Accessing Search Results Using Multiple Different Devices
A method includes transmitting a search query from a searching device to a search system and receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query. Each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform. The method also includes displaying the search results on the searching device, receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device, selecting one of a plurality of performing devices using the searching device, and transmitting an indication of the user selection from the searching device to the selected performing device. The selected performing device is configured to perform the function indicated by the selected search result in response to receiving the indication.
1 . A method comprising:
transmitting, using a searching device, a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query;
receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query, wherein each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform;
displaying the search results on the searching device;
receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device;
selecting, using the searching device, one of a plurality of performing devices; and
transmitting, using the searching device, an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising displaying an indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device, wherein receiving the user selection of the performing device comprises receiving a user selection of the indication at the searching device.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device comprises displaying the indication along with the one of the search results displayed on the searching device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data comprises identifying a performing device of the plurality of performing devices that is located most proximate to the searching device using the location data, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and wherein to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.
12 . A system comprising:
a searching device;
a plurality of performing devices; and
a search system, wherein the search system is configured to receive a search query from the searching device and transmit search results that are responsive to the search query to the searching device, wherein the searching device is configured to display the search results to a user, receive a user selection of one of the search results from the user, select one of the plurality of performing devices, and transmit an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform a function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and select the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data.
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data.
19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and wherein to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.
20 . A computer program product encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
transmitting a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query;
receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query, wherein each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform;
displaying the search results on the searching device;
receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device;
selecting one of a plurality of performing devices; and
transmitting an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.