text:
US6041326A - Method and system in a computer network for an intelligent search engine - Google Patents
Method and system in a computer network for an intelligent search engine Download PDF
network site
local network
Hatim Yousef Amro
John Paul Dodson
1997-11-14 Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
1997-11-14 Priority to US08/971,018 priority Critical patent/US6041326A/en
1998-03-02 Assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION reassignment INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AMRO, HATIM YOUSEF, DODSON, JOHN PAUL
G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
G06F16/9535—Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
Y10S707/99931—Database or file accessing
Y10S707/99939—Privileged access
Y10S707/99941—Database schema or data structure
Y10S707/99944—Object-oriented database structure
Y10S707/99945—Object-oriented database structure processing
A method and system in a remote computer network for allowing users to customize on-line search engines for on-line data searches. An on-line search engine is provided at a remote network site, such that the on-line search engine may be displayed at local network sites linked to the computer network. An independent user-defined search plug-in program is then designated for limiting the scope of online data searches to particular data subjects, such that the user-defined search plug-in program is called for processing by the on-line search engine during on-line data searches by the on-line search engine at a local network site utilizing search terms. The independent user-defined search plug-in program is subsequently stored at the local network site. Finally, the independent user-defined search plug-in program is automatically linked with the search terms, such that all searches performed by the on-line search engine at the local network site operate according to parameters determined by the user-defined search plug-in program and the search terms.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to improved information-retrieval methods and systems. In particular, the present invention relates to improved information-retrieval methods and systems utilized in association with graphical user interfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to Internet-based information-retrieval methods and systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to Internet-based search engines.
The development of computerized information resources, such as remote networks, allow users of data-processing systems to link with other servers and networks, and thus retrieve vast amounts of electronic information heretofore unavailable in an electronic medium. Such electronic information is increasingly displacing more conventional means of information transmission, such as newspapers, magazines, and even television.
In communications, a set of computer networks which are possibly dissimilar from one another are joined together by "gateways" that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from the sending network to the protocols used by the receiving network, with packets if necessary. A gateway is a device used to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizing different communication protocols) so that electronic information can be passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronic information, converting such information to a form compatible with the protocols used by the second network for transport and delivery.
One type of remote network commonly utilized in recent years is the Internet. The term "Internet" is an abbreviation for "Internetwork," and refers commonly to the collection of networks and gateways that utilize the TCP/IP suite of protocols, which are well-known in the art of computer networking. TCP/IP is an acronym for "Transport Control Protocol/Interface Program," a software protocol developed by the Department of Defense for communication between computers. The Internet can be described as a system of geographically distributed remote computer networks interconnected by computers executing networking protocols that allow users to interact and share information over the networks. Because of such wide-spread information sharing, remote networks such as the Internet have thus far generally evolved into an "open" system for which developers can design software applications for performing specialized operations or services, essentially without restriction.
Electronic information transferred between data-processing networks is usually presented in hypertext, a metaphor for presenting information in a manner in which text, images, sounds, and actions become linked together in a complex non-sequential web of associations that permit the user to "browse" or "navigate" through related topics, regardless of the presented order of the topics. These links are often established by both the author of a hypertext document and by the user, depending on the intent of the hypertext document. For example, traveling among links to the word "iron" in an article displayed within a graphical user interface in a data-processing system might lead the user to the periodic table of the chemical elements (i.e., linked by the word "iron"), or to a reference to the use of iron in weapons in Europe in the Dark Ages. The term "hypertext" was coined in the 1960s to describe documents, as presented by a computer, that express the nonlinear structure of ideas, as opposed to the linear format of books, film, and speech.
The term "hypermedia," on the other hand, more recently introduced, is nearly synonymous with "hypertext" but focuses on the nontextual components of hypertext, such as animation, recorded sound, and video. Hypermedia is the integration of graphics, sound, video, or any combination thereof into a primarily associative system of information storage and retrieval. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext, especially in an interactive format where choices are controlled by the user, is structured around the idea of offering a working and learning environment that parallels human thinking--that is, an environment that allows the user to make associations between topics rather than move sequentially from one to the next, as in an alphabetic list. Hypermedia, as well as hypertext topics, are thus linked in a manner that allows the user to jump from one subject to other related subjects during a search for information. Hyper-link information is contained within hypermedia and hypertext documents, which allow a user to move back to "original" or referring network sites by the mere "click" (i.e., with a mouse or other pointing device) of the hyper-linked topic.
A typical networked system that utilizes hypertext and hypermedia conventions follows a client/server architecture. The "client" is a member of a class or group that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. Thus, in computing, a client is a process (i.e., roughly a program or task) that requests a service provided by another program. The client process utilizes the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. In a client/server architecture, particularly a networked system, a client is usually a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (i.e., a server).
A request by a user for news can be sent by a client application program to a server. A server is typically a remote computer system accessible over a remote network such as the Internet. The server scans and searches for raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups). Based upon such requests by the user, the server presents filtered electronic information as server responses to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system, communicating with one another over a communications medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.
Client and server communicate with one another utilizing the functionality provided by Hypertext-Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web (WWW) or, simply, the "web," includes those servers adhering to this standard (i.e., HTTP) which are accessible to clients via a computer or data-processing system network address such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL). The network address can be referred to as a Universal Resource Locator address. For example, communication can be provided over a communications medium. In particular, the client and server may be coupled to one another via Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or TCP/IP connections for high-capacity communication. Active within the client is a first process, known as a "browser," which establishes the connection with the server and presents information to the user. The server itself executes corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses. The HTTP responses correspond to "web pages" constructed from a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), or other server-generated data. Each web page can also be referred to simply as a "page."
The client and server typically display browsers and other remote network data for a user via a graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is a type of display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can be activated generally either with a keyboard or a mouse. Internet services are typically accessed by specifying a unique network address (i.e., Universal Resource Locator). The Universal Resource Locator address has two basic components, the protocol to be used and the object pathname. For example, the Universal Resource Locator address, "http://www.uspto.gov" (i.e., home page for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), specifies a hypertext-transfer protocol ("http") and a pathname of the server ("www.uspto.gov"). The server name is associated with a unique numeric value (TCP/IP address).
The evolution of personal computers over the last decade has accelerated the web and Internet toward useful everyday applications. Nearly every computer sold over the last several years has or will, at some point, become "on-line" to an Internet service provider. Somewhere between 20 and 30 million people around the globe use some form of Internet service on a regular basis. The graphical portion of the World Wide Web itself is usually stocked with more than twenty-two million "pages" of content, with over one million new pages added every month.
Free or relatively inexpensive computer software applications such as Internet "search engines" make it simple to track down sites where an individual can obtain information on a topic of interest. A person may type in a subject or key word and generate a list of network sites (i.e., web sites). Thus, with "home pages" published by thousands of companies, universities, government agencies, museums, and municipalities, the Internet can be an invaluable resource. With a little practice, even new users can skim millions of web pages or thousands of newsgroups, not only for topics of general interest, but also to access precise bits of data. The market for Internet access and related applications is explosive and is growing faster than expected, doubling in size approximately every three months.
A problem associated with these type of Internet "search engines" is simply dealing with the vast amount of potential data that may be searched and retrieved. By entering certain keywords into such search engines, unwanted data, in addition to the desired data, may be discovered by the search engine, forcing the user to wade through often useless and unwanted search results in order to get to the desired data. From the foregoing it can be appreciated that a need exists for tailoring search engines to the needs of a particular user. By tailoring a search engine to the desires of a particular user, a user can essentially utilize the search engine to filter unwanted data and thus avoid certain sites or areas altogether.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved information-retrieval method and system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide improved information-retrieval methods and systems utilized in association with graphical user interfaces.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide improved Internet-based information-retrieval methods and systems.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved Internet-based search engine.
