing system, the apparatus comprising: first receiving means for receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; performing means for performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; initiating means for initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; second receiving means for receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; merging means for merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; generating means for generating a result message with the result information; and returning means for returning the result message to the client.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for searching for information within a distributed data processing system, the apparatus comprising: first receiving means for receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; performing means for performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; initiating means for initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; second receiving means for receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; merging means for merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; generating means for generating a result message with the result information; and returning means for returning the result message to the client.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: first retrieving means for retrieving, at the client, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: second retrieving means for retrieving, at the server, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and forwarding means for forwarding the file to the client.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: identifying means for identifying a source for result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; determining means for determining an operator associated with the source; and compensating means for compensating the operator for participating in the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: detecting means for detecting whether the client requests additional information from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and computing means for computing an amount of compensation in response to the client requesting additional information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a distributed data processing system for searching for information within the distributed data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; instructions for performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; instructions for initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; instructions for receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; instructions for merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; instructions for generating a result message with the result information; and instructions for returning the result message to the client.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a distributed data processing system for searching for information within the distributed data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for receiving, at a server, a search query message comprising a search query from a client; instructions for performing a server-based index search in accordance with the search query; instructions for initiating a server-based peer-to-peer search in accordance with the search query; instructions for receiving, at the server, a search result message for the server-based peer-to-peer search; instructions for merging result data from the server-based index search and result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search to generate result information; instructions for generating a result message with the result information; and instructions for returning the result message to the client.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising: instructions for retrieving, at the client, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising: instructions for retrieving, at the server, a file associated with result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and instructions for forwarding the file to the client.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising: instructions for identifying a source for result data from the server-based peer-to-peer search; instructions for determining an operator associated with the source; and instructions for compensating the operator for participating in the server-based peer-to-peer search.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising: instructions for detecting whether the client requests additional information from the server-based peer-to-peer search; and instructions for computing an amount of compensation in response to the client requesting additional information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | 2007-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | 2011-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-04-21 | 2015-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |