U.S. patent application number 12/823017 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-14 for meta-web.
This patent application is currently assigned to APPLIED MINDS, INC.. Invention is credited to Bran Ferren, W. Daniel HILLIS.
Application Number | 20100262518 12/823017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32600123 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100262518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HILLIS; W. Daniel ; et
al. |
October 14, 2010 |
META-WEB
Abstract
In a preferred embodiment, the invention dynamically generates
content and presentation to a user by modifying conventional
content, e.g. rendering, restructuring, filtering, or supplementing
such content, based on information, e.g. annotations, stored in a
database. The invention, referred to as the Meta-Web, allows a user
at a Web browser, which may be any standard Web browser supported
by a standard computing platform, to posit a query which is routed
to a Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server returns search results to
the Web browser and the user may then explore the results, for
example by clicking on a URL in the search results. The results
returned to the user are produced after the Meta-Web server
forwards the query to a search engine. The search engine then
returns the results to the Meta-Web server. Unique to the invention
is the provision of a registry 14 which also receives search
results and/or other information from the Meta-Web server, and that
accumulates knowledge, meta-knowledge that was created at a time of
entry of such knowledge, and meta-knowledge in the form of one or
more annotations that accumulate over time, where the annotations
include any of, but are not limited to, usefulness of said
knowledge, additional user opinions, certifications of veracity of
said knowledge, commentary by users, and connections between the
knowledge and other units of knowledge. The Meta-Web server either
combines both the search results and information from the registry,
or operates upon the search results in accordance with information
contained in the registry. The search results are augmented or
modified by the registry under control of the Meta-Web server,
which then builds a results page. The results pages is then
forwarded to the user's Web browser.
Inventors: |
HILLIS; W. Daniel; (Toluca
Lake, CA) ; Ferren; Bran; (Beverly Hills,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLENN PATENT GROUP
3475 EDISON WAY, SUITE L
MENLO PARK
CA
94025
US
|
Assignee: |
APPLIED MINDS, INC.
Glendale
CA
|
Family ID: |
32600123 |
Appl. No.: |
12/823017 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10737618 |
Dec 15, 2003 |
7765206 |
|
|
12823017 |
|
|
|
|
10474155 |
Oct 1, 2003 |
7502770 |
|
|
10737618 |
|
|
|
|
60433050 |
Dec 13, 2002 |
|
|
|
60529245 |
Dec 12, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 ;
707/706; 707/E17.108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/10 20130101;
G06F 16/958 20190101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G09B 5/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/27 ; 707/706;
707/E17.108 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06Q 30/00 20060101 G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a search engine
for receiving a search query from a browser with which a user
enters a search query and which displays result pages from said
search engine to said user, the result pages comprising Web pages;
a registry for receiving and storing user annotations and other
metadata; an information server for creating said result pages
dynamically from said search results generated by said search
engine by performing a look-up in said registry to determine
whether there is a user annotation or other metadata associated
with said search results and by ordering said search results
according to their relevance, said relevance dynamically determined
according to said user annotations and other metadata stored in
said registry, said information server subsequently sending said
result pages to said browser for viewing by said user entering said
query; and an annotation tool for providing a mechanism to input
said user annotations and other metadata to be stored in said
registry, said annotation tool dynamically added to any content
that is served to a user by said information server; wherein said
annotation tool comprises one or more local tools in said browser,
which provide functions that allow a user to comment, ask questions
related to the search result, indicate that the search result is
relevant, and to indicate that the search result is not relevant,
all of which is stored in said registry; wherein each annotation
provided by a user and stored in said registry dynamically alters
subsequent searches, thereby providing more relevant search
results; wherein said user selects portions of documents which are
then used by said information server to identify annotations in
said registry and dynamically generate information relating
thereto; and a related items button for a portion of text that is
highlighted by said user that provides related items and
information for said highlighted text.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein content displayed to said user
is dynamically extracted from said registry by said information
server.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information server
constructs a search query page which includes a field into which a
user can enter one or more search terms.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a relevance button
that is displayed to said user to create a display item which
explains the relevance of a term.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for said
user to select an item to frame said item in a page for purposes of
user annotation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein annotations are linked to a
user's search space so that further queries by said user return
said annotations.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more items selected by
said user lead to a product node, wherein said information server
performs an independent search to collect data with regard to a
particular product, and wherein said information server dynamically
creates a Web page for said user that comprises information
collected in real time.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said information comprises:
annotations comprising offers by one or more merchants to sell said
product and, optionally, other information of interest in
connection with said product.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a filter for said
search results based on a user profile, where said user profile
comprises any of user performances and user information, wherein
said user information comprises any of trusted reputation systems,
preferred vendors, and areas of user understanding, interest, or
user competency.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said search results are
sorted in a way that is personalized for said user.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said personalization
comprises an endorsement by a personal friend.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more connections are
formed by said information server based on personal information of
said user and other information, all of which reside in said
registry or within a realm of resources available to said
information server.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a information
object which represents a product node that is dynamically created
by said information to group together all information relating to a
product.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a buy button with
which a user can enter into a personalized purchase transaction to
bring said user to a preferred vendor or list of vendors.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an action that
updates a user's profile in said information server and that takes
said user back to a results screen; wherein said information server
uses said updated user profile to re-write said search results.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a comment button
for allowing said user to add a comment to a document or portion of
a document; wherein said user comment is added to said
registry.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for asking
a question related to a document.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: multiple
instances of action buttons that are presented to said user to help
the user judge the relevancy of a particular portion of a
document.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said registry establishes
connections between said objects therein, said connections
comprising typed lines between said registry objects, said links
optionally comprising relationships between said objects, said
objects optionally comprising representation of any of products,
people, places, categories, groups, organizations, roles,
documents, portions of documents, certifications, ratings, dates,
and times.