The above and other objects are achieved as is now described. A method and system in a remote computer network are disclosed for allowing users to customize on-line search engines for on-line data searches. An on-line search engine is provided at a remote network site, such that the on-line search engine may be displayed at local network sites linked to the computer network. An independent user-defined search algorithm is then designated for limiting the scope of on-line data searches to particular data subjects, such that the user-defined search algorithm is called for processing by the on-line search engine during on-line data searches by the on-line search engine at a local network site utilizing search terms. The independent user-defined search algorithm is subsequently stored at the local network site. Finally, the independent user-defined search algorithm is automatically linked with the search terms, such that all searches performed by the on-line search engine at the local network site operate according to parameters determined by the user-defined search algorithm and the search terms.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a data-processing system which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram illustrative of selected components in a personal computer system which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 4 depicts a detailed block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrative of a computer network which can be implemented in accordance with the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a hypertext document contained within a graphical user interface window which can be utilized to implement the method and system of the present invention;
FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of operations illustrative of a method for allowing users to customize on-line search engines for on-line data searches, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 depicts a structural diagram of a plug-in concept, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the figures and, in particular, with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted a pictorial representation of a data-processing system in which the present invention may be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A personal computer 10 is depicted which includes a system unit 12, a video display terminal 14, an alphanumeric input device (i.e., keyboard 16) having alphanumeric and other keys, and a mouse 18. An additional input device (not shown), such as a trackball or stylus, also can be included with personal computer 10. Computer 10 can be implemented utilizing any suitable computer, such as an IBM Aptiva™ computer, a product of International Business Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. "Aptiva" is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Although the depicted embodiment involves a personal computer, a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in other types of data-processing systems, such as, for example, intelligent workstations or mini-computers. Computer 10 also preferably includes a graphical user interface that resides within a machine-readable media to direct the operation of computer 10. Computer 10 also can be implemented utilizing any suitable computer, such as the IBM RISC/6000 computer, a product of International Business Machines Corporation, located in Armonk, N.Y. "RISC SYSTEM/6000" is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, and also can be referred to as the "RS/6000."
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is depicted a block diagram of selected components in personal computer 10 of FIG. 1 in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Personal computer 10 of FIG. 1 preferably includes a system bus 20, as depicted in FIG. 2. System bus 20 is utilized for interconnecting and establishing communication between various components in personal computer 10. Microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) 22 is connected to system bus 20 and also may have numeric co-processor 24 connected to it. Direct memory access ("DMA") controller 26 also is connected to system bus 20 and allows various devices to appropriate cycles from CPU 22 during large input/output ("I/O") transfers. Read-only memory ("ROM") 28 and random-access memory ("RAM") 30 are also connected to system bus 20. ROM 28 is mapped into the microprocessor 22 address space in the range from 640K to 1 megabyte. CMOS RAM 32 is attached to system bus 20 and contains system-configuration information. Any suitable machine-readable media may retain the graphical user interface of computer 10 of FIG. 1, such as RAM 30, ROM 28, a magnetic diskette, magnetic tape, or optical disk.
Also connected to system bus 20 are memory controller 34, bus controller 36, and interrupt controller 38 which serve to aid in the control of data flow through system bus 20 between various peripherals, adapters, and devices. System unit 12 of FIG. 1 also contains various I/O controllers, such as those depicted in FIG. 2: keyboard and mouse controller 40, video controller 42, parallel controller 44, serial controller 46, and diskette controller 48. Keyboard and mouse controller 40 provide a hardware interface for keyboard 50 and mouse 52. Video controller 42 provides a hardware interface for video display terminal 54. Parallel controller 44 provides a hardware interface for devices, such as printer 56. Serial controller 46 provides a hardware interface for devices, such as a modem 58. Diskette controller 48 provides a hardware interface for floppy-disk unit 60. Other technologies also can be utilized in conjunction with CPU 22, such as touch-screen technology or human voice control.
Main memory 70 is connected to system bus 20, and includes a control program 71. Control program 71 resides within main memory 70 and contains instructions that when executed on CPU 22 carry out the operations depicted in the logic flowchart of FIG. 7 described herein. The computer program product also can be referred to as a program product. Control program 71 can support a number of Internet-access tools including, for example, an HTTP-compliant web "browser." Known browser software applications include: Netscape Navigator® ("Netscape"), Mosaic, and the like. Netscape, in particular, provides the functionality specified under HTTP. "Netscape" is a trademark of Netscape, Inc. Mosaic-brand browser is available from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. The present invention is designed to operate with any of these known or developing web browsers, in order to provide network navigation aids for web pages displayed with three-dimensional graphics.
Control program 71 also can support other remote network services, such as the file-transfer protocol (FTP) service, which facilitates the transfer and sharing of files across remote networks such as the Internet. Control program 71 can further support remote network services, such as remote terminal access (Telnet), which allows users to log onto computers coupled to the network. In addition, control program 71 additionally can support services, such as simple mail-transfer protocol (SMTP) or e-mail, and network news-transfer protocol (NNTP) or "Usenet," well-known in the art of computer networking.
It is important to note that, while the present invention has been (and will continue to be) described in the context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the present invention is capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal-bearing media utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signal-bearing media include: recordable-type media, such as floppy discs, hard-disk drives, audio CDs and CD ROMs, and transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communication links.
FIG. 2 additionally depicts a CD controller 31 for controlling a CD system 33. CD system 33 may run audio CDs or CD-ROMs, both well known in the art of digital electronic media. CD system 33 is a sound or data reproduction system that utilizes light to detect audio and data signals produced by digital recording on a CD. CD system 33 differs from other data or sound reproduction systems in that there is no physical contact between the pick-up and the recording or recorded data, which minimizes wear. An information layer is buried below the surface of the audio CD or CD-ROM, which minimizes errors in sound or data reproduction due to dust or other marks on the surface. CD system 33 can operate both audio CDs and CD-ROMs. The term CD-ROM is an acronym for "compact disc read-only memory." A CD-ROM is a form of CD storage characterized by high capacity (e.g., 600 megabytes) and the use of laser optics rather than magnetic means for reading data.
Expansion cards also may be added to system bus 20, such as disk controller 62, which provides a hardware interface for hard-disk unit 64. Empty slots 66 are provided so that other peripherals, adapters, and devices may be added to system unit 12 of FIG. 1. A network card 67 additionally can be connected to system bus 20 in order to link system unit 12 of FIG. 1 to other data-processing system networks in a client/server architecture or to groups of computers and associated devices which are connected by communications facilities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG. 2 may vary for specific applications. For example, other peripheral devices, such as: optical-disk media, audio adapters, or chip-programming devices, such as PAL or EPROM programming devices and the like also may be utilized in addition to or in place of the hardware already depicted. Note that any or all of the above components and associated hardware may be utilized in various embodiments. However, it can be appreciated that any configuration of the aforementioned system may be used for various purposes according to a particular implementation.
In FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, like parts are indicated by like numbers. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrative of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, user requests 91 for news are sent by a client application program 92 to a server 88. Server 88 can be a remote computer system accessible over a remote network such as the Internet. Server 88 performs scanning and searching of raw (e.g., unprocessed) information sources (e.g., newswire feeds or newsgroups) and, based upon these user requests, presents the filtered electronic information as server responses 93 to the client process. The client process may be active in a first computer system, and the server process may be active in a second computer system and communicate with the first computer system over a communications medium, thus providing distributed functionality and allowing multiple clients to take advantage of the information-gathering capabilities of the server.
FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed block diagram of a client/server architecture which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. Although the client and server are processes which are operative within two computer systems, these processes being generated from a high-level programming language (e.g., PERL), which is interpreted and executed in a computer system at run-time (e.g., a workstation), it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that they may be implemented in a variety of hardware devices, either programmed or dedicated.
Client 92 and server 88 communicate using the functionality provided by HTTP. Active within client 92 is a first process, browser 72, which establishes the connections with server 88, and presents information to the user. Such browsers are often referred to in the art of computer networking as "web browsers." Any number of commercially or publicly available browsers may be utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example, the Mosaic-brand browser available from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in Urbana-Champaign, Ill., can be utilized with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Other browsers, such as Netscape™, Netcruiser, or the Lynx-brand browsers or others which are available and provide the functionality specified under HTTP can be utilized with the present invention.
Server 88 executes the corresponding server software which presents information to the client in the form of HTTP responses 90. The HTTP responses 90 correspond with web "pages," which can be represented by utilizing Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), or other data generated by server 88. For example, under the Mosaic-brand browser, in addition to HTML functionality 94 provided by server 88, a Common Gateway Interlace (CGI) 96 is provided which allows the client program to direct server 88 to commence execution of a specified program contained within server 88. This may include a search engine which scans received information in the server for presentation to the user controlling the client. Using this interface, and HTTP responses 90, the server may notify the client of the results of that execution upon completion. Common Gateway Interlace (CGI) 96 is one form of a "gateway," a device utilized to connect dissimilar networks (i.e., networks utilizing different communication protocols) so that electronic information can be passed from one network to the other. Gateways transfer electronic information, converting such information to a form compatible with the protocols used by the second network for transport and delivery.
In order to control the parameters of the execution of this server-resident process, the client may direct the filling out of certain "forms" from the browser. This is provided by the "fill-in-forms" functionality (i.e., forms 98), which is provided by some browsers, such as the Mosaic brand browser described herein. This functionality allows the user via a client application program to specify terms in which the server causes an application program to function (e.g., terms or keywords contained in the types of stories/articles which are of interest to the user).
