Abstract: Computer-readable media and methods to provide a toolbar application are described. The toolbar application receives indicators for determining when a context-specific search is executed. The toolbar application monitors uniform resource locator (URL) addresses to which a browser navigates for the inclusion of an indicator. Upon identifying an indicator in a URL the toolbar application presents filters that are associated with the indicator in a toolbar user interface. A user's selection of one or more of the filters is received at the toolbar user interface and the corresponding filters are applied to the context-specific search results by modifying the identified URL with a modifier associated with a selected filter and causing the browser or search engine to re-execute the search query with the selected filters applied. The filtered search results are presented to the user. The toolbar user interface is modified to indicate the application of the selected filters.

Abstract: This patent application relates to button-activated contextual search techniques for providing contextually relevant search functionality on a display. The single button can be a search button on a pointing device (e.g., a computer mouse device, touch pad, track ball device, etc.) configured to move a pointer on the display. The pointer can be moved to a location that is on or near an entity on the display, allowing a search to be enabled and/or performed for that entity when the search button is activated (e.g., with a single user click). Furthermore, the search functionality can be based on one or more automatically generated search terms for the entity, and thus be contextually relevant to the entity.

Abstract: Various embodiments pertain to self-replenishing caches. In various embodiments, a cache on a client device automatically updates without intervention from a user and without data calls from the executable. In other words, the cache can be configured to automatically update without the executable retrieving the content from the content server and causing the content to be displayed to the user. For example, when the executable causes a different background image to be displayed each day, background images for days that a user did not interact with the executable can be cached and will be accessible to a user upon the user's next interaction with the executable. In various embodiments, the cache is configured to poll the content server on a periodic basis effective to retrieve a current version of the content.

Abstract: Architecture for installing and hosting of remote or server-based single-purpose applications (or server gadgets) on a local client. Where the client supports client gadgets that are available all the time, the server gadgets can now be installed and utilized on the client. Once installed in the client gadget framework, server gadgets can be docked or undocked. The server gadgets can be added to the client gadget framework with no modifications, and will continue to run as if running on the server. Components of the architecture include a browser plug-in (e.g., browser helper object (BHO)) that provides added functionality for the browser being employed, a client hosting application for hosting server gadgets on the client, and methods by which the client hosting application can interact with the server gadget and the server gadget can interact with the client hosting application. An installer is provided to install these components.

Abstract: This patent application relates to button-activated contextual search techniques for providing contextually relevant search functionality on a display. The single button can be a search button on a pointing device (e.g., a computer mouse device, touch pad, track ball device, etc.) configured to move a pointer on the display. The pointer can be moved to a location that is on or near an entity on the display, allowing a search to be enabled and/or performed for that entity when the search button is activated (e.g., with a single user click). Furthermore, the search functionality can be based on one or more automatically generated search terms for the entity, and thus be contextually relevant to the entity.

Abstract: Computer-readable media and methods to provide a toolbar application are described. The toolbar application receives indicators for determining when a context-specific search is executed. The toolbar application monitors uniform resource locator (URL) addresses to which a browser navigates for the inclusion of an indicator. Upon identifying an indicator in a URL the toolbar application presents filters that are associated with the indicator in a toolbar user interface. A user's selection of one or more of the filters is received at the toolbar user interface and the corresponding filters are applied to the context-specific search results by modifying the identified URL with a modifier associated with a selected filter and causing the browser or search engine to re-execute the search query with the selected filters applied. The filtered search results are presented to the user. The toolbar user interface is modified to indicate the application of the selected filters.

Abstract: The invention presents a system and method for reserving space within a browser for a requesting component. The invention can reserve space above, below, to the right, or to the left of a main browsing section for a requesting component. The invention can adjust the main browsing section in order to fit a plurality of spaces created for requesting components. The spaces reserved can be presented in a manner that does not obstruct any viewable areas of the main browsing section.

Abstract: Architecture for installing and hosting of remote or server-based single-purpose applications (or server gadgets) on a local client. Where the client supports client gadgets that are available all the time, the server gadgets can now be installed and utilized on the client. Once installed in the client gadget framework, server gadgets can be docked or undocked. The server gadgets can be added to the client gadget framework with no modifications, and will continue to run as if running on the server. Components of the architecture include a browser plug-in (e.g., browser helper object (BHO)) that provides added functionality for the browser being employed, a client hosting application for hosting server gadgets on the client, and methods by which the client hosting application can interact with the server gadget and the server gadget can interact with the client hosting application. An installer is provided to install these components.