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:
Apr. 14, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 03, 2003
Constantin Mihai, Bellevue, WA (US);
David Rothenberg, Fall City, WA (US);
Ray Patch, Redmond, WA (US);
Gabriel Gottlieb, Seattle, WA (US);
Constantin Mihai, Bellevue, WA (US);
David Rothenberg, Fall City, WA (US);
Ray Patch, Redmond, WA (US);
Gabriel Gottlieb, Seattle, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A mechanism is provided to a user which allows 'ubiquitous' searching—searching of possibly heterogeneous search repositories. In one embodiment, this search mechanism is provided by means of a search framework underlying a web-based user interface. When a search request is made, the underlying search framework detects the search request and its associated parameters, associates the search request with the required search provider or providers while still exposing (through the search context) the full search functionality for all search providers currently configured with the search framework, dispatches the search requests, and handles the return of search results in a unified format. The search providers follow the search framework's interfaces through which the search framework can detect the search method offered by the search provider, and results format and option information.