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrative of a computer network 80 which can be implemented in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. Computer network 80 is representative of a remote network, specifically the Internet, a known computer network based on the client-server model discussed earlier. Conceptually, the Internet includes a large network of servers 88 which are accessible by clients 92, typically users of personal computers, through some private Internet-access provider 84 (e.g., such as Internet America) or an on-line service provider 86 (e.g., such as America On-Line, Prodigy, Compuserve, and the like). Each of the clients 92 may run a browser, a known software tool utilized to access servers 88 via the access providers 84. Each server 88 operates a web site which supports files in the form of documents and pages. A network path to servers 88 is identified by a Universal Resource Locator having a known syntax for defining a network collection.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example hypertext document 123 contained within a graphical user interface window 104 which can be utilized in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. Window 104 displays a portion of a hypertext document 123 constructed from a mark-up language, such as Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML). The size and position of elevator 120 within scroll bar 116 corresponds to the size and position of the current viewable page in relation to hypertext document 123. Hypertext document 123 can be accessed from a data-processing system contained within a remote network, such as the Internet.
In the example of FIG. 6, in view of the fact that hypertext document 123 includes too many pages to view simultaneously, the user can position a mouse cursor over up-arrow section 106 or down-arrow section 108 of scroll bar 116 and click a pointing device (e.g., a mouse) to scroll hypertext document 123 upward or downward, as appropriate. A vertical scroll bar 118 includes arrow section 112 and arrow section 110 for scrolling hypertext document 123 respectively left or right. Also, an optional arrow section 114 allows a user to scroll the document right. Thus, the graphical user interface that contains window 104 and hypertext document 123 is a type of computer display format that enables a user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options by pointing to pictorial representations (i.e., icons) and lists of menu items on the screen. Choices can generally be activated either with a keyboard or a mouse.
Hypertext document 123 contains specific string text 124 rendered on the screen by the graphical user interface to stand out from the surrounding text. String text 124 is rendered in a different format. In the example of FIG. 6, string text 124 is rendered as IBM. The different font format of string text 124 is an indication that the text is hyper-linked to "jump" to another document. When a user "clicks" on string text 124 with a mouse or other pointing device, the graphical user interface shifts the presently viewed hypertext document 123 to another hyper-linked document.
So-called "search engines" may be displayed within a browser application in a graphical user interface window such as window 104. Depending upon the type of search engine utilized, hypertext links such as the aforementioned hypertext links may or may not be displayed within the search engine. A search engine, on the Internet, is essentially a program that searches for keywords in files and documents found on the World Wide Web or other such computer networks. Such search engines typically can search, in addition to documents found on the World Wide Web, files and documents found within newsgroups, Gopher menus, and FTP archives. Some search engines may be utilized exclusively for a particular Web site, while other search engines may search across many sites, using agents to gather lists of available files and documents and store lists of such files and documents in databases that users can search by keyword. Most search engines reside on a server at a remote network site.
FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of operations 140 illustrative of a method for allowing users to customize on-line search engines for on-line data searches, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that FIG. 7 presents a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulation of physical quantities. Usually, although not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times by those skilled in the art, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.
Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms, such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary or desirable in most cases in any of the operations described herein which form part of the present invention; the operations are machine operations. Useful machines for performing operations of a preferred embodiment of the present invention include data-processing systems such as general purpose digital computers or other similar devices. In all cases the distinction between the method operations in operating a computer and the method of computation itself should be borne in mind. The present invention relates to method steps for operating a computer, such as computer 10 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in processing electrical or other (e.g. mechanical, chemical) physical signals to generate other desired physical signals.
Thus, as depicted at 142, the process according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is initiated. As illustrated at block 144 an on-line search engine is provided at a remote network site (i.e., a server) such that the on-line search engine may be displayed at local network sites (i.e., clients) in a client/server network as described herein. As depicted at block 144, a connection is established to the on-line search engine provided at the remote network site. Although a client/server network may be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other computer networks may also be utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As described at block 146, a plug-in program is designated for limiting the scope of on-line data searches to particular searches or to certain conditions (e.g., time conditions) such that the plug-in program may be called for processing by the on-line search engine during on-line data searches by the on-line search engine. A calling sequence is utilized to manage the link between the plug-in program and the search engine application. When a plug-in program call occurs, the calling sequence acts as an agreement between the calling routine (i.e., the search engine) and the called plug-in program on how arguments will be passed and in what order, how values will be returned, and which routine will handle any necessary housekeeping (e.g., cleaning up the stack). As depicted at block 147, predefined parameters to be processed by the plug-in program are designated. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operation described at block 147 may be utilized in accordance with a Graphical User Interface for allowing the user to specify search criteria and customization parameters. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such a Graphical User Interface can also present a selection/customization mechanism for the plug-in program. While it is possible to completely embody the customization of the search within the plug-in program, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such an implementation would not be very usable, since altering the search criteria would necessitate recompiling the plug-in program. Thus, a Graphical User Interface utilized in association with the plug-in program would be appropriate to handle a customization/selection mechanism.
As illustrated at block 148, the plug-in program is stored at the local network site within a directory of the browser application utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As depicted at block 150, in response to user input (e.g., clicking a hypertext link to the search engine site), the search engine is displayed within a browser window at the local network site. As depicted at block 151, an actual search is then implemented utilizing the search engine. As illustrated at block 152, the plug-in program is then called for utilization by the search engine in performing a data search of the World Wide Web, newsgroups, FTP, and so forth.
As described at block 154, a search is then performed via the search engine in association with the plug-in program and any parameters, user-defined or otherwise, as determined by the plug-in program. Finally, the process ends, as depicted at block 156. The type of plug-in program utilized herein depends upon the desires of a user. The user determines how many predefined traits are to be utilized during a search. For example, a user may be knowledgeable about a certain topic, and may want to avoid certain sites or areas altogether. Depending upon the type of plug-in program designated by the user, the search engine calls this plug-in program to perform the search, avoiding sites or areas in response to instructions processed by the plug-in program.
A user-defined plug-in program thus functions between the actual search engine utilized by the user and the user. Search results from the search engine can be filtered through such user-defined plug-in programs. The filtered search results are then displayed for the user as the actual search results. Traditional search engines require the user to statically specify the search criteria in advance of performing the actual search. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, dynamic search criteria are provided. The search provides an intelligent program that performs dynamic search decisions based on data presented to it during the search.
For example, consider the case where a very specialized university professor is interested in searching for information about a specific breed of plant life. The university professor is aware that this particular breed of plant life exists in very few parts of the world. If the plant life has a common name that results in a large number of hits resulting from a particular search via a search engine, a program that "plugs" into the search engine applies a series of tests and determinations to the resulting data stream of search engine "hits." Such algorithms are referred to in the art as "plug-in" programs or also as "plug-ins." The plug-in program determines if a given "hit" is linked to the few parts of the "world" in which the university professor knows that these particular types of plant life exist. Aside from the addition of an "AND" condition associated with the remote network location resulting from the data search by the search engine, the URL (Universal Resource Locator) associated with the resulting "hit" is checked by the plug-in program to exclude certain groups that are determined not to be useful to the professor.
It is reasonable to expect that in the course of performing serious research, a database of locations to avoid may be collected. A simple comparison between a "hit" and this database may be programmed to weed out undesirable "hits." Also, the converse may also be programmed. More desirable network sites or types of networked sites may be ranked higher in a "hit" list produced than sites that are not as desirable to the university professor. For example, when searching for specific plant life indigenous to Zaire, sites actually residing the closest to Zaire can be ranked higher than sites located in Australia, for example.
Such a plug-in program may also be utilized to impose any semantic check on the resulting "hits." In other words, a series of conditional logic can be applied to each hit. An example in which a user-extended algorithm or "plug-in" program can define an acceptable hit is the case where the university professor desires that the hit must have been published within a particular time frame, AND cannot contain certain words, OR if certain words are identified, the words must have been published during a different time frame. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the phrases "AND" and "OR" as utilized herein are simply examples of conditional logic that may be utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The foregoing plug-in concept is illustrated by FIG. 8. FIG. 8 depicts a structural diagram 180 of a plug-in concept, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As respectively depicted at block 182 and block 184, a search engine is presented via a Graphical User Interface at a local network site, and a data base of previous sites encountered is "read-in," such that the information presented in the data base can be utilized by the search engine and the plug-in program. As illustrated at block 185, the user performs search customizations (i.e., setting parameters) via a Graphical User Interface, assuming such a Graphical User Interface is utilized in association with the search engine. As depicted at block 186, a search is then performed and as depicted at block 187, the user "plug-in" program acts as a filter by comparing the search engine "hits" with the database of known (i.e., previous) hits. Undesirable hits are thus weeded out in this manner, and the desirable hits (i.e., "good" hits) are presented, as illustrated at block 188. Finally, as illustrated at block 190, a "hit" list and ranking of such hits is presented to the user.
