Description:
Invention Summary
The invention is information search that allows for customized access and display of information such as definitions relating to specific words, minimizing the interruption of the reading process. The search can be conducted in one or more predefined fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, art, psychology, social science, and the like. The system loads a plurality of content items in a plurality of windows on a display screen, wherein the plurality of the windows can comprise a master window and one or more slave windows, and wherein one or more slave windows can be associated with a respective search resource. A search request for information associated with a specific word can be received. A search can be conducted via at least one search resource displayed on one or more slave windows.
Market Opportunity
An issue that often makes reading of sophisticated or complex material difficult is the appearance of unfamiliar words or terms that disrupt the flow and comprehension of material. It slows down the reading process to access a physical dictionary, go online to a distinct site for definitions, or use an embedded dictionary. It is difficult to search many different sources simultaneously and present the data in a customizable manner that can be digitally mined.
Features & Benefits
•More than one computing devices communicatively coupled to each other can be configured to conduct the same definition search. For example, when a user initiates a search on a first computing device, the search can also be conducted on a second computing device coupled to the first computing device. In an aspect, the search results can be displayed on the first computing device and the second computing device. This feature can be called “crowd searching”.
•Word definitions in any document can be found, and words can be displayed as part of the document the user is reading, eliminating the need to focus attention off the current display. Instead of opening a separate window, a web browser, or a physical dictionary, all search results can be displayed to the user with minimal user interaction.
•The search can be conducted in one or more predefined databases. Databases can comprise one or more of an internal database and an external database. As an example, an external database can comprise one or more established dictionaries (e.g., oxford dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online, etc.) accessible via a network. Further, an internal database can be constructed by federating a plurality of established dictionaries into one source dictionary. The system can automatically exclude certain words as insignificant, such as prepositions, definite articles, indefinite articles, pronouns, and the like when a search is conducted. A search can utilize natural language processing (NLP), and text mining.
•Search results can be provided from at least one search resource. The search results can comprise one or more of: a definition of the specific word, a pronunciation of the specific word, a usage of the specific word, a combination of the specific word with a single preceding word, and a combination of the specific word with a single subsequent word. Usage of the specific word can comprise a list of e-mail correspondence in which the specific word is used. Other information can be included in the search results. For example, a list of candidate alternative spellings of the specific word can be provided in the search results. Moreover, a list of misspellings of the specific word can be provided in the search results. The search results can comprise text, image, audio, video, or a combination thereof. The search results can be included in a file with a specific format recognizable by the user, and the file can be displayed in the predefined area of the display screen. The search results can be provided to the user, either in a column adjacent the specific word, a box adjacent the specific word, a picture-in-picture format, a balloon over the specific word, or in any other format on the display screen.
Intellectual Property Published Patent: US-2011-0289115-A1