20. A information apparatus, comprising: a search engine for
receiving a search query from a browser with which a user enters a
search query and which displays result pages from said search
engine to said user, the result pages comprising Web pages; a
registry for receiving and storing user annotations and other
metadata; a information server for creating said result pages
dynamically from said search results generated by said search
engine by performing a look-up in said registry to determine
whether there is a user annotation or other metadata associated
with said search results, said information server subsequently
sending said result pages to said browser for viewing by said user
entering said query; and an annotation tool for providing a
mechanism to input said user annotations and other metadata to be
stored in said registry, said annotation tool dynamically added to
any content that is served to a user by said information server;
wherein each annotation provided by a user and stored in said
registry dynamically alters subsequent searches, thereby providing
more relevant search results; wherein said user selects portions of
documents which are then used by said information server to
identify annotations in said registry and dynamically generate
information relating thereto; and a related items button for a
portion of text that is highlighted by said user that provides
related items and information for said highlighted text.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/737,618, filed 15 Dec. 2003, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/474,155, filed 10 Apr. 2002 (Attorney Docket No. APPL0007)
entitled "Knowledge Web", and claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/433,050, filed 13 Dec. 2002
(Attorney Docket No. APPL0030PR) entitled "Automated Purchasing
System/Multi-Player Game Hub With Voting Scheme", and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/529,245, filed 12 Dec.
2003, (Attorney Docket No. APPL007CI2PR) entitled "Reputation
System", all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by
this reference thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The invention relates to knowledge. More particularly, the
invention relates to a system for organizing knowledge in such a
way that users can find it, learn from it, and add to it as
needed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] There is widespread agreement that the amount of knowledge
in the world is growing so fast that even experts have trouble
keeping up. Today not even the most highly trained
professionals--in areas as diverse as science, medicine, law, and
engineering--can hope to have more than a general overview of what
is known. They spend a large percentage of their time keeping up on
the latest information, and often specialize in highly narrow
sub-fields because they find it impossible to keep track of broader
developments.
[0006] Education traditionally meant the acquisition of the
knowledge people needed for their working lives. Today, however, a
college education can only provide an overview of knowledge in a
specialized area, and a set of skills for learning new things as
the need arises. Professionals need new tools that allow them to
access new knowledge as they need it.
The World Wide Web
[0007] In spite of this explosion of knowledge, mechanisms for
distributing it have remained pretty much the same for centuries:
personal communication, schools, journals, and books. The World
Wide Web is the one major new element in the landscape. It has
fundamentally changed how knowledge is shared, and has given us a
hint of what is possible. Its most important attribute is that it
is accessible--it has made it possible for people to not only learn
from materials that have now been made available to them, but also
to easily contribute to the knowledge of the world in their turn.
As a result, the Web's chief feature now is people exuberantly
sharing their knowledge.
[0008] The Web also affords a new form of communication. Those who
grew up with hypertext, or have otherwise become accustomed to it,
find the linear arrangement of textbooks and articles confining and
inconvenient. In this respect, the Web is clearly better than
conventional text.
[0009] The Web, however, is lacking in many respects.
[0010] It has no mechanism for the vetting of knowledge. There is a
lot of information on the Web, but very little guidance as to what
is useful or even correct.
[0011] There are no good mechanisms for organizing the knowledge in
a manner that helps users find the right information for them at
any time. Access to the (often inconsistent or incorrect) knowledge
on the Web thus is often through search engines, which are all
fundamentally based on key word or vocabulary techniques. The
documents found by a search engine are likely to be irrelevant,
redundant, and often just plain wrong.
[0012] The Web knows very little about the user (except maybe a
credit card number). It has no model of how the user learns, or
what he does and does not know--or, for that matter, what it does
and does not know.
