System, method and computer program product for concept-based searching and analysis

1. A method, comprising:

receiving from a first user a first search query;

providing a first set of one or more search results including identification of a plurality of content items responsive to the first search query;

forming a concept hierarchy based at least in part on one or more concepts, each concept from the one or more concepts being based on a meaning extracted from at least one content item from the plurality of content items and comprising at least one of:

a word;

an image;

a number;

a symbol;

an idea;

a meaning in a context; or

a relationship between two or more of:

a word;

an image;

a number;

a symbol;

a document; or

a data set;

revising, in response to user input, at least a portion of the concept hierarchy, the revising including at least one of:

deleting a first user-selected concept from the concept hierarchy;

inserting a first user-defined concept into the concept hierarchy; and

revising a relationship between a second user-selected concept and a third user-selected concept in the concept hierarchy;

forming a second search query based at least in part on one or more of:

the first user-defined concept;

the first user-selected concept if not previously deleted;

the second user-selected concept,

the third user-selected concept; and

a fourth user-selected concept from the concept hierarchy;

providing a second set of one or more search results responsive to the second search query;

storing unstructured analysis created by the first user and received from the first user, the unstructured analysis being based on at least one of:

the concept hierarchy; and

at least a portion of the second set of one or more search results; and

providing to a second user:

at least a portion of the second set of one or more search results; and

the unstructured analysis,

wherein at least one of the receiving, providing a first set, forming a concept hierarchy, revising, forming a second search query, providing a second set, storing and providing to a second user is performed at a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

extracting from each content item from the plurality of content items a portion of that content item associated with at least one instance of a fifth user-selected concept; and

creating a text file including at least the portions and a listing of that content item corresponding to each portion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming the concept hierarchy includes:

identifying one or more concepts in the first search query;

identifying one or more content items from the plurality of content items in which a concept from the one or more concepts is present; and

forming the concept hierarchy based at least in part on the one or more concepts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the concept hierarchy includes one or more levels of concepts and subconcepts, further comprising:

displaying to an output device a visual representation of the concept hierarchy that includes a visual representation of the one or more levels of concepts and subconcepts.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming the second search query includes:

converting the second search query into a first form compatible with a first search engine;

converting the second search query into a second form compatible with a second search engine;

submitting the second search query in the first form to the first search engine; and

submitting the second search query in the second form to the second search engine.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing to a third user at least a portion of the second set of one or more search results in a database accessible over a network.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing to a third user at least a portion of the second set of one or more search results in a downloadable file.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing to the second user includes receiving user authentication information, verifying the user authentication information, and displaying to a screen the portion of the second set of one or more search results and the unstructured analysis.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing to a display the second set of one or more search results.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the second set of one or more search results to a third user via electronic mail.

11. A method, comprising:

submitting a first signal that includes a first search query by a first user;

receiving:

a first set of one or more search results including identification of a plurality of content items responsive to the first search query; and

a concept hierarchy based at least in part on one or more concepts, each concept from the one or more concepts being based on a meaning extracted from at least one content item from the plurality of content items and comprising at least one of:

a word;

an image;

a number;

a symbol;

an idea;

a meaning in a context; or

a relationship between two or more of:

a word;

an image;

a number;

a symbol;

a document; or

a data set;

submitting a second signal indicating a desired revision to at least a portion of the concept hierarchy, the second signal including an instruction to perform at least one of:

deleting a first user-selected concept from the concept hierarchy;

inserting a first user-defined concept into the concept hierarchy; and

revising a relationship between a second user-selected concept and a third user-selected concept in the concept hierarchy;

submitting a third signal that includes a second search query based at least in part on one or more of:

the first user-defined concept;

the first user-selected concept if not previously deleted;

the second user-selected concept;

the third user-selected concept; and

a fourth user-selected concept from the concept hierarchy;

receiving a second set of one or more search results responsive to the second search query; and

sending to a second user:

at least a portion of the second set of one or more search results; and

unstructured analysis created by the first user on at least one of:

the concept hierarchy; and

a portion of the second set of one or more search results,

wherein at least one of the submitting a first signal, receiving a first set, submitting a second signal, submitting a third signal, receiving a second set and sending to a user is performed at a processor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the submitting the first signal includes submitting the first search query to a search engine, further comprising:

selecting the search engine from among a plurality of search engines.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the search engine is a first search engine and the submitting the second signal includes submitting the second search query to a second search engine different from the first search engine.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the submitting the first signal includes submitting the first search query to a search engine, further comprising:

specifying through text input addressing information of the search engine.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the second search query is based at least in part on a user-created profile including at least one of:

user preferences;

user education information;

preferred user search engines; and

user interests.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein each concept from the one or more concepts represents an idea or meaning in a context.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal indicating a desired revision to at least a portion of the concept hierarchy further includes a signal to revise a definition of the first user-selected concept.