System and method for contextual commands in a search results page
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for acting upon one or more items in a search results page. The method of the present invention comprises displaying a search engine results page (SERP), said SERP comprising a plurality of search result resources and a plurality of associated contextual controls, selecting a resource and storing a non-persistent resource identifier associated with the selected resource in response to selection of the contextual control.
1. A method for acting upon one or more items in a search results page, the method comprising:
receiving a search query from a search engine interface;
determining, in response to the search query, a plurality of search results indicating search result resources;
providing a first search engine results page a first search engine results page (“SERP”), the first SERP including a list of one or more of the search result resources and a plurality of contextual controls displayed adjacent to each of the search result resources on the list, the contextual controls including marking, saving, and sharing the one or more of the search result resources;
receiving a user selection of the one or more of the search result resources;
appending to any existing link identifiers one or more link identifiers associated with one or more of the search result resources;
generating a non-persistent resource identifier associated with the appended one or more link identifiers in response to selection of the one or more of the search result resources;
receiving a request for a second SERP, the second SERP including the selected one or more of the search result resources;
identifying the one or more link identifiers associated with the one or more of the search result resource from the resource identifier; and
modifying the second SERP on the basis of the resource identifier, the modification of the second SERP indicating a marking, saving, or sharing of the selected one or more of the search result resources.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing comprises storing a resource identifier in a SERP variable.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting the resource identifier to at least one device.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting data via an instant messaging protocol.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting data via e-mail.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the device comprises a content server operative to store the resource identifier in a persistent storage device.
7. The method of claim 1 comprising presenting the contextual control within a search history panel.
8. The method of claim 1 comprising presenting the contextual control as a drop down menu.
9. The method of claim 1 comprising presenting contextual control as a plurality of hyperlinks.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said resource identifier comprises a metadata structure comprising at least one URL and at least one URL title.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said metadata structure further comprises a plurality of URL descriptors.
12. A system for affecting one or more items in a search results page, the system comprising:
a content provider, the content provider comprising a memory and processor, coupled to a client device via a network, the content provider configured to:
generate a first search engine results page based on receiving a search query from a search engine interface and determining, in response to the search query, a plurality of search results indicating search result resources, the first search engine results page including a list of one or more of the search result resources and one or more contextual controls displayed adjacent to each of the search result resources on the list, the contextual controls including marking, saving, and sharing the one or more of the search result resources;
generate a non-persistent resource identifier associated with a selection of the one or more of the search result resources in response to a selection of contextual control to mark, save, or share the selected one or more of the search result resources, the non-persistent resource identifier includes appending to any existing link identifiers one or more link identifiers associated with the one or more of the search result resources;
receive a request for a second search engine results page, the second search engine results page including the selected one or more of the search result resources;
retrieve the resources identifier associated with the one or more of the search result resources from the resource identifier; and
modify the second search engine results page on the basis of the resource identifier, the modification of the second search engine results indicating a marking, saving, or sharing of the selected one or more of the search result resources.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the resource identifier is stored in a SERF variable.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the client device is operative to transmit the resource identifier to at least one device.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said the content server comprises a content server operative to store the resource identifier on a persistent storage device.
16. The system of claim 12 wherein the contextual control is presented within a search history panel.
17. The system of claim 12 wherein the contextual control is presented as a drop down menu.
18. The system of claim 12 wherein the contextual control is presented as a plurality of hyperlinks.
19. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more of the search result resources comprises a metadata structure comprising at least one URL and at least one URL title.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the metadata structure comprises a plurality of URL descriptors.
21. Non-transitory computer readable media comprising program code for execution by a programmable processor that instructs the processor to perform a method for acting upon one or more items in a search results page, the computer readable media comprising:
program code for receiving a search query;
program code for providing a first search engine results pave (“SERP”), the first SERP including a list of one or more of the search result resources and a plurality of contextual controls displayed adjacent to each of the search result resources on the list, the contextual controls including marking, saving, and sharing the one or more of the search result resources;
program code for receiving a user selection of the one or more of the search result resources;
program code for receiving a user selection of the one or more of the search result resources;
program code for appending to any existing link identifiers one or more link identifiers associated with the one or more of the search result resources;
program code for generating a non-persistent resource identifier associated with the appended one or more link identifiers in a response to selection of the contextual control to mark, save, or share the user selection of the one or more of the search result resources;
program code for receiving a request for a second SERP, the second SERP including the selected one or more of the search result resources;
program code for retrieving the resource identifier associated with the selected one or more of the search result resources;
program code for identifying the one or more link identifiers associated with the one or more of the search result resources from the resource identifier; and
program code for modifying the second SERP on the basis of the resource identifier, the modification of the second SERP indicating a marking, saving, or sharing of the selected one or more of the search result resources.
22. The computer readable media of claim 21 wherein the program code for storing comprises program code for storing a resource identifier in a SERP variable.
23. The computer readable media of claim 21 comprising program code for transmitting the resource identifier to at least one device.
24. The computer readable media of claim 21 comprising program code for presenting the contextual control within a search history panel.
25. The computer readable media of claim 21 comprising program code for presenting the contextual control as a drop down menu.
26. The system of claim 14 wherein the client device transmits the data via an instant messaging protocol.
27. The system of claim 14 wherein the client device transmits the data via e-mail.
28. The computer readable media of claim 23 wherein program code for transmitting comprises program code for transmitting data via an instant messaging protocol.
29. The computer readable media of claim 23 wherein program code for transmitting comprises program code for transmitting data via e-mail.
30. The computer readable media of claim 21 comprising program code for presenting contextual control as a plurality of hyperlinks.