A Comparison of Knowledge Sources
[0013] There are several aspects to how learners obtain
knowledge--they might look at how authoritative the source is, for
example, or how recent the information is, or they might want the
ability to ask the author a question or to post a comment. Those
with knowledge to share might prefer a simple way to publish that
knowledge, or they might seek out a well-known publisher to
maintain their authority.
[0014] While books and journals offer the authority that comes with
editors and reviewers, as well as the permanence of a durable
product, the Web and newsgroups provide immediacy and currency, as
well as the ability to publish without the bother of an editorial
process. Table "A" is a summary of the affordances of various forms
of publishing.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A Affordances of Various Forms of Publishing
The Web News Groups Text Books Journals Peer-to-Peer Yes Yes No
Limited publishing Supports Yes Limited No Limited linking Ability
to add No Yes No No annotations Vetting and No Limited Yes Yes
certification Supports Limited No Yes Yes payment model Supports
Limited No Yes No guided learning
Corporate and Government Needs
[0015] For institutions, corporations, and governments, failure to
keep track of knowledge has consequences that are quite different
from those for an individual. Often, institutions make a bad
decision due to lack of knowledge on the part of those at the right
place and at the right time, even though someone else within the
institution may actually hold the relevant knowledge.
[0016] Similarly, within a corporation, the process of filtering
and abstracting knowledge as it moves through the hierarchy often
leaves the decision-maker (whether the CEO, the design engineer, or
the corporate lawyer) in a position of deciding without the benefit
of the best information. The institutional problem is made worse by
the problem of higher employee turnover in the more fluid job
market, so that the traditional depository of
knowledge--long-standing employees--is beginning to evaporate, just
as the amount of knowledge that needs to be kept track of is
exploding.
[0017] The consequences of not having the right knowledge at the
right place and time can be very severe: doctors prescribing
treatments that are sub-optimal, engineers designing products
without the benefit of the latest technical ideas, business
executives making incorrect strategic decisions, lawyers making
decisions without knowledge of relevant precedents or laws, and
scientists working diligently to rediscover things that are already
known--all these carry tremendous costs to society.
[0018] The invention addresses the problem of providing a system
that has a very large, e.g. multi-petabyte, database of knowledge
to a very large number of diverse users, which include both human
beings and automated processes. There are many aspects of this
problem that are significant challenges. Managing a very large
database is one of them. Connecting related data objects is
another. Providing a mechanism for creating and retrieving metadata
about a data object is a third.
[0019] In the past, various approaches have been used to solve
different parts of this problem. The World Wide Web, for example,
is an attempt to provide a very large database to a very large
number of users. However, it fails to provide reliability or data
security, and provides only a limited amount of metadata, and only
in some cases. Large relational database systems tackle the problem
of reliability and security very well, but are lacking in the
ability to support diverse data and diverse users, as well as in
metadata support.
[0020] The ideal system should permit the diverse databases that
exist today to continue to function, while supporting the
development of new data. It should permit a large, diverse set of
users to access this data, and to annotate it and otherwise add to
it through various types of metadata. Users should be able to
obtain a view of the data that is complete, comprehensive, valid,
and enhanced based on the metadata.
[0021] The system should support data integrity, redundancy,
availability, scalability, ease of use, personalization, feedback,
controlled access, and multiple data formats. The system must
accommodate diverse data and diverse metadata, in addition to
diverse user types. The access control system must be sufficiently
flexible to give different users access to different portions of
the database, with distributed management of the access control.
Flexible administration must allow portions of the database to be
maintained independently, and must allow for new features to be
added to the system as it grows.
[0022] It would be advantageous to provide a system to organize
knowledge in such a way that users can find it, learn from it, and
add to it as needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the invention dynamically
generates content and presentations for a user by modifying
conventional content, e.g. rendering, restructuring, filtering, or
supplementing such content, based on information, e.g. annotations,
stored in a database. The invention, referred to as the Meta-Web,
allows a user at a Web browser, which may be any standard Web
browser supported by a standard computing platform, posits a query
that is routed to a Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server routes the
query to a search engine that returns search results to the
Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server then routes the results to a
Meta-Web registry that, based on the search results and the content
of the registry returns annotations and other meta-data to the
Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server uses the annotations and/or
other meta-data to generate and route annotated pages to the
browser and the user may then explore the results within the
annotated pages, for example by clicking on a URL within the
annotated pages.
[0024] Unique to the invention is the provision of the registry
that receives the search results and provides annotations and/or
other information to the Meta-Web server. The registry may also
accumulate knowledge, meta-knowledge that was created at a time of
entry of such knowledge, and meta-knowledge in the form of one or
more annotations that accumulate over time, where the annotations
include any of, but are not limited to, usefulness of said
knowledge, additional user opinions, certifications of veracity of
said knowledge, reputation (which may be based on a formal
reputation system), commentary by users, and connections between
the knowledge and other units of knowledge.
