The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 02, 1999
Paul A. Delano, New York, NY (US);
Zen Tech, Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and methods are provided for collaboratively searching one or more knowledge databases formed by a combination of databases from a global computer network. The apparatus preferably includes a computer communications network, a plurality of computer servers positioned in communication with the computer communications network for collectively providing at least one knowledge database, a plurality of client-user computer interfaces positioned in communication with the computer communications network for providing user interface access to the computer communications network, and a collaborative searching engine positioned in communication with the computer communications network and accessible through the plurality of client-user computer interfaces for providing collaborative searching with each of the plurality of client-user computer interfaces. The collaborative searching engine including a query searcher for conducting search queries of content of the at least one knowledge database, a search results ranker responsive to the query searcher for providing ranked content search results representative of the relative closeness of a requested search query to a search inputted by at least one user when conducting a search through use at least one of the plurality of client-user computer interfaces, and a search results updater for continuously updating the content search results responsive to input from other users of the plurality of client-user computer interfaces.