Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system to guide people (“users”) to help them find and select products, services, or other items, that best meet their needs and preferences. The system obtains information from and about users to assess their needs and preferences. The system dynamically selects those questions to ask that are most likely to help discriminate between items based on information about user preferences and differences between the items, based on information about the user obtained so far. The system scores the available items in terms of how well they match user's needs and preferences and generates lists of recommended items. The system explains its recommendations using lists of pros and cons to help users understand how well the features or attributes of the items do or do not match their expressed needs.

Abstract: Challenges to the analysis of search results may be mitigated by offering preview information when users navigate a computer-pointing device over pre-designated areas of a search result page. A separate icon in the pre-designated area enhances the advantages by providing intuitive preview ability with seamless and natural control over a variety of preview options, such as the type of preview information and the manner in which it is presented. In addition, while operating a preview-enabled search result page, users' behavior provides data and attributes, which may be re-incorporated into the searching algorithm to improve the relevancy of search results.

Abstract: Techniques to retrieve, rank and display data objects retrieved form a database are described. In particular, methods to assign a global ranking value to a data object based on a combination of that object's link-based (e.g., vector-space cluster analysis) and text-based (e.g., word frequency) ranks are described. Additional techniques to determine a set of concepts, topics or key words associated with each retrieved data objects are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a navigation path for a visitor to a Web site, the determination being based, at least in part, on one or more search terms or keywords supplied by the visitor when conducting a search at the Web site are provided. The method and apparatus allow a Web site to dynamically determine one or more navigation path options to impose on a visitor to the Web site based on one or more search terms supplied by the visitor. The method includes a step during which one or more search terms are received directly or indirectly from a visitor to a Web site; a step during which a navigation path is determined from a set or plurality of navigation paths based, at least in part, on one of the search terms received during the previous step; and a step during which the visitor's navigation in the Web is directed in accordance with the determination made.

Abstract: A method of organizing information in which the search activity of previous users is monitored and such activity is used to organize articles for future users. Personal data about future users can be used to provide different article rankings depending on the search activity and personal data of the previous users. The personal data is used in the development of an index, the index including entries for specific categories of personal data. The similarity or difference in the prior results for a query term determine if separate index entries are needed for the categories and terms being considered.

Abstract: A method of organizing information in which the search activity of previous users is monitored and such activity is used to organize articles for future users. Personal data about future users can be used to provide different article rankings depending on the search activity and personal data of the previous users.

Abstract: An information server directs users of the information server to desired sources of information where the desired sources of information are determined, at least in part, based on user input. The information server includes a query input processor, a question processor and an answer processor. The query input processor is used for accepting an initial user query. The question processor processes the initial user query to identify a set of possible well-formed questions selected from the question database, where a well-formed question is a question in the database that is coupled to at least one answer reference. The answer reference is typically either an answer or a pointer to a possible location of an answer. In a specific embodiment, the information server is coupled to the Internet so that users can pose questions using a Web browser from any Internet-connected device.

Abstract: An enhanced natural language information retrieval technique tokenizes an incoming query, comparing the tokenized representation against a collection of query templates. Query templates include a first portion having one or more query patterns representative of a query and in a form suitable for matching the tokenized representation of an incoming query. Query templates also include one or more information retrieval commands that are designed to return information relevant to those query patterns in its first portion. The enhanced natural language information retrieval technique selects those query templates that are determined to be most relevant to the incoming query (via its tokenized representation) and initiates one or more information retrieval commands associated with the selected query templates.

Abstract: A method of organizing information in which the search activity of previous users is monitored and such activity is used to organize articles for future users. Personal data about future users can be used to provide different article rankings depending on the search activity and personal data of the previous users.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system to guide people (“users”) to help them find and select products, services, or other items, that best meet their needs and preferences. The system obtains information from and about users to assess their needs and preferences. The system dynamically selects those questions to ask that are most likely to help discriminate between items based on information about user preferences and differences between the items, based on information about the user obtained so far. The system scores the available items in terms of how well they match user's needs and preferences and generates lists of recommended items. The system explains its recommendations using lists of pros and cons to help users understand how well the features or attributes of the items do or do not match their expressed needs.

Abstract: A method of organizing information in which the search activity of previous users is monitored and such activity is used to organize articles for future users. Personal data about future users can be used to provide different article rankings depending on the search activity and personal data of the previous users.