[0025] To create the annotated pages, the Meta-Web server either
combines both the search results and information from the registry,
or operates upon the search results in accordance with information
contained in the registry. The search results are thus augmented or
modified by the registry information under control of the Meta-Web
server, which then builds the annotated pages. The annotated pages
are then forwarded to the user's Web browser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram showing the architecture
of the Meta-Web facility according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a display showing a subject field which includes a
portion into which the user may enter a search query according to
the invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a display showing the results provided to the user
in response to the query of FIG. 2 according to the invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a display showing a pop-up window which provides
information regarding the relevancy to the user of the search
results of FIG. 3 according to the invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a display showing a pop-up window which shows
relevancy of the search results by indicating that the search
results include something of personal interest to the user
according to the invention;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a display in which the user has selected one of
the search results from the list of results of FIG. 3 according to
the invention;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a display showing a pop-up window that provides
answers to Frequently Asked Questions according to the
invention;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a display showing the user has selected the
related items button for the portion of text that is highlighted by
the user according to the invention;
[0034] FIG. 9 is a display showing the user selecting only the
documents in the related items and info window according to the
invention;
[0035] FIG. 10 is a display showing the selected document displayed
with its own annotations according to the invention;
[0036] FIG. 11 is a display showing a pop-up window that provides
information of interest to the user according to the invention;
[0037] FIG. 12 is a display showing a comment window according to
the invention;
[0038] FIG. 13 is a display showing a pop-up window that allows the
user to look at information that has been obtained from diverse
sources about a product according to the invention;
[0039] FIG. 14 is a display that shows that the user has selected a
related items icon according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 15 is a display that shows a Meta-Web object according
to the invention;
[0041] FIG. 16 is a display that shows a "change my window" button
that allows the user to change the appearance of the information
according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 17 is a display that shows a manufacturer's
specification sheet which is displayed when the user selects a
manufacturer specifications sheet button according to the
invention;
[0043] FIG. 18 is a display which shows that the user has selected
the buy button and can enter a personalized purchase transaction to
bring the user to a preferred vendor according to the
invention;
[0044] FIG. 19 is a display which shows an information-seeking
problem where the user is looking to find information about a more
complex product or service according to the invention;
[0045] FIG. 20 is a display which is similar to that shown in FIG.
3, except that in this case the results relate to the user's query
with regard to relevance to the user according to the
invention;
[0046] FIG. 21 is a display which shows the user choosing the first
document in the results set according to the invention;
[0047] FIG. 22 is a display which shows an article selected by the
user from a list of results according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 23 is a display which shows the selected document,
where the user is not interested in the result according to the
invention;
[0049] FIG. 24 is a display which shows the user selects a first
document according to the invention;
[0050] FIG. 25 is a display which shows the selected document
displayed according to the invention;
[0051] FIG. 26 is a display which shows the user has scrolled to
the end of the selected document according to the invention;
[0052] FIG. 27 is a display which shows the user selecting the
comment button according to the invention;
[0053] FIG. 28 is a display which shows a pop-up window that is
spawned to ask the user to select the text that would be associated
with a comment according to the invention;
[0054] FIG. 29 is a display which shows the user selecting text
according to the invention;
[0055] FIG. 30 is a display which shows the user entering a comment
according to the invention;
[0056] FIG. 31 is a display which shows the user submitting a
comment to the Meta-Web server by selecting a submit button
according to the invention;
[0057] FIG. 32 is a display which shows the comment icon
highlighted to show that there is a comment of personal interest to
the user according to the invention;
[0058] FIG. 33 is a display which shows the user is about ask to a
question related to the document according to the invention;
[0059] FIG. 34 is a display which shows the user is informed that
the question with be forwarded to the author according to the
invention;
[0060] FIG. 35 is a display which shows a user selecting the ask
button, where the Meta-Web server spawns an ask window into which
the user may enter a question according to the invention;
[0061] FIG. 36 is a display which shows the user selecting the buy
button according to the invention;
[0062] FIG. 37 is a display which shows the user selecting another
buy button according to the invention;
[0063] FIG. 38 is a display which shows a list of vendors according
to the invention;
[0064] FIG. 39 is a display which shows that some icons appear
darker while others appear lighter according to the invention;
[0065] FIG. 40 is a display which shows the user selecting the
personal interest icon according to the invention;
[0066] FIG. 41 is a display which shows a list of vendors, with
indication that several of the vendors have associated web sites
according to the invention; and
[0067] FIG. 42 is a display which shows the vendor's Web site
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0068] FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram showing the architecture
of the Meta-Web facility disclosed herein. In operation, a user at
a Web browser 10, which may be any standard Web browser supported
by a standard computing platform, posits a query (1000) that is
routed to a Meta-Web server 16. The Meta-Web server routes the
query (1006) to a search engine that returns search results (1008)
to the Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web server then routes the results
(1010) to a Meta-Web registry (14) that, based on the search
results and the content of the registry returns annotations and/or
other meta-data (1012) to the Meta-Web server. The Meta-Web uses
the annotations and/or other meta-data to generate and route
annotated pages (1014) to the browser, and the user may then
explore the results within the annotated pages, for example by
clicking on a URL within the annotated pages (1004).