An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention involves altering the manner in which the actual search engine actually operates to include the ability to receive directions and instructions directly from the user-defined plug-in program. Instead of merely acting as a filter as described herein, the user-defined plug-in program can function to direct the flow of the search engine while it is searching. Such an implementation requires exposure of API's into the search engine so that a plug-in programmer can control various aspects of the search. This allows the search engine to be controlled programmatically by the plug-in program. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an API (Application Program Interface) is a set of routines utilized by an application program to direct the performance of procedures by the computer's operation system.
Whichever method is utilized to implement a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a special "GUI-Builder" may be written that allows for the creation of GUI controls, such as buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, sliders, text entry fields and the like. Such a GUI-Builder is utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention to associate specific plug-in behavior with control. For example, a series of check boxes may be associated with various user-defined search criteria. In accordance with the example of the university professor described above, a series of checkboxes map to certain specific locations in the "world" in which to search, such that a slider GUI control is created that maps to date ranges, time frames, and so forth. Such controls set the state of settings within the user-defined plug-in and essentially "controls" the actual search.
While the invention has been particularly shown as described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Utilization of the Internet in association with the method and system described herein is not a necessary feature of the present invention. For example, the present invention is applicable to other communication networks besides the Internet, including so-called "intranets" (i.e., networks that are internal to particular organizations). The Internet, as described herein, is merely one example of a remote network that can be utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
1. A method for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network which includes at least one on-line search engine at a network site remote from a local network site, said method comprising the steps of:
designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches;
transmitting at least one search parameter from said local network site to said at least one on-line search engine at said network site remote from said local network site to initiate a search by said on-line search engine throughout said distributed computer network for data related to said at least one search parameter; and
automatically linking said independent user-defined plug-in program with said at least one search parameter such that a result of said search initiated throughout said distributed computer network will be filtered utilizing both said at least one search parameter and said independent user-defined plug-in program.
2. The method for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 1, wherein said step of designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises the step of designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of time duration of on-line data searches.
3. The method for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 1, wherein said step of designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises the step of designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site which includes a directory file such that said at least one on-line search engine may access said directory file.
4. A system for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network which includes at least one on-line search engine at a network cite remote from a local network site, said system comprising:
means for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches;
means for transmitting at least one search parameter from said local network site to said at least one on-line search engine at said network site remote from said local network site to initiate a search by said on-line search engine throughout said distributed computer network for data related to said at least one search parameter; and
means for automatically linking said independent user-defined plug-in program with said at least one search parameter such that a result of said search initiated throughout said distributed computer network will be filtered utilizing both said at least one search parameter and said independent user-defined plug-in program.
5. The system for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 4, wherein said means for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises the means for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of time duration of on-line data searches.
6. The system for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 4, wherein said means for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises the means for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site which includes a directory file such that said at least one on-line search engine may access said directory file.
7. A program product residing in a computer for permitting enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network which includes at least one on-line search engine at a network site remote from a local network site, said program product comprising:
instruction means residing in a computer for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches;
instruction means residing in a computer for transmitting at least one search parameter from said local network site to said at least one on-line search engine at said network site remote from said local network site to initiate a search by said on-line search engine throughout said distributed computer network for data related to said at least one search parameter; and
instruction means residing in a computer for automatically linking said independent user-defined plug-in program with said at least one search parameter such that a result of said search initiated throughout said distributed computer network will be filtered utilizing both said at least one search parameter and said independent user-defined plug-in program.
8. A program product residing in a computer for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 7, wherein said instruction means residing in a computer for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises instruction means residing in a computer for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of time duration of on-line data searches.
9. The program product for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 7, wherein said instruction means residing in a computer for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site for limiting the scope of on-line data searches further comprises the instruction means residing in a computer for designating an independent user-defined plug-in program to be stored at said local network site which includes a directory file such that said at least one on-line search engine may access said directory file.
10. The program product residing in a computer for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 7, wherein each of said instruction means further comprises signal bearing media.
11. The program product residing in a computer for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 10, wherein said signal bearing media further comprises transmission media.
12. The program product residing in a computer for enhanced on-line search processing in a distributed computer network according to claim 10, wherein said signal bearing media further comprises recordable media.
US08/971,018 1997-11-14 1997-11-14 Method and system in a computer network for an intelligent search engine Expired - Fee Related US6041326A (en)
US08/971,018 US6041326A (en) 1997-11-14 1997-11-14 Method and system in a computer network for an intelligent search engine
US08/971,018 Expired - Fee Related US6041326A (en) 1997-11-14 1997-11-14 Method and system in a computer network for an intelligent search engine
US6199077B1 (en) * 1998-12-08 2001-03-06 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Server-side web summary generation and presentation
WO2001053993A1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2001-07-26 The Hoffman Group, Ltd. Three-tiered portal
WO2001059618A1 (en) * 2000-02-11 2001-08-16 Worldskip.Com Internet navigation tool and method and system for implementing such a tool
US6282567B1 (en) 1999-06-24 2001-08-28 Journyx, Inc. Application software add-on for enhanced internet based marketing
US6298344B1 (en) * 1998-03-28 2001-10-02 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Document searching apparatus
WO2001084431A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Idayo Investor, Inc. System and method for searching database of mutual funds in accordance with investor selection of fund attributes
US6321227B1 (en) * 1998-02-06 2001-11-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Web search function to search information from a specific location
WO2001088745A1 (en) * 2000-05-18 2001-11-22 I2 Technologies, Inc. Computer-implemented procurement of items using parametric searching
US6330564B1 (en) * 1999-02-10 2001-12-11 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for automated problem isolation in systems with measurements structured as a multidimensional database
US20010054020A1 (en) * 2000-03-22 2001-12-20 Barth Brian E. Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection engine
US20020029208A1 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-03-07 Josephson Daryl Craig Data gathering and distribution apparatus and methods
US6377961B1 (en) * 1998-01-23 2002-04-23 Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. Method for displaying internet search results
US6381593B1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2002-04-30 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Document information management system
US6401118B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2002-06-04 Online Monitoring Services Method and computer program product for an online monitoring search engine
US20020087667A1 (en) * 2000-05-22 2002-07-04 Andersen Benjamin H. Multi-level multiplexor system for networked browser
US6421675B1 (en) * 1998-03-16 2002-07-16 S. L. I. Systems, Inc. Search engine
US20020120714A1 (en) * 2001-02-26 2002-08-29 Borislav Agapiev Distributed-code, custom-generated dynamic internet inclusion agent
WO2002095613A1 (en) * 2001-05-23 2002-11-28 Stargazer Foundation, Inc. System and method for disseminating knowledge over a global computer network
US20020184186A1 (en) * 2001-05-31 2002-12-05 Osamu Imaichi Document retrieval system and search server
US20030028529A1 (en) * 2001-08-03 2003-02-06 Cheung Dominic Dough-Ming Search engine account monitoring
US20030061405A1 (en) * 2001-08-15 2003-03-27 Open Technologies Group, Inc. System, method and computer program product for protocol-independent processing of information in an enterprise integration application
US6567850B1 (en) 1998-10-28 2003-05-20 Yodlee, Inc. System and method for determining revenue from an intermediary derived from servicing data requests
US20040024745A1 (en) * 2002-07-31 2004-02-05 International Business Machines Corporation Query routing based on feature learning of data sources
US6697793B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2004-02-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration System, method and apparatus for generating phrases from a database
US6704723B1 (en) 2001-06-20 2004-03-09 Microstrategy, Incorporated Method and system for providing business intelligence information over a computer network via extensible markup language
US20040054662A1 (en) * 2002-09-16 2004-03-18 International Business Machines Corporation Automated research engine
US6721728B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2004-04-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration System, method and apparatus for discovering phrases in a database
US20040078423A1 (en) * 2002-03-22 2004-04-22 Ramakrishna Satyavolu Method and apparatus for controlled establishment of a turnkey system providing a centralized data aggregation and summary capability to third party entities
