Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Karen E Fries

Jeffrey Marc Richter

John M Tippett

Zheng Chen

Wei-Ying Ma

Benyu Zhang

Hua-Jun Zeng

Daniel B Cook

Hsiao-Wuen Hon

Barry J Linnett

Gabor Hirschler

Kurt Samuelson

Lawrence H Powelson

Aravind Bala

A user can access a searching component that allows the user to enter search terms to search for commands associated with a computer program. The most likely commands are provided to the user, and a command can be selected for execution.

Searching for commands to execute in applications

A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

System for enhancing a query interface

Systems and methods providing computer-implemented content propagation for enhanced document retrieval are described. In one aspect, reference information directed to one or more documents is identified. The reference information is identified from one or more sources of data that are independent of a data source that includes the one or more documents. Metadata that is proximally located to the reference information is extracted from the one or more sources of data. Relevance between respective features of the metadata to content of associated ones of the one or more documents is calculated. For each document of the one or more documents, associated portions of the metadata is indexed with the relevance of features from the respective portions into original content of the document. The indexing generates one or more enhanced documents.

Content propagation for enhanced document retrieval

Systems and methods for enhanced document retrieval are described. In one aspect, a search query from an end-user is received. Responsive to receiving the search query, search results are retrieved. The search results include an enhanced document and a set of non-enhanced documents. The enhanced document and the non-enhanced documents include term(s) of the search query. The enhanced document is derived from a base document. The base document was modified with metadata mined from one or more different documents. The metadata is associated with one or more respective references to the base document. The one or more different documents are independent of the base document.

Enhanced document retrieval

A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a network indexing component capable of indexing terms located in pages on the network and capable of receiving a search query and returning a topic for each term in the query that matches an indexed term. An embodiment of the system further provides for a search tool capable of displaying text associated with assisting a user to perform a search of the Internet and an animation component capable of displaying an animated character. Further embodiments support a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

A method for improving searching of a network receives a search query from a user without the query passing over the network. The query is then examined to determine if it includes misspelled words. After examining the query, the query is used to search the network. In some embodiments, the method also includes a step of providing a visual cue to the user to indicate that the search query includes a misspelled word. In further embodiments of the invention, the method also includes a step of providing lists of possible spellings for the misspelled words and allowing the user to select one of the possible spellings from the list. The method then replaces the misspelled word with the selected spelling to produce modified text. The modified text is then used to search the network.

Computerized searching tool with spell checking

A method of aiding a user in searching a computer environment includes retrieving a search query from a user, accessing a user profile and selecting a search area based on the search query and the user profile. In other embodiments of the present invention, a method provides for receiving a search query, categorizing at least one term in the search query based on an indexed list of terms derived from pages on a network, and identifying at least one search area based on the category of a search term.

System for improving search area selection

A computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions for retrieving a search query provided by a user and locating an ambiguity in the search query that affects the optimization of the search query. The instructions also provide for requesting additional information from the user to clarify the text of the search query. Additional aspects of the invention allow the user to see and select past search queries. Further aspects of the invention automatically construct a boolean search query from a non-boolean query. Other aspects of the invention modify a search query based on its scope. In one embodiment of the invention a search query is modified based on natural language parse data produced by performing a natural language parse of the search query.

System for improving search text

A software development platform generate a user interface that adopts a real world metaphor. In particular, the user interface appears to a user as containing rooms of a home. The user can specify what rooms are to be included in the home and can specify the style of the appearance of the rooms of the home. The user interface serves as a vehicle for the user to invoke applications and perform tasks. The user interface also generates a personal character for each user. The personal character is an animated guide that helps to assist the user in using the computer. Specialized characters may also be provided to perform specialized tasks.

Software platform having a real world interface with animated characters

A software development platform generates a user interface that adopts a real world metaphor. In particular, the user interface appears to a user as containing rooms of a home. The user can specify what rooms are to be included in the home and can specify the style of the appearance of the rooms of the home. The user interface serves as a vehicle for the user to invoke applications and perform tasks. The user interface also generates a personal character for each user. The personal character is an animated guide that helps to assist the user in using the computer. Specialized characters may also be provided to perform specialized tasks.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Karen E Fries