[0069] Unique to the invention is the provision of the registry 14
that receives the search results (1010) and provides annotations
(1012) and/or other information to the Meta-Web server. The
registry may also accumulate knowledge, meta-knowledge that was
created at a time of entry of such knowledge, and meta-knowledge in
the form of one or more annotations that accumulate over time,
where the annotations include any of, but are not limited to,
usefulness of said knowledge, additional user opinions,
certifications of veracity of said knowledge, reputation (which may
be based on a formal reputation system), commentary by users, and
connections between the knowledge and other units of knowledge.
Such connections comprise typed links between registry objects,
where such links may comprise, for example, relationships, such as
a person's role in an organization or a place where a person lives,
and such objects may comprise, for example, representations of
products, people, places, categories, events, organizations, roles,
documents, portions of documents, certifications, ratings, dates,
and times.
[0070] To create the annotated pages, the Meta-Web server either
combines both the search results and information from the registry,
or operates upon the search results in accordance with information
contained in the registry. The search results are thus augmented or
modified by the registry information under control of the Meta-Web
server, which then builds the annotated pages. The annotated pages
are then forwarded to the user's Web browser.
[0071] Accordingly, the presently preferred embodiment of the
invention comprises four elements, i.e. a standard Web browser and
a standard search engine, which are well known to those skilled in
the art, and the registry and Meta-Web server. The registry
associates metadata with objects, while the Meta-Web server creates
Web pages dynamically, which are then sent to the user's Web
browser for viewing by the user. While a Web browser is described
herein in connection with the presently preferred embodiment, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that other access facilities may
be used to practice the invention. As well, the search engine may
comprise any type of data access facility. Key to the invention is
the provision of the Meta-Web server and registry. Further, while
the Meta-Web server and registry are discussed herein as separate
elements, their functionality may be combined into a single
element. Likewise, their functionality may be dispersed broadly
across several elements. For example, a knowledge base comprising
knowledge, meta-knowledge that was created at a time of entry of
said knowledge, and meta-knowledge in the form of one or more
annotations that accumulate over time, the annotations including
any of, but not limited to, usefulness of said knowledge,
additional user opinions, certifications of veracity of said
knowledge, commentary by users, and connections between said
knowledge and other units of knowledge may comprise an element of
the invention, see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/474,155,
filed 10 Apr. 2002.
[0072] The Meta-Web server as presently embodied creates two types
of Web pages, both of which are described in the discussion below
and in the Figures accompanying that discussion. One of the Web
pages is a Web page that consists of search results with
annotations. The other type of Web page is a Web page that consists
of a content page with an annotation tool, such as an annotation
bar at the side of the results page. In the preferred embodiment,
the annotation bar is incorporated into a standard Web browser, but
in other embodiments it may be part of a separate Meta-Web
application which runs on the user's computer, or it may be an
element that is spawned by operation of the user's Web browser,
such as a Java applet or JavaScript.
[0073] Content displayed to the user is dynamically extracted from
the registry by the Meta-Web server. Known techniques for
displaying this information include framing, HTML, cascading style
sheets, and the like. As discussed in detail below, the
architecture herein disclosed provides annotations, search results,
and other information in a standard Web browser, as well as a suite
of tools for interacting therewith.
[0074] The Meta-Web server constructs a search query page which
includes a field into which a user can enter one or more search
terms. Standard searching techniques, such as Boolean operations,
are supported. The query page is delivered to the user's Web
browser as a search form. The search form may resemble well known
search forms, such as those provided by Google.RTM. or it may be
presented in any other appropriate format.
[0075] When the user enters a query into the search form, the query
is forwarded to the search engine by the Meta-Web server. In the
preferred embodiment, a user query is processed by the Meta-Web
server. Thus, a Web page is constructed by the Meta-Web Server in
response to the query when a query is directed to the Meta-Web
server from the user via the user's Web browser. Rather than
providing results from the search engine directly to the user, the
Meta-Web server examines the search results and then performs a
look-up in the registry to determine if there are annotations or
other information associated with the search results that might be
used, for example, to order the results in terms of relevance or
other orderings. Likewise, the Meta-Web server may consult the
registry prior to positing the query to the search engine. The
Meta-Web server may then modify the query or search space and,
thereafter, submit the query to the search engine.
[0076] Any annotations or other metadata found in the registry may
be added to the search results. The Meta-Web server then
dynamically constructs a presentation for the user which is
returned to the user. The form of the presentation may be
controlled by a preference set by the user in the user's Web
browser, based upon a user profile stored in the registry, or any
combination thereof.