US6741981B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2004-05-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration (Nasa) System, method and apparatus for conducting a phrase search
US20040133572A1 (en) * 2000-05-18 2004-07-08 I2 Technologies Us, Inc., A Delaware Corporation Parametric searching
EP1446735A1 (en) * 2001-11-20 2004-08-18 Unisearch Limited A system and method for searching data sources
US20040199874A1 (en) * 2003-04-01 2004-10-07 Larson Stephen C. Method and apparatus to display paper-based documents on the internet
US6820076B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2004-11-16 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Database system facilitating parametric searching
US6823333B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2004-11-23 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration System, method and apparatus for conducting a keyterm search
US20040254917A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2004-12-16 Brill Eric D. Architecture for generating responses to search engine queries
US20040253991A1 (en) * 2003-02-27 2004-12-16 Takafumi Azuma Display-screen-sharing system, display-screen-sharing method, transmission-side terminal, reception-side terminal, and recording medium
US20050005110A1 (en) * 2003-06-12 2005-01-06 International Business Machines Corporation Method of securing access to IP LANs
US20050065774A1 (en) * 2003-09-20 2005-03-24 International Business Machines Corporation Method of self enhancement of search results through analysis of system logs
US20050065773A1 (en) * 2003-09-20 2005-03-24 International Business Machines Corporation Method of search content enhancement
US20050114306A1 (en) * 2003-11-20 2005-05-26 International Business Machines Corporation Integrated searching of multiple search sources
US20050114288A1 (en) * 2003-11-24 2005-05-26 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic functional module availability
US20050114309A1 (en) * 2003-11-24 2005-05-26 International Business Machines Corporation Method for invoking and integrating multiple functional modules
US6907423B2 (en) 2001-01-04 2005-06-14 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Search engine interface and method of controlling client searches
US20050138022A1 (en) * 2003-12-19 2005-06-23 Bailey Steven C. Parametric searching
US6941375B1 (en) * 2000-12-08 2005-09-06 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Finding e-service in client-defined, loosely coupled, e-service communities
US7024376B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2006-04-04 Yuen Henry C Internet-based auction method
US20060074864A1 (en) * 2004-09-24 2006-04-06 Microsoft Corporation System and method for controlling ranking of pages returned by a search engine
US20060116996A1 (en) * 2003-06-18 2006-06-01 Microsoft Corporation Utilizing information redundancy to improve text searches
US20060143096A1 (en) * 1999-05-28 2006-06-29 Overture Services, Inc. System and method for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine
US20060173830A1 (en) * 2003-07-23 2006-08-03 Barry Smyth Information retrieval
US20060178944A1 (en) * 2004-11-22 2006-08-10 Caterpillar Inc. Parts catalog system
US7117198B1 (en) * 2000-11-28 2006-10-03 Ip Capital Group, Inc. Method of researching and analyzing information contained in a database
US20070088804A1 (en) * 1998-01-22 2007-04-19 Concert Technology Corporation Network-enabled audio device
US20070112740A1 (en) * 2005-10-20 2007-05-17 Mercado Software Ltd. Result-based triggering for presentation of online content
US20070180380A1 (en) * 1998-12-08 2007-08-02 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Method and Apparatus for Providing Automation to an Internet Navigation Application
US20070244856A1 (en) * 2006-04-14 2007-10-18 Microsoft Corporation Media Search Scope Expansion
US20070266015A1 (en) * 2006-05-12 2007-11-15 Microsoft Corporation User Created Search Vertical Control of User Interface
US20070276803A1 (en) * 2006-05-24 2007-11-29 Microsoft Corporation Inline search results from user-created search verticals
US7346605B1 (en) * 1999-07-22 2008-03-18 Markmonitor, Inc. Method and system for searching and monitoring internet trademark usage
US20080104042A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2008-05-01 Microsoft Corporation Personalized Search Using Macros
US20080147710A1 (en) * 2006-12-19 2008-06-19 Microsoft Corporation Generating web pages utilizing user-defined search parameters
US20080195590A1 (en) * 2007-02-08 2008-08-14 Mitsuo Nakamura Network device, image forming device, and data searching method
US20080208808A1 (en) * 2007-02-27 2008-08-28 Yahoo! Inc. Configuring searches
US20080263025A1 (en) * 2007-04-20 2008-10-23 Koran Joshua M Use of natural search click events to augment online campaigns
US20080270234A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware. Rewarding influencers
US20080270552A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Determining influencers
US20080270473A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Determining an influence on a person by web pages
US20080270426A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Flake Gary W Collecting influence information
US20080270476A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Rewarding independent influencers
US20080270474A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc Collecting influence information
US20080270551A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Rewarding influencers
US20080270620A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-10-30 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Reporting influence on a person by network-available content
US20080306923A1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2008-12-11 Youssef Drissi Searching a multi-lingual database
US7493403B2 (en) 2006-03-13 2009-02-17 Markmonitor Inc. Domain name ownership validation
US20090132524A1 (en) * 2007-11-18 2009-05-21 Seoeng Llc. Navigable Website Analysis Engine
US7548968B1 (en) 2003-12-10 2009-06-16 Markmonitor Inc. Policing internet domains
US20090177527A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2009-07-09 Flake Gary W Rewarding influencers
US20090248493A1 (en) * 2007-04-30 2009-10-01 Flake Gary W Systems for rewarding influences
US7599938B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2009-10-06 Harrison Jr Shelton E Social news gathering, prioritizing, tagging, searching, and syndication method
US20090254581A1 (en) * 2008-04-04 2009-10-08 Chappell Alan R Knowledge discovery system capable of custom configuration by multiple users
US20090293019A1 (en) * 2008-05-22 2009-11-26 Keith Raffel User interface having slider controls for weighted parameters in searching or decision making processes
US7672879B1 (en) 1998-12-08 2010-03-02 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Interactive activity interface for managing personal data and performing transactions over a data packet network
US7752535B2 (en) 1999-06-01 2010-07-06 Yodlec.com, Inc. Categorization of summarized information
US20100205079A1 (en) * 1999-06-01 2010-08-12 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Method and Apparatus for Configuring and Establishing a Secure Credential-Based Network Link Between a Client and a Service over a Data-Packet-Network
US20100215270A1 (en) * 2009-02-26 2010-08-26 Pradheesh Manohar System and Methods for Automatically Accessing a Web Site on Behalf of a Client
US7856386B2 (en) 2006-09-07 2010-12-21 Yodlee, Inc. Host exchange in bill paying services
US7930313B1 (en) 2006-11-22 2011-04-19 Adobe Systems Incorporated Controlling presentation of refinement options in online searches
US8069407B1 (en) 1998-12-08 2011-11-29 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Method and apparatus for detecting changes in websites and reporting results to web developers for navigation template repair purposes
US8190629B2 (en) 1998-12-08 2012-05-29 Yodlee.Com, Inc. Network-based bookmark management and web-summary system
US8261334B2 (en) 2008-04-25 2012-09-04 Yodlee Inc. System for performing web authentication of a user by proxy
US20120265641A1 (en) * 2000-07-27 2012-10-18 Fantod Audio Limited Liability Company Searching for merchandise presently unavailable on a computer network
US8468078B2 (en) 2005-05-23 2013-06-18 Lisa Vioni Method of matching hedge funds and investors and apparatus therefor
US8533602B2 (en) 2006-10-05 2013-09-10 Adobe Systems Israel Ltd. Actionable reports
US8595228B1 (en) * 2009-01-09 2013-11-26 Google Inc. Preferred sites
US8606813B1 (en) 2001-06-20 2013-12-10 Microstrategy Incorporated System and method for function selection in analytic processing
US8632340B1 (en) 2002-01-08 2014-01-21 EdGate Correlation Services, LLC Internet-based educational framework for the correlation of lessons, resources and assessments to state standards
US8667161B2 (en) 2000-09-07 2014-03-04 Black Hills Media Personal broadcast server system for providing a customized broadcast
US9516370B1 (en) 2004-05-05 2016-12-06 Black Hills Media, Llc Method, device, and system for directing a wireless speaker from a mobile phone to receive and render a playlist from a content server on the internet
US9584591B1 (en) 2004-05-05 2017-02-28 Black Hills Media, Llc Method and device for sharing a playlist at a dedicated media player device
US5113341A (en) * 1989-02-24 1992-05-12 International Business Machines Corporation Technique for creating and expanding element marks in a structured document
US5323316A (en) * 1991-02-01 1994-06-21 Wang Laboratories, Inc. Morphological analyzer
US5414838A (en) * 1991-06-11 1995-05-09 Logical Information Machine System for extracting historical market information with condition and attributed windows
US5428529A (en) * 1990-06-29 1995-06-27 International Business Machines Corporation Structured document tags invoking specialized functions
US5444823A (en) * 1993-04-16 1995-08-22 Compaq Computer Corporation Intelligent search engine for associated on-line documentation having questionless case-based knowledge base
US5504891A (en) * 1991-10-17 1996-04-02 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method and apparatus for format conversion of a hierarchically structured page description language document
US5530852A (en) * 1994-12-20 1996-06-25 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method for extracting profiles and topics from a first file written in a first markup language and generating files in different markup languages containing the profiles and topics for use in accessing data described by the profiles and topics
US5544320A (en) * 1993-01-08 1996-08-06 Konrad; Allan M. Remote information service access system based on a client-server-service model
US5548508A (en) * 1994-01-20 1996-08-20 Fujitsu Limited Machine translation apparatus for translating document with tag
US5557722A (en) * 1991-07-19 1996-09-17 Electronic Book Technologies, Inc. Data processing system and method for representing, generating a representation of and random access rendering of electronic documents
US5583762A (en) * 1994-08-22 1996-12-10 Oclc Online Library Center, Incorporated Generation and reduction of an SGML defined grammer
US5587902A (en) * 1992-05-26 1996-12-24 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Translating system for processing text with markup signs
US5619648A (en) * 1994-11-30 1997-04-08 Lucent Technologies Inc. Message filtering techniques
US5659732A (en) * 1995-05-17 1997-08-19 Infoseek Corporation Document retrieval over networks wherein ranking and relevance scores are computed at the client for multiple database documents
US5694593A (en) * 1994-10-05 1997-12-02 Northeastern University Distributed computer database system and method
US5734893A (en) * 1995-09-28 1998-03-31 Ibm Corporation Progressive content-based retrieval of image and video with adaptive and iterative refinement
US5761499A (en) * 1995-12-21 1998-06-02 Novell, Inc. Method for managing globally distributed software components
US5778357A (en) * 1991-06-11 1998-07-07 Logical Information Machines, Inc. Market information machine
US5802518A (en) * 1996-06-04 1998-09-01 Multex Systems, Inc. Information delivery system and method
US5819271A (en) * 1996-06-04 1998-10-06 Multex Systems, Inc. Corporate information communication and delivery system and method including entitlable hypertext links
US5864871A (en) * 1996-06-04 1999-01-26 Multex Systems Information delivery system and method including on-line entitlements
Baclawski et al., "High-Performance, Distributed Information Retrieval", Northeastern University, College of Computer science, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, pp. 1-3, Mar. 23, 1994.
Baclawski et al., "KEYNET: Fast indexing for sematically rich information retrieval", Northeastern University, College of Computer science, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, pp. 1-18, Dec. 7, 1993.
Baclawski et al., High Performance, Distributed Information Retrieval , Northeastern University, College of Computer science, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, pp. 1 3, Mar. 23, 1994. *
Baclawski et al., KEYNET: Fast indexing for sematically rich information retrieval , Northeastern University, College of Computer science, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, pp. 1 18, Dec. 7, 1993. *
