Abstract: A search apparatus includes a search engine administrator configured to receive at least one bid from a plurality of sponsors, each bid corresponding to a fee to be paid by a corresponding one of the sponsors for placement of an associated listing; and a search engine configured to receive a query from a user, identify a plurality of documents relevant to the query based, at least in part, on the bid of at least one of the plurality of sponsors, and generate a search results page with a listing for each of the identified documents, wherein display placement of each listing relative to other listings is based, at least in part, on the bid of at least one of the plurality of sponsors.

Abstract: A system and method and method for personalized searching of a computer network, such as a local area network or the world wide web, is disclosed. The method involves submitting a user search query, submitting the search query and a user profile to a search engine, processing the search query based on a user profile to calculate the relevancy of search results, and returning highly personalized search results to the user based upon the calculated relevancy. The user profile may include declared and observed information. Declared information includes information provided by the user, such as, for example, individual and demographic information. Observed information is gathered by the system by reviewing user word usage gathered from the user's documents, machine configuration, e-mail and instant messages, and other areas. The system may compare words to a baseline to determine the relative incidence of word usage for inclusion into the user's profile.

Abstract: A search engine for dynamically generating search results for the user is disclosed. In one embodiment, the user submits a first search query for searching a primary database, such as the content obtained from the World Wide Web, and the search engine obtains primary search listings based upon the search query, which search listings are distinguished from banner advertisements. The system then performs a further search of one or more secondary databases. The secondary search is initiated by the user or automatically by the system, based upon one or more search parameters. The secondary databases may include internal databases maintained by a provider of goods or services, databases that are updated in real time, or databases that include data obtained from a variety of different sources. Examples of secondary databases include inventory databases, product information databases, scheduling databases, market-related databases, location databases or any other database.