[0077] Metadata may be used by the Meta-Web server to check a query
term in the registry and determine if there is a prepared way of
presenting the data in connection with the term. For example, if
there is a common term, it may be determined that the registry has
a standard presentation or query results for that term, and that
that presentation is preferred over other presentations. Thus, as
an alternative to dynamic assembly of the Web page, the registry
may provide the Meta-Web server with a preformed response for the
query.
[0078] One embodiment of the invention provides a relevance button
that may be displayed to the user to create a display item which
explains the relevance of a term.
[0079] In another embodiment, the user may select an item and
instead of returning the Web page to the user, that aspect of the
search would be framed in the Web page with an annotation bar as
discussed above. Thus, the Meta-Web server adds the annotation bar
to the Web page to provide the user with the ability not only to
comment on relevance or usability of the search result, but to add
annotations as desired. Such annotations are then stored in the
registry for further use. The annotations are thereafter linked to
that user's search space so that further queries by the user bring
up the annotations. Further, the annotations may be linked for all
uses of that term so that queries by other individuals also produce
the annotations entered by the user through the annotation bar. In
this way, a community of annotations is assembled which is
associated with a particular query term or search result. These
aspects of the invention are discussed in greater detail below.
[0080] Thus, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention
provides selected content within a frame and provides additional
frames for annotations, as well as a tool bar for entering and
editing annotations. The Meta-Web server dynamically creates the
frame for this page and collects the content and annotations to
create the complete page. In another embodiment, HTML or XML may be
used to accomplish a similar purpose. Additionally, the Meta-Web
server may incorporate active components, such as JavaScript or
Java applets to provide additional functionality to the user during
the annotation process, and may also employ cascading style
sheets.
[0081] If the content selected by a user relates to a product, i.e.
the URL selected by the user leads to a product node, then the
Meta-Web server can perform an independent search to collect data
with regard to that particular product and dynamically create a Web
page for the user that includes information collected in real time.
Alternatively, the additional information may be associated with
the product in the registry and the Meta-Web server associates the
registry information with the product.
[0082] Various schemes are envisioned by which the registry, under
direction of the Meta-Web server, may be independently updated to
refresh or enhance this information. For example, a particular
product may be the subject of additional independent searching
under control of the Meta-Web server when a certain number of
requests are made for a particular product, or when a particular
interval has elapsed since the last query concerning the product.
Further, independent events, such as discontinuation of a product,
may trigger Meta-Web server activities.
[0083] The Meta-Web server may identify products within a Web page
provided to a user as a result of a user's request for content.
Thus, the Meta-Web server identifies product terms or other terms
in a page of content, for example by highlighting or underlining,
indicating that additional information is available to the user for
those products or terms. For example, the user may be performing a
search for a particular class of products and within the content a
particular product is mentioned. If that product is highlighted,
then the user is made aware that the Meta-Web server has identified
related information in the registry. The user may then select that
highlighted term and the information in the registry is then
provided to the user.
[0084] For example, if the name of a product is identified, a
product node may be selected and annotations associated with it may
be provided to the user. Further, the Meta-Web server may provide a
filter for those annotations to determine which annotations are of
interest to the user, depending on the user profile or user
preferences. These annotations can include offers by various
merchants to sell the product and other information that may be of
interest in connection with the product.
[0085] In the event of a filter being applied, the filter may be
based on a user profile that may be stored in one of several
places. For example, a Web site visited by the user could store a
cookie related to the user. In this case, the user could
automatically be logged in to the Meta-Web server or at a site
being visited, all as a result of a cookie. The Meta-Web server
could also keep a profile of the user in a separate database or it
could use the registry database. The profile itself may comprise,
for example, trusted reputation systems (see, for example, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application entitled "Reputation System,"
Attorney Docket No. APPL007CI2PR, filed Dec. 12, 2003, U.S. Serial
No. not yet assigned), preferred vendors and areas of specific user
competence, interest, or understanding.
[0086] In FIG. 2, a subject field 20 is provided which includes a
portion into which the user may enter a search query. When the user
has finished composing the query, the user may select the find
button 22, and the query is then passed to the Meta-Web server
where it is executed.
[0087] The invention, also includes an annotation bar 21, as
discussed above, which is dynamically added to any content, such as
search results, that is served to the user by the Meta-Web server.
The annotation bar may include user-actuated buttons which provide
such functions as allowing the user to comment 24, ask questions
26, indicate that the information is relevant 27, or indicate that
the information is not relevant 28. Such buttons may be, for
example, special local tools embedded in a browser or part of a
separate local tool application, or, they may be incorporated into
a modified results page.
[0088] The invention is envisioned as having many applications. One
application of the invention concerns a product purchase, where the
user is looking to buy a product on-line after getting information
about it. In this example, the user types in a search expression in
the subject field 20. In the example of FIG. 2, the user is looking
for information on a flat screen TV.
