Method and apparatus for digital media management, retrieval, and collaboration
A system stores digital media records and has a search engine searching the stored digital media records. The system receives first search requests from a plurality of first users. The system performs, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records. The first search results are logged. Information is received from the first users indicative of subsequent actions by the first users selecting particular ones of the selected digital media records. A second search request is received from a second user. A search is performed, by the search engine, based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records. The second selected media records are then ranked differently, for example upward or downward, based upon the longed first search results.
1. A method for use with a system storing digital media records, the system comprising a search engine the operation of which is defined by a plurality of stored parameters, the stored parameters defining, for the search engine, an extent to which the search engine expands search terms, the system communicatively coupled to an internet and providing a hypertext transfer protocol server interface to the internet, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving from a first user, via a hypertext transfer protocol client session, a change to one of the parameters;
storing the change to the one of the stored parameters;
receiving from a second user, via a hypertext transfer protocol client session, a search request;
passing the search request to the search engine;
performing, by the search engine, a search determined by the search request and determined by the stored parameters, and deriving search results therefrom;
reporting the search results to the second user.
2. A method for use with a system storing digital media records, the system comprising a search engine searching said digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
displaying all or part of a first digital media record to a user;
receiving, from the user, first information indicative of a selection of less than all of the displayed portion of the first digital media record;
receiving, from the user, second information indicative of text;
performing, by the search engine, a search of the digital media records with respect to the first information and the second information, and deriving search results therefrom; and
displaying the search results to the user.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving first information comprises the user touching a screen to identify the portion of an image displayed on the screen.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving first information comprises the user drawing on a pad to identify the portion of an image displayed on the screen.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving second information comprises the user typing at a keyboard.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving second information comprises receiving voice information and performing speech recognition upon the voice information.
7. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users selecting particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records downward for at least one second selected digital media record that was selected by at least one first user.
8. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users selecting particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records downward for at least one second selected digital media record that was selected by at least a predetermined number of first users.
9. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users selecting particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records downward for at least one second selected digital media record that was selected at least a predetermined number of times by first users.
10. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of: first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
displaying said first selected digital media records presented in an order, said order defining a first-presented first selected digital media record;
logging the event of a first user purchasing said first-presented first selected digital media record;
reporting, to a second user, the frequency of occurrence of the logged events.
11. A method for use with a system storing digital media records for purchase and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
displaying said first selected digital media records presented in an order, said order defining a first-presented first selected digital media record;
logging the event of a first user issuing several consecutive search requests, and receiving respective first selected digital media requests greater in number than a predetermined threshold for said several consecutive search requests;
reporting, to a second user, the frequency of occurrence of the logged events.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the logged events further comprise the first user failing purchase any of the stored digital media records.
13. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users expressing interest in particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records upward for at least one second selected digital media record that was for which at least one first user expressed interest.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online shopping cart.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user purchasing rights to use the selected digital media record.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online projects folder or other work space.
17. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users expressing interest in particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records upward for at least one second selected digital media record that was for which at least a predetermined number of first users expressed interest.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online shopping cart.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user purchasing rights to use the selected digital media record.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online projects folder or other work space.
21. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users expressing interest in particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records upward for at least one second selected digital media record for which first users expressed interest at least a predetermined number of times.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online shopping cart.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user purchasing rights to use the selected digital media record.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein a user expressing interest in a selected digital media record comprises the user placing the selected digital media record into an online projects folder or other work space.
25. A method for use with a system storing digital media records and comprising a search engine searching said stored digital media records, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving first search requests from a plurality of first users;
performing, by the search engine, searches based upon the first search requests, yielding respective first search results, each first search result defining first selected digital media records;
logging the first search results;
receiving, from the first users, information indicative of subsequent actions by the first users expressing interest in particular ones of the selected digital media records;
receiving a second search request from a second user;
performing, by the search engine, a search based upon the second search request, yielding respective second search results, the second search results defining second selected digital media records;
ranking the second selected digital media records upward for at least one second selected digital media record for which expression of interest satisfies a predetermined threshold, wherein expression of interest comprises a weighted function of two or more of the following events: the user placing the selected digital media record into an online shopping cart, the user purchasing rights to use the selected digital media record, and the user placing the selected digital media record into an online projects folder or other work space.