Banet, "Searching far and wide: the powerful document retrieval software of PLS", Seybold Publications Inc., v10 n8 p17 (6), Apr. 22, 1996.
Banet, Searching far and wide: the powerful document retrieval software of PLS , Seybold Publications Inc., v10 n8 p17 (6), Apr. 22, 1996. *
Mic Bowman et al., "Harvest: A Scalable, Customizable Discovery and Access System", Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, pp. 1-28, Aug. 1994.
Mic Bowman et al., Harvest: A Scalable, Customizable Discovery and Access System , Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, pp. 1 28, Aug. 1994. *
Sharma et al., "Hypertext based distributed object management for information location and retrieval", IEEE, pp. 102-107, Dec. 1993.
Sharma et al., Hypertext based distributed object management for information location and retrieval , IEEE, pp. 102 107, Dec. 1993. *
US9397627B2 (en) 1998-01-22 2016-07-19 Black Hills Media, Llc Network-enabled audio device
US8918480B2 (en) 1998-01-22 2014-12-23 Black Hills Media, Llc Method, system, and device for the distribution of internet radio content
US20070180063A1 (en) * 1998-01-22 2007-08-02 Concert Technology Corporation Network-enabled audio device and radio site
US9549001B1 (en) 1998-01-22 2017-01-17 Black Hills Media, Llc Method and device for sourcing and constructing a playlist
US8792850B2 (en) 1998-01-22 2014-07-29 Black Hills Media Method and device for obtaining playlist content over a network
US8755763B2 (en) 1998-01-22 2014-06-17 Black Hills Media Method and device for an internet radio capable of obtaining playlist content from a content server
US9552188B1 (en) 1998-01-22 2017-01-24 Black Hills Media, Llc Method and device for displaying supplemental information while rendering a playlist
US9312827B2 (en) 1998-01-22 2016-04-12 Black Hills Media, Llc Network enabled audio device and radio site
US7725422B2 (en) 1998-03-16 2010-05-25 S.L.I. Systems, Inc. Search engine
US20030088554A1 (en) * 1998-03-16 2003-05-08 S.L.I. Systems, Inc. Search engine
US20060184546A1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2006-08-17 Takashi Yano Document information management system
US8554786B2 (en) 1998-05-08 2013-10-08 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Document information management system
US7765279B1 (en) 1998-10-28 2010-07-27 Verticalone Corporation System and method for scheduling harvesting of personal information
US20110022623A1 (en) * 1999-05-28 2011-01-27 Yahoo! Inc. System and method for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine
US8527533B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2013-09-03 Yahoo! Inc. Keyword suggestion system for a computer network search engine
US7783540B2 (en) 1999-05-28 2010-08-24 Yahoo! Inc. System and method for influencing a position on a search result list generated by a computer network search engine
US7990895B2 (en) * 1999-06-01 2011-08-02 Yodlee.Com Method and apparatus for configuring and establishing a secure credential-based network link between a client and a service over a data-packet-network
US20080033770A1 (en) * 2000-03-22 2008-02-07 Barth Brian E Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection search engine
US8458162B2 (en) 2000-03-22 2013-06-04 Kayak Software Corporation Purchase handoff in a travel search engine
US7349894B2 (en) 2000-03-22 2008-03-25 Sidestep, Inc. Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection search engine
US7502787B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2009-03-10 Caterpillar Inc. Database system facilitating textual searching
US7330852B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2008-02-12 Caterpillar Inc. Computer-implemented procurement of items using parametric searching
US20050234888A1 (en) * 2000-05-18 2005-10-20 Caterpillar Inc. Database system facilitating textual searching
US20050065982A1 (en) * 2000-05-18 2005-03-24 I2 Technologies Us, Inc., A Delaware Corporation Computer-implemented procurement of items using parametric searching
US6912532B2 (en) 2000-05-22 2005-06-28 Benjamin H. Andersen Multi-level multiplexor system for networked browser
US8635234B2 (en) 2000-05-22 2014-01-21 Destaze Tok Group, Llc Multi-level multiplexor system for networked browser
WO2002021337A1 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-03-14 Daryl Craig Josephson Data gathering and distribution apparatus and methods
US9268775B1 (en) 2000-09-07 2016-02-23 Black Hills Media, Llc Method and system for providing an audio element cache in a customized personal radio broadcast
US9369101B2 (en) 2000-11-08 2016-06-14 Black Hills Media, Llc Unitary electronic speaker device for receiving an assignment of a playlist from a home personal computer and rendering the playlist
US10067739B2 (en) 2000-11-08 2018-09-04 Black Hills Media, Llc Unitary electronic speaker device for receiving digital audio data and rendering the digital audio data
US7277881B2 (en) * 2001-05-31 2007-10-02 Hitachi, Ltd. Document retrieval system and search server
US7194457B1 (en) 2001-06-20 2007-03-20 Microstrategy, Inc. Method and system for business intelligence over network using XML
US7483886B2 (en) 2001-08-03 2009-01-27 Yahoo! Inc. Search engine account monitoring
US20060206355A1 (en) * 2001-08-03 2006-09-14 Overture Services, Inc. Search engine account monitoring
US7043471B2 (en) 2001-08-03 2006-05-09 Overture Services, Inc. Search engine account monitoring
EP1446735A4 (en) * 2001-11-20 2006-11-08 Unisearch Ltd A system and method for searching data sources
US20050086204A1 (en) * 2001-11-20 2005-04-21 Enrico Coiera System and method for searching date sources
CN1653448B (en) 2001-11-20 2010-06-23 尤尼瑟奇有限公司 System and method for searching data sources
US10102765B2 (en) 2002-01-08 2018-10-16 EdGate Correlation Services, LLC Internet-based educational framework for the correlation of lessons, resources and assessments to state standards
US8027966B2 (en) 2002-02-01 2011-09-27 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for searching a multi-lingual database
US20080306729A1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2008-12-11 Youssef Drissi Method and system for searching a multi-lingual database
US8027994B2 (en) 2002-02-01 2011-09-27 International Business Machines Corporation Searching a multi-lingual database
US6886009B2 (en) 2002-07-31 2005-04-26 International Business Machines Corporation Query routing based on feature learning of data sources
US7076484B2 (en) 2002-09-16 2006-07-11 International Business Machines Corporation Automated research engine
US7743135B2 (en) * 2003-02-27 2010-06-22 Sony Corporation Display-screen-sharing system, display-screen-sharing method, transmission-side terminal, reception-side terminal, and recording medium
US7854009B2 (en) 2003-06-12 2010-12-14 International Business Machines Corporation Method of securing access to IP LANs
US8666983B2 (en) 2003-06-13 2014-03-04 Microsoft Corporation Architecture for generating responses to search engine queries
US7152057B2 (en) 2003-06-18 2006-12-19 Microsoft Corporation Utilizing information redundancy to improve text searches
US8554571B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2013-10-08 Search And Social Media Partners Llc Fundraising system, method and device for charitable causes in a social network environment
US8583448B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2013-11-12 Search And Social Media Partners Llc Method and system for verifying websites and providing enhanced search engine services
US8719176B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2014-05-06 Search And Social Media Partners Llc Social news gathering, prioritizing, tagging, searching and syndication
US8620828B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2013-12-31 Search And Social Media Partners Llc Social networking system, method and device
US7809709B1 (en) * 2003-07-11 2010-10-05 Harrison Jr Shelton E Search engine system, method and device
US7599928B2 (en) * 2003-07-23 2009-10-06 University College Dublin National University Of Ireland, Dublin Information retrieval
US8014997B2 (en) 2003-09-20 2011-09-06 International Business Machines Corporation Method of search content enhancement
US8458215B2 (en) 2003-11-24 2013-06-04 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic functional module availability
US7337166B2 (en) 2003-12-19 2008-02-26 Caterpillar Inc. Parametric searching
US9554405B2 (en) 2004-05-05 2017-01-24 Black Hills Media, Llc Wireless speaker for receiving from a mobile phone directions to receive and render a playlist from a content server on the internet
US8245150B2 (en) * 2004-11-22 2012-08-14 Caterpillar Inc. Parts catalog system
US7996375B2 (en) 2005-10-20 2011-08-09 Adobe Systems Incorporated Result-based triggering for presentation of online content
US20090171952A1 (en) * 2005-10-20 2009-07-02 Omtr Israel Ltd. Result-Based Triggering for Presentation of Online Content
US7493317B2 (en) 2005-10-20 2009-02-17 Omniture, Inc. Result-based triggering for presentation of online content
US7487144B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2009-02-03 Microsoft Corporation Inline search results from user-created search verticals
WO2008051692A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2008-05-02 Microsoft Corporation Personalized search using macros
JP2010508579A (en) * 2006-10-25 2010-03-18 マイクロソフト コーポレーション Personalized search using the macro
US20110179055A1 (en) * 2006-11-22 2011-07-21 Shai Geva Controlling Presentation of Refinement Options in Online Searches
US7844605B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-11-30 Yahoo! Inc. Using natural search click events to optimize online advertising campaigns
US8793155B2 (en) 2007-04-30 2014-07-29 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Collecting influence information
US8712837B2 (en) 2007-04-30 2014-04-29 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Rewarding independent influencers
US8831973B2 (en) 2007-04-30 2014-09-09 The Invention Science Fund I, Llc Systems for rewarding influencers
US9245037B2 (en) 2007-11-18 2016-01-26 Mainwire Llc. Navigable website analysis engine
US8447751B2 (en) 2007-11-18 2013-05-21 Efficient Systems, Llc Navigable website analysis engine
US10025868B1 (en) * 2009-01-09 2018-07-17 Google Llc Preferred sites
US8555359B2 (en) 2009-02-26 2013-10-08 Yodlee, Inc. System and methods for automatically accessing a web site on behalf of a client
US6578078B1 (en) 2003-06-10 Method for preserving referential integrity within web sites
US7930301B2 (en) 2011-04-19 System and method for searching computer files and returning identified files and associated files
US6918096B2 (en) 2005-07-12 Method and apparatus for displaying a network of thoughts from a thought's perspective
US8001478B2 (en) 2011-08-16 Systems and methods for context personalized web browsing based on a browser companion agent and associated services
US6470383B1 (en) 2002-10-22 System and methods for generating and displaying web site usage data
US9459837B2 (en) 2016-10-04 Interface for a computer platform
US6412008B1 (en) 2002-06-25 System and method for cooperative client/server customization of web pages
US6023701A (en) 2000-02-08 Skeleton page retrieval mode for web navigation
US5710918A (en) 1998-01-20 Method for distributed task fulfillment of web browser requests
US6324538B1 (en) 2001-11-27 Automated on-line information service and directory, particularly for the world wide web
US6151624A (en) 2000-11-21 Navigating network resources based on metadata
US6581065B1 (en) 2003-06-17 Dynamic insertion and updating of hypertext links for internet servers
US8549097B2 (en) 2013-10-01 Web application for accessing media streams
US6415316B1 (en) 2002-07-02 Method and apparatus for implementing a web page diary
US5870552A (en) 1999-02-09 Method and apparatus for publishing hypermedia documents over wide area networks
US10061853B2 (en) 2018-08-28 Customizable ordering of search results and predictive query generation
US6718365B1 (en) 2004-04-06 Method, system, and program for ordering search results using an importance weighting
US7228360B2 (en) 2007-06-05 Web address converter for dynamic web pages
KR101191531B1 (en) 2012-10-15 Search systems and methods using in-line contextual queries
US7506257B1 (en) 2009-03-17 System and method for providing help contents for components of a computer system
US5958008A (en) 1999-09-28 Software system and associated methods for scanning and mapping dynamically-generated web documents
US6487557B1 (en) 2002-11-26 Network-access management system and method applied to network and computer program product including computer program recorded on storage medium for creating display data
US7099861B2 (en) 2006-08-29 System and method for facilitating internet search by providing web document layout image
US6842782B1 (en) 2005-01-11 Method and apparatus for tracking functional states of a web-site and reporting results to web developers
US6282567B1 (en) 2001-08-28 Application software add-on for enhanced internet based marketing
Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, NEW Y
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AMRO, HATIM YOUSEF;DODSON, JOHN PAUL;REEL/FRAME:009000/0916


