Searching apparatus
A search engine at a service provider is configured to identify commercial suppliers in response to a keyword specified by a user. Keywords are received and searches are performed on an index database to identify displayable text items. Images are stored in the form of commercially relevant graphical images such as logos. A logo is linked to each item of displayable text and an output list is produced in which each text item includes a displayable graphical image. The system may store different image formats to allow the graphical images to be displayed on a variety of platforms.
1. A computerized system for identifying commercial suppliers in response to a user search, comprising:
a main server comprising:
a storage medium for storing computer components; and
a processor in communication with the storage medium for executing the computer components comprising:
a first computer component configured for receiving a keyword;
a second computer component configured for searching an index of keywords to identify the received keyword and any textual items associated therewith;
a third computer component configured for linking each of a plurality of displayable graphical images, provided to the computerized apparatus independent of any textual items being identified, wherein the displayable graphical images are stored together in an image bank and each of the displayable graphical images identifies or is associated with a commercial supplier, to a respective one of the identified textual items, so as to form stored results entries, each stored results entry being arranged to present the textual item and a displayable graphical image for simultaneous display; and
a fourth computer component configured for producing a displayable output list of the stored results entries, that include the textual items corresponding to the received keyword and the displayable graphical images linked thereto, such that when the displayable output list is displayed, a user may readily identify a desired commercial supplier from the displayable graphical images in the displayable output list.