Systems and methods of displaying document chunks in response to a search request

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computer having memory, a display, and a processor,

while a user is browsing a document on the display,

receiving multiple user-specified search keywords from the user, wherein the search keywords have a first sequence;

identifying within the document one or more chunks, wherein a respective chunk of the one or more chunks satisfies the search keywords, and the search keywords in the respective chunk have a second sequence that is different from the first sequence;

identifying a portion of the document, the portion including the respective chunk; and

concurrently displaying the one or more chunks in a first region of the display and the identified portion in a second region of the display that is distinct from the first region, wherein the search keywords are highlighted in the respective chunk.

2. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computer having memory, a display, and a processor,

displaying a first portion of a document to a user;

upon receiving a user-specified text string that includes multiple search keywords, identifying chunks within the document that satisfy the search keywords, wherein terms in a respective chunk that satisfy the search keywords are either ordered differently from the search keywords in the user-specified text string or separated from one another by at least one term that does not satisfy any of the search keywords; and

concurrently displaying to the user the identified chunks in a first region of the display and a second portion of the document including a first chunk in a second region of the display that is distinct from the first region, wherein the second portion of the document is distinct from the first portion of the document.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different manners.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different colors.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and appears at a respective location in the document; and

displaying, at least partially, the chunk that appears above the other chunks in the document and its associated context.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and has a ranking metric of its relevancy to the search keywords; and

displaying, at least partially, the chunk that has the highest ranking metric among the chunks in the document and its associated context.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identified document is a web page.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

if there is no chunk within the document that satisfies each of the search keywords,

identifying within the document one or more chunks that satisfy any of the search keywords; and

displaying the identified chunks to the user.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identifying further includes:

generating a search query using the search keywords; and

applying the search query to the document to identify the chunk.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identified chunk is not within the initially displayed portion of the document.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second region of the display is adjacent to the first region of the display.

12. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting a user selection of a second chunk in the identified chunks; and

concurrently displaying to the user the identified chunks in the first region of the display and a third portion of the document including the second chunk in the second region of the display, wherein the third portion of the document is distinct from the second portion of the document.

13. A computer system, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including:

instructions for displaying a first portion of a document to a user;

instructions for, in response to receiving a user-specified text string that includes multiple search keywords, identifying chunks within the document that satisfy the search keywords, wherein terms in a respective chunk that satisfy the search keywords are either ordered differently from the search keywords in the user-specified text string or separated from one another by at least one term that does not satisfy any of the search keywords; and

instructions for concurrently displaying to the user the identified chunks in a first region of the display and a second portion of the document including a first chunk in a second region of the display that is distinct from the first region, wherein the second portion of the document is distinct from the first portion of the document.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different manners.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different colors.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and appears at a respective location in the document; and

instructions for displaying, at least partially, the chunk that appears above the other chunks in the document and its associated context.

17. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and has a ranking metric of its relevancy to the search keywords; and

instructions for displaying, at least partially, the chunk that has the highest ranking metric among the chunks in the document and its associated context.

18. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the identified document is a web page.

19. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying within the document one or more chunks that satisfy any of the search keywords if there is no chunk within the document that satisfies each of the search keywords; and

instructions for displaying the identified chunks to the user.

20. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions for identifying a chunk within the document further include:

instructions for generating a search query using the search keywords; and

instructions for applying the search query to the document to identify the chunk.

21. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the identified chunk is not within the initially displayed portion of the document.

22. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to:

display a first portion of a document to a user;

in response to receiving a user-specified text string that includes multiple search keywords, identify chunks within the document that satisfy the search keywords, wherein terms in a respective chunk that satisfy the search keywords are either ordered differently from the search keywords in the user-specified text string or separated from one another by at least one term that does not satisfy any of the search keywords; and

concurrently display to the user the identified chunks in a first region of the display and a second portion of the document including a first chunk in a second region of the display that is distinct from the first region, wherein the second portion of the document is distinct from the first portion of the document.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , further comprising:

instructions for highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different manners.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , further comprising:

instructions for highlighting different terms matching different search keywords in the identified chunk in different colors.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and appears at a respective location in the document; and

instructions for displaying, at least partially, the chunk that appears above the other chunks in the document and its associated context.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying multiple chunks within the document, wherein each chunk satisfies the search keywords and has a ranking metric of its relevancy to the search keywords; and

instructions for displaying, at least partially, the chunk that has the highest ranking metric among the chunks in the document and its associated context.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the identified document is a web page.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , further comprising:

instructions for identifying within the document one or more chunks that satisfy any of the search keywords if there is no chunk within the document that satisfies each of the search keywords; and

instructions for displaying the identified chunks to the user.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the instructions for identifying a chunk within the document further include:

instructions for generating a search query using the search keywords; and

instructions for applying the search query to the document to identify the chunk.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the identified chunk is not within the initially displayed portion of the document.