Kayak Software Corporation

Matthew S Garman

Marcel D Janssens

Stewart A Kelly

Tate Andrew Certain

James Robert Hamilton

Sachin Jain

David N Sunderland

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods used to search for information (e.g., from multiple sources). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), such systems and methods may select a subset of available relevant Internet information sources, such as suppliers and/or purchasers of goods, services, and/or commodities. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), a system and method are provided for determining when to launch an information search and for determining the set of information sources to search.

Secondary search based on user selection of a first search result

A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection search engine. User actions may be detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination may be made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information may be extracted electronically from, for example, third party websites, direct supplier connections, and/or intermediate databases. Potential suppliers may be automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries may be formulated from the user search and transferred to one or more selected suppliers over a network coupling (e.g., the Internet and/or an intranet). The queries may include one or more requests for information. One or more responses may be received from the suppliers, and the responses may be used to generate a result list for the user. The result list may include information and/or query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a website of one or more of the supplies from which the information was derived.

Use of stored search results by a travel search system

Method and apparatus for dynamic information connection search engine. User actions may be detected on at least one client system. Determination may be made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information may be extracted electronically from, e.g., third party websites, direct supplier connections, and/or intermediate databases. Suppliers may be automatically selected in response to the user search. Queries may be formulated from the user search and transferred to one or more selected suppliers over a network coupling (e.g., the Internet and/or intranet). Queries may include one or more requests for information. One or more responses may be received from suppliers, and responses may be used to generate results for the user. Results may include information and/or query status information. An electronic link may be provided to a website of one or more suppliers from which information was derived.

Profitability based ranking of search results for lodging reservations

Efficient search of supplier servers based on stored search results

A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection engine. User actions may be detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination may be made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information may be extracted electronically from, for example, third party websites, direct supplier connections, and/or intermediate databases. Potential suppliers may be automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries may be formulated from the user search and transferred to one or more selected suppliers. Responses may be received from the suppliers, and used to generate a result list for the user. The result list may include information and/or query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a website of one or more of the suppliers from which the information was derived.

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Matthew S Garman