System, method and article of manufacture for a user programmable diary interface link

1. A method for allowing user selection of search filtering criteria prior to an initial search on a network, which comprises:

(a) displaying a query field for entering a search query;

(b) receiving the search query entered in the query field;

(c) presenting a plurality of selection criteria applicable during a search on the network, wherein the plurality of selection criteria comprise at least one of a type of network, a network location, an information source, a user profile, and a time range;

(d) allowing selection of at least one of the plurality of selection criteria

(e) searching for information on the network relating to the search query;

(f) generating a filtered result by excluding portions of the information based on the selected criteria;

(g) outputting the filtered result of the searching; and

(h) repeating the search of the search query at periodic intervals and comparing the filtered results of repeated searches to determine whether new information is available.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selection criteria are pre-selected by the user and presented as default criteria for subsequent searches.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising outputting the filtered result of the search after each interval.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:

notifying a user that new information is available based on the comparison.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising allowing the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filtered result is output on a personalized information page on the network.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein repeating the search at periodic intervals uses said plurality of selection criteria.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:

notifying a user when said new information is available based on the comparison.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising: allowing the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of selection criteria includes a time range, and said filtered result consists of information having an age within the selected time range.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said information source includes a company, a publication, a newsgroup, a database, e-mail correspondence, and a user specified URL.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein said information source is further limited by geographic location.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said type of network includes a local area network, an intranet, and the World Wide Web/Internet.

14. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for allowing user selection of search filtering criteria prior to an initial search on a network, which comprises:

(a) code for displaying a query field for entering a search query;

(b) code for receiving the search query entered in the query field;

(c) code for presenting a plurality of selection criteria applicable during a search on the network, wherein the plurality of selection criteria comprise at least one of a type of network, a network location, an information source, a user profile, and a time range;

(d) code for allowing selection of at least one of the plurality of selection criteria;

(e) code for searching for information on the network relating to the search query;

(f) code for generating a filtered result by excluding portions of the information based on the selected criteria;

(g) code for outputting the filtered result of the searching; and

(h) code for repeating the search of the search query at periodic intervals and comparing the filtered results of repeated searches to determine whether new information is available.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of selection criteria are pre-selected by the user and presented as default criteria for subsequent searches.

16. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , further comprising code for outputting the filtered result of the search after each interval.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 16 , further comprising:

code for notifying a user that new information is available based on the comparison.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 17 , further comprising code for allowing the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , wherein the filtered result is output on a personalized information page on the network.

20. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 19 , wherein the code for repeating the search at periodic intervals uses said plurality of selection criteria.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 20 , further comprising:

code for notifying a user when said new information is available based on the comparison.

22. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 , further comprising: code for allowing the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

23. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of selection criteria includes a time range, and said filtered result consists of information having an age within the selected time range.

24. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , wherein said information source includes a company, a publication, a newsgroup, a database, e-mail correspondence, and a user specified URL.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein said information source is further limited by geographic location.

26. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 14 , wherein said type of network includes a local area network, an intranet, and the World Wide Web/Internet.

27. A system embodied on a computer readable medium for allowing user selection of search filtering criteria prior to an initial search on a network, which comprises:

(a) logic that displays a query field for entering a search query;

(b) logic that receives the search query entered in the query field;

(c) logic that presents a plurality of selection criteria applicable during a search on the network, wherein the plurality of selection criteria comprise at least one of a type of network, a network location, an information source, a user profile, and a time range;

(d) logic that allows selection of at least one of the plurality of selection criteria;

(e) logic that searches for information on the network relating to the search query;

(f) logic that generates a filtered result by excluding portions of the information based on the selected criteria;

(g) logic that outputs the filtered result of the searching; and

(h) logic that repeats the search of the search query at periodic intervals and compares the filtered results of repeated searches to determine whether new information is available.

28. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the plurality of selection criteria are pre-selected by the user and presented as default criteria for subsequent searches.

29. A system as recited in claim 27 , further comprising logic that outputs the filtered result of the search after each interval.

30. A system as recited in claim 29 , further comprising:

logic that notifies a user that new information is available based on the comparison.

31. A system as recited in claim 30 , further comprising logic that allows the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

32. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the filtered result is output on a personalized information page on the network.

33. A system as recited in claim 32 , wherein the logic that repeats the search at periodic intervals uses said plurality of selection criteria.

34. A system as recited in claim 33 , further comprising:

logic that notifies a user when said new information is available based on the comparison.

35. A system as recited in claim 34 , further comprising: logic that allows the user to delete portions of the filtered results.

36. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said plurality of selection criteria includes a time range, and said filtered result consists of information having an age within the selected time range.

37. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said information source includes a company, a publication, a newsgroup, a database, e-mail correspondence, and a user specified URL.

38. A system as recited in claim 37 , wherein said information source is further limited by geographic location.

39. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said type of network includes a local area network, an intranet, and the World Wide Web/Internet.