WAR ALERT: MATTIS SAYS ALL OUT IRAN V ISRAEL WAR is COMING IN SYRIA ON SAME SAY HE ANNOUNCES SURGE IN SYRIA & POMPEO CONFIRMED.
Mattis – Still Assessing – Trump Cools Down – Russia Says US Trained Rebels For Chemical Attack. UPDATE – Missiles Falling In Syria!


This pair of duck egg plain lined eyelet curtains would be the perfect finishing touch to your home. Eyelet curtains are very easy to install and hang. They just need a curtain pole and they are simply threaded through concertina style.
These are really nice blue textures with a colour between duck egg and teal. They do need ironing before hanging but once done they hang beautifully. Bought 2 pairs for the house and they look great.


text:
"""
Represents a connection to an RDBMS.
"""

import mysql.connector
from mysql.connector import InterfaceError

class DBConnection(object):
    """Represents a connection to an RDBMS.
    """

    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
        """MySQL stores TIMESTAMP values as UTC, but automatically converts them
        to/from the 'current time zone' on output/input (respectively).
        By default, the 'current time zone' is the server's time zone,
        which is unknown to the client. Thus this is silent data corruption.
        There is no way to disable this conversion, so defeat it by setting
        the 'current time zone' to UTC upon connection.
        """
        if 'time_zone' not in kwargs:
            kwargs['time_zone'] = '+00:00'
        self.conn = mysql.connector.connect(**kwargs)

    def _before_db(self):
        """MySQL-specific: attempt to reconnect if our connection has timed out
        """
        try:
            self.conn.ping(True)
        except InterfaceError:
            """ Probably just a stale connection.
            If something worse has gone wrong, we will see it soon anyway.
            """

    def execute(self, query, return_dictionaries=True, bind_values=None):
        """Execute the given query with the given values for placeholders.
        If return_dictionaries is true, each row is a dictionary;
        if it is false, each row is a list of column values.
        In either case, a resultset is a list of rows.
        """
        cursor = self.conn.cursor(
            dictionary=return_dictionaries, buffered=False
        )
        # Make this a strong not a weak reference, to prevent premature GC.
        # Works around change:
        # http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~mysql/myconnpy/1.0/revision/201
        cursor._connection = self.conn
        cursor.execute(query, bind_values)
        return cursor

    def callproc(self, procname, return_dictionaries=True, args=()):
        """Execute the given-named stored procedure with the given arguments.
        If return_dictionaries is true, each row is a dictionary;
        if it is false, each row is a list of column values.
        In either case, a resultset is a list of rows.
        """
        cursor = self.conn.cursor(
            dictionary=return_dictionaries, buffered=False
        )
        cursor.callproc(procname, args)
        return cursor

    def escape_identifier(self, identifier):
        """Escape the given identifier, so that it will not be misinterpreted if
        it contains characters that are special in the dialect of SQL
        being spoken on this database connection.
        Such escaping is necessary when placeholders cannot be used.
        """
        return self.conn.converter.escape(identifier)

class CursorIter(object):
    """Iterate over a cursor's emitted rows.
    """

    def __init__(self, cursor):
        self.cursor = cursor

    def next(self):
        """Return the next row yielded by this cursor.
        Raise StopIteration if the cursor is exhausted,
        ie all of its rows have already been read.
        """
        row = self.cursor.fetchone()
        if row is None:
            raise StopIteration()
        return row

class CursorSliceIter(CursorIter):
    """Iterate over a slice of a cursor's emitted rows,
    so that the n'th column of each row is emitted.
    """

    def __init__(self, cursor, index):
        super(CursorSliceIter, self).__init__(cursor)
        self.index = index

    def next(self):
        """Return one column of the next row yielded by this cursor.
        Raise StopIteration if the cursor is exhausted,
        ie all of its rows have already been read.
        """
        row = super(CursorSliceIter, self).next()
        return row[self.index]

class ResultSet(object):
    """An iterable SQL result set.
    """

    def __init__(self, cursor):
        self.cursor = cursor

    def __iter__(self):
        return CursorIter(self.cursor)

class ResultSetSlice(ResultSet):
    """An iterable slice through an SQL result set.
    """

    def __init__(self, cursor, index):
        super(ResultSetSlice, self).__init__(cursor)
        self.index = index

    def __iter__(self):
        return CursorSliceIter(self.cursor, self.index)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Birgit Jürgenssen (*1949 †2003, Austria) was one of the most prominent Austrian artists of the feminist avant-garde. She studied at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna in the 1960s and joined the teaching staff at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in 1982 together with Maria Lassnig, Arnulf Rainer and Peter Kogler. In the 1980s, she began the long-term collaboration DIE DAMEN with the artists Ona B., Evelyne Egerer and Ingeborg Strobl. She worked with analogue photography for over three decades in her own darkroom. For her staged photographs of herself, she worked exclusively in her own studio using a self-timer. Her artworks were shown in the first feminist exhibitions in the 1970s, including MAGNA – Feminismus in Vienna and Copenhagen in 1975 and Künstlerinnen – international 1877–1977 in Berlin and Frankfurt in 1977, as well as Kunst mit Eigen-Sinn in Vienna in 1985.
of the self (Ohne Titel (Selbst mit Schädel), 1979), Ohne Titel (Selbst mit Fellchen), 1974/77), in which her playful language of expression remains ambivalent and poetically subversive, while also unsettling and disturbing.