[0089] FIG. 3 is a screen shot showing the results provided to the
user in response to the query for a flat screen W. The results are
sorted in a way that is personalized for the user. Thus, various
icons may be provided near the results. As shown in FIG. 3, the
entry "Television Shopping Review/Video/TV & HDTV" is
accompanied by an icon 31 that appears in FIG. 3 to be darker,
while the entry "Net-TV vs. Sony Panasonic digital flat screen TV's
pure plasma" is accompanied by an icon 32 that appears to be
lighter. The significance of the various icons is discussed below.
If the user selects the darker icon 31, then a pop-up window 40
provides information regarding the relevancy to the user of the
search result, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 5, if the lighter icon is selected, then a
pop-up window 50 also shows relevancy of the search result, but the
lighter color indicates that the search results include something
of personal interest to the user, such as an endorsement by a
personal friend. This can be seen in the pop-up window 50 where it
is indicated that the document was recommended because "Stewart
Brand likes it." In this example, Stewart Brand is a friend of the
user. The assembly of the information into this format is performed
by the Meta-Web server based upon the combining of information
contained in the registry and the search results, as described
above.
[0091] While the examples herein show icons which indicate
relevancy by having lighter or darker intensity, the context of
indication provided by the icons and the constituency of the icons
is a matter of choice for those skilled in the art. Thus, the icons
may flash, may be of different colors, may of different shapes, and
the like. Further, a user may be alerted by device other than
icons, such as audible beeps, and the like.
[0092] FIG. 6 is a screen shot in which the user has selected one
of the search results 60 from the list of results 30, see FIG. 3.
Various gray icons 61 are shown at the right hand side of the
display. The upper icons refer to the entire document and include
relevancy 62, information 63, and buy 64. The bottom icons relate
to a portion of the document, for example a user highlighted
portion of the document, and include the availability of FAQs 65,
additional information 66, and an option to buy 67 the product.
[0093] In FIG. 7, the user has selected the FAQs button 65 and a
pop-up window 70 provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
The FAQs associated with the document concern that part of the
document which is highlighted by the user 71. Thus, the invention
contemplates that the user can select portions of documents, which
are then used by the Meta-Web server to identify annotations in the
registry and dynamically generate FAQs relating thereto.
Highlighting may also be accomplished automatically by the Meta-Web
server, for example, in response to a user query, where the query
terms are used to highlight relevant portion of a document.
[0094] In FIG. 8, the user has selected the related items button 66
for the portion of text 80 that is highlighted by the user. As a
result, a pop-up window 81 provides related items and information
for the highlighted text. As above, this information is assembled
dynamically by the Meta-Web server in connection with the
registry.
[0095] In FIG. 9, the user selects only the documents 91 in the
related items and info window 81.
[0096] In FIG. 10, selected document 100 is displayed with its own
annotations. Each document has a unique set of annotations. In the
example of FIG. 10, the relevancy icon 62 is illuminated to
indicate that there is a comment of personal value or interest to
the user.
[0097] In FIG. 11, the user has selected the relevancy icon 62 and
a pop-up window 110 provides the information of interest to the
user. In this case, a window "about this document" is spawned that
provides various data gathered from diverse sources that are
relevant to the user.
[0098] In FIG. 12, the user has highlighted the product "Panasonic
PT-45LC12," as shown by the box 157 which surrounds the product
name. The user has also selected a comment icon 120 which spawns a
comment window 121 for the selected product. In this case, a
message from a personal friend is displayed. The comment is
associated with a product name. Note that the friend in this case
has annotated the product but not the particular document that the
user is currently viewing. Here, the Meta-Web server has linked
Stewart Brand's comment about the product to the product itself,
and it has linked the product to the document, as well as to
Stewart Brand and to the current user, to display the annotation
shown. Thus, various connections have been formed by the Meta-Web
server based on the personal information of the user and other
information, all of which reside in the registry or within the
realm of resources available to the Meta-Web server.
[0099] In FIG. 13, the user has selected an information icon 130
which spawns a pop-up window 131 that allows the user to look at
information about the product that has been obtained from diverse
sources.
[0100] In FIG. 14, the user has selected a related items icon 66.
The Meta-Web server then spawns a related items window 140 in which
the user finds a product node for the user highlighted product, as
discussed above. The product node is an abstract Meta-Web object
that is constructed by the Meta-Web out of all the information
relating to the product. In this case, the node is a ranked list of
information.
[0101] As shown in FIG. 15, the user selects the item <Product
Node: Panasonic PT-45LC12> 156 from the related items
window.
[0102] FIG. 16 is a display that shows a Meta-Web object 150 which
is a representation of a product node that is dynamically created
by the Meta-Web to group together all the information relating to a
product. In the example of FIG. 15, the user interface had been
tailored for a particular user through user profile and preference
information. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of
standard and personal formats may be provided for the display. In
the example of FIG. 16, a "change my window" button 151 is provided
to allow the user to change the appearance of the information. By
selecting the "change my window" button the user's "my window"
presentation 152 may be changed.