text:
class Item < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :order

  def as_json(options=nil)
    serializable_hash({:only => [:id, :name] })
  end

end


text:
搜索 (大五碼)
You are currently displaying Big5
飛鷹 (2004)
Silver Hawk
Reviewed by: Hyomil
Reviewer Score: 7
Reviewed by: j.crawford
Summary: Big, glossy production!
Big, glossy production stars Michelle Yeoh as a futuristic crime-fighting heroine in a neat action comedy. Director/Cinematographer Jingle Ma serves up a visual feast for the eyes in this upbeat, lighthearted 2004 Lunar Holiday film.
Film features classic movie martial arts filmed at low and wide angles. A couple of action set pieces are unique and play well in this film of comic book heroics. Richie Ren does a nice job as the police detective investigating the mysterious lady crimefighter.
Reviewed by: Sydneyguy
Summary: A lot better than THE TOUCH
After THE TOUCH i had very low expectations of this movie. I was pleasantly suprised that this quirkly action movie was quite watchable.
For myself, Richie Ren steals the show along with the different and inventive fight scenes,which makes this movie above average.
The main issue i had with this movie the ending, which was generic and leading up to the ending, i felt things flowed quickly, just so the end fight scene was showed!! Another 10 minutes would of helped as i felt finding the enemies lair was a bit too easy!!
Enjoyable, worth a viewing!!
Reviewed by: ewaffle
Summary: Michelle saves the day--and this movie
There is a lot to like about "Silver Hawk"—Michelle Yeoh kicking the hell out of the bad guys and occasionally flashing that million dollar smile while doing so; Michelle (or her stunt double) on a motorcycle chasing down smugglers; Michelle beating opponents who should have a significant advantage over her because they cheat; Michelle effortless flying through the air to land the perfect punch. However, we have seen her do every bit of it many times before. This is no way to revive an all but moribund film industry.
Michelle looks great-—she is toned, fit, athletic and beautiful as ever. That she is parsimonious with her killer smile makes it even more effective when it does light up her face. Her costume is ridiculous—long silver duster over silver hot pants, high-heeled boots and a mask that might fool a blind man but no one else. The only mystery concerning her secret identity is that it took so long for both the newly appointed and very annoying Police Superintendent Rich Man (Richie Ren Xian Qi) and irredeemable bad guy Alexander Wolfe (Luke Goss) to figure it out.
Excellent supporting cast includes Michael Jai White as Morris, a martial arts thug with a fearsome armored hand and a soft spot in his heart for his lethal girlfriend Jane, played in shorts and torn fishnets by the attractive Lee Bing Bing. Model (apparently) turned actress Lisa Selesner adds a very attractive presence.
The narrative is simple and uncluttered, once the superhero trappings are stripped away. Wolfe wants to brainwash the world using Professor Ho Chung's breakthrough in artificial intelligence. It is up to Rich Man, Silver Hawk and Chung's assistant, loveable but annoying computer nerd Kit, played by Brandon Chang to thwart the evil plan.
In order to have plenty of fight scenes there is the usual silliness—once Wolfe lures Silver Hawk to his high tech center of operations, he does not simply shoot her. The first time she is trapped there martial artists suspended from dual bungee cords attack her. The second time, when the entire crew shows up, a roller hockey team goes after them. There is a lot of constructive editing in both of them, some almost embarrassingly obvious. Neither scene is very effective—the one on one or two on one fights are well-staged and fun to watch but the two big production numbers get old very quickly. Miniaturized high tech gadgets that allow everyone to spy on everyone else show up often.
"Silver Hawk" is largely for Michelle Yeoh fans—of which I am an extremely ardent one.
Reviewed by: pjshimmer
What surprised me was the lighthearted tone of Silver Hawk. I didn't know anything about it and did not expect a comedy, and it sorted of turned out as such. I am surprised I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, since it is generally lame and formulaic. Nevertheless Michelle Yeoh looks wonderful as superhero /slash/ pretty model, and the action--while heavily editted-is pretty good.
Reviewed by: PAUL MARTINEZ
Well I gonna have to slightly disagree with the earlier reviews. With Hollywood churning superhero films by the bunch it was only a matter of time HK would soon follow. Although it could have been done better, I really enjoyed it. By no means is this an award winning masterpiece but for what it was I found it very watchable. Which is saying a lot considering some of the other films I've seen lately. The bungee cord fight seen was something new & appreciated. My one problem was if your going to make these futuristic superhero films then you need to spend some money on S/E. Just plain old wire work is not going to cut it for these type of films.
Reviewed by: mrblue
Based on the dismal local box-office returns and general bad buzz, I didn't have high hopes for Silver Hawk, especially after The Touch, which was disappointing to say the least. Thankfully, even though Silver Hawk isn't anything great, it is a fairly nice way to kill off ninety minutes. The trouble is that I (and many other Michelle Yeoh fans) expect more from her than a dopey superhero action flick.
Silver Hawk takes place in the futuristic Polaris City. Michelle plays an heiress named Lulu Wong who spends her spare time catching crooks as her alter-ego Silver Hawk. The cops are sick of being made fools of, so they enlist a tough new superintendent (Richie Ren) to catch the Hawk. While the cat-and-mouse game is going on, an evil scientist (Luke Goss) is trying to take over Polaris City by using a mind-control chip implanted in cell phones, so of course Michelle and Richie end up joining forces to stop him.
This film's main problem is that it never seems to find its' own identity. Almost every idea in the movie seems to have been taken from a previous entry, from Silver Hawk's use of a motorcycle (Supercop) to a big black henchman with metallic arms (Mortal Kombat). There are some fairly original bits, like a fight conducted on bungee cords, but overall, the film-makers really don't do anything fresh with the material.
Despite my better judgement, and general adversion to Jingle Ma's work, I did have a pretty good time with Silver Hawk. There's a nice amount of action and Michelle looks great as always. But it did leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. With all the time and money Michelle Yeoh (who produced this film) had at her disposal, one would think the results should have been better than this. If Hong Kong movies want to start competing with Hollywood films, they had better emulate the pictures of the past, instead of trying to parrot Hollywood's flavor of the week.
[review from www.hkfilm.net]
Reviewed by: magic-8
Summary: It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's A Dud!
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Silver Hawk? Michelle Yeoh steps into costume and becomes "Silver Hawk," a movie from director Jingle Ma, about the titular superhero of the near future, in a place called Polaris City. Yeoh's Silver Hawk seemingly has nothing better to do than fight injustice and crime. When she isn't in uniform, she's Lulu Wong, a wealthy, playgirl billionaire.
The writers, Susan Chan ("Tokyo Raiders" and the upcoming "Koma") and Jingle Ma, attempt to recreate a comic book hero in the vein of Batman, as in the campy television series with Adam West. The thing that they forgot to include is a compelling origin. Instead, the childhood relationship between Yeoh and Richie Ren is told. Without a "raison d' etre," the superhero worship stuff just doesn't click. The childhood memories are fine, but without any other background material, we are left with spotty dialogue and silly costumed villians.
Jingle Ma does a good job in scouting locations and that's about it. Otherwise his direction is very limited because there really isn't much of a plot other than Silver Hawk fights the bad guys. The tone throughout the movie is light and much too cute. There are no moments of danger or menace. For a moment I had forgotten that this was a Jingle Ma and not a Joe Ma movie. Without an engaging story, the filmmakers throw in comedy to offset the shortcomings. Richie Ren and his "crackle-crackle" kung fu is amazingly lame. Jingle must have thought that he was making a movie for grade schoolers instead of adults, or that adults would find this puerile humor funny.
"Silver Hawk" suffers from the same malaise that affects big budgeted Hollywood productions, too much money to burn and no script to film. The choreography by Ailen Sit is passable, but again, is adversely affected by the tired and unoriginal script, which introduces roller bladers brandishing hockey sticks, an idea from a bag of retread themes used in a dozen other superhero movies. The bungee-corded bad guys could have worked if Cirque du Soleil didn't already corner the market.
What remains is the star, Michelle Yeoh, whose screen presence and personality make "Silver Hawk" watchable.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Canberra to host the 2013 women's Australian Open	Who was distressed about this?
Rush Limbaugh has a link to a story on Sweetness and Light placed at the top of his website, and then asks his listeners to visit his website and click on the link.
It's a good thing that Rush had a printout of the story to read to his audience, because the website didn't last long once everyone started trying to visit it. It's only just starting to recover now, fifteen minutes later.