[0103] If the user selects the manufacturer specifications sheet
button 153, the manufacturer's specification sheet 162 is displayed
(see FIG. 17). The annotations discussed above are associated with
the manufacturers specifications sheet as well.
[0104] In FIG. 18, the user has selected the buy button 64 and can
enter into a personalized purchase transaction to bring the user to
a preferred vendor or list of vendors. In various embodiments in
the invention, the user's wallet or other personal information may
be linked to the Meta-Web server such that the user's purchase
transaction may proceed in an automated fashion.
[0105] A further example of the invention is concerned with an
information-seeking problem where the user is looking to find
information about a more complex product or service. In this
example (see FIG. 19) the user is interested in LASIK eye surgery
and enters that term into the search field 20.
[0106] As shown in FIG. 20, a screen similar to that shown in FIG.
3, described above, is assembled by the Meta-Web server and
returned to the user, except in this case the results 190 relate to
the user's query with regard to LASIK and the results have been
ordered with regard to relevance to the user.
[0107] As shown in FIG. 21, the user chooses the first document 200
in the results set. The selected document 210, see FIG. 22, turns
out to be a technical paper on eye surgery, but the user is not
interested in this result. Rather than go back to the results
screen, the user selects the "Don't like it" button 28, see FIG.
23. This action updates the user's profile via the Meta-Web server
and takes the user back to the results screen, see FIG. 24. The
Meta-Web server has used the updated user profile in this case to
re-write the result list 198. Accordingly, the user now sees a
different results screen with documents that are more likely to be
useful. The user selects the first document 230 (FIG. 25). The
selected document 240 (see FIG. 26) is displayed. Note that there
are annotations available for the document as indicated by the
icons at the right side of the document.
[0108] As shown on FIG. 27, the user has scrolled to the end 250 of
the selected document 240. The user selects the comment button 24
(FIG. 28). This allows the user to add a comment to the document. A
pop-up window (FIG. 29) is spawned to ask the user to select the
text which comprises an excerpt of the document that is to be
associated with his comment. As shown in FIG. 30, the user selects
the text document indicated by drawing a box 280 around the text.
The user then enters his comment 290 (FIG. 31). Next, the user
submits his comment to the Meta-Web server by selecting a submit
button 300 (FIG. 32) and the registry is updated to include the
user comments. The comment icon 120 is now highlighted to show that
a comment of personal interest has been entered by the user (FIG.
33).
[0109] In FIG. 34, the user is about to ask a question related to
the document. In this case, the user selects the ask button 26. The
user is informed that the question with be forwarded to the author
331 (FIG. 35). Other documents may have different mechanisms for
dealing with questions, in addition to forwarding the question to
the author.
[0110] By selecting the ask button 26, the Meta-Web server spawns
an ask window 330 into which the user may enter his question (FIG.
36). The user asks his question 340 and submits it to the Meta-Web
server by selecting the ask button 341.
[0111] As shown in FIG. 37, the user selects the buy button 64 and
the Ray-Ban Ad 350 on the left side of the display is highlighted.
The user is not interested in sun glasses, so he makes another
choice.
[0112] As shown in FIG. 38, the user selects another buy button 360
and the word LASIK 361 in the text is highlighted. Because the user
is interested in LASIK, rather than Ray-Ban, the user selects the
buy button associated with LASIK. Thus, multiple instances of buy
buttons and other buttons may be presented to the user on the right
hand side to help the user judge the relevancy of the particular
portion of the document. The user's choice in selecting LASIK is
recorded in the registry by the Meta-Web server and this
information may be used in the future to provide more relevant
information to the user and/or to groups of users.
[0113] As a result of selecting the buy button 360, the user is
presented with a list of vendors 370 (FIG. 39). The list of the
vendors is a results screen that is sorted in a personalized way.
As with other result screens, the relevancy of the results are
displayed by various types of icons. In FIG. 39, some icons appear
darker while others appear lighter.
[0114] As shown in FIG. 40, the user selects the personal interest
icon 380. In this example the Meta-Web server has brought together
a number of pieces of information to make its recommendation. As
shown in the relevancy window 381, the vendor is "Maloney Vision
Institute," Dr. Maloney is associated with the vendor, Dr. Maloney
is rated highly by Dr. Szabo, and Dr. Szabo is rated highly by the
user and his personal physician. Also indicated is that the vendor
is covered under the user's medical insurance provider.
[0115] As shown in FIG. 41, the vendor has an associated Web site
390 and the user selects the Web site. As a result, the vendor's
Web site 400 is displayed to the user, see FIG. 42.
[0116] Although the invention is described herein with reference to
the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set
forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be
limited by the Claims included below.
* * * * *