Abstract: A process and system of defining a user and/or guide profile is disclosed. Information of a user or guide profile may be obtained by designating information to be processed by a search system. Profile data may be obtained from a number of activities which produce information regarding a person who participated in the activities. A process and system is provided for creating profiles which may be used to identify persons who have information related to the profile. A searcher, user or other profile may be created, modified and managed using the process and system.

Abstract: A method and system for matching a search request to a human assistant and/or other items based on information indicated in a profile associated with the search request is described. A ranking of a guide is determined based on matching of information associated with the guide and information associated with a search request. Profile information such as demographic, geographic, personality, areas of interest, people, hobbies, etc. may be used in addition to other information such as keywords or categories which are associated with a request in order to select a guide. Items such as a search result, an advertisement, a search resource, a previous query, etc. may be selected based on profile information associated with the item. Profile information may be associated with an item based on profile information associated with a guide and/or a user who has expressed an opinion regarding the item.

Abstract: A user using a chat or instant message, mobile message or email type of interface, for example, an information seeker, can connect via an instant message, mobile message, email or chat type of service provider, for example, an America On-line Instant Messenger (AIM) server. The message server connects the user to a routine that allows the user to utilize his or her service interface in combination with the services provided by the information search system. After connection has been established via the message interface, for example, an instant message is received via the chat process. A query string can then be extracted from the instant message and passed to the search system, which can respond with search results.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the relevance of search results is disclosed. Voters who may be human searchers or guides may review search results or other review items associated with a search request or other reference item. A review may be activated based on a usage indicator(s) which may improve utilization of guides. A vote by a voter may be weighted based on a voting history associated with the voter and one or more reference voters who may be designated by the system. A voter may be presented with a group of items for review including simultaneously. A number of comparison voting sessions or elections may be used to determine a rating or ranking of a review item associated with a reference item.

Abstract: A method and system for correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request and delegating the work request to the provider using an instant message (IM) service. An instant message service including those offered by existing IM service providers is used to notify a provider that a request has been received requesting work to be performed. The instant message may include a link to details of the work being requested, establish an electronic mail communication, point to a web site or initiate an application that communicates with web-enabled services on a server connected to the Internet.

Abstract: A method and system of multi-level marketing including automatically sharing income between at least one intermediate marketing level including at least one for-profit entity, a middle level including at least one non-profit entity, and at least one lower level including a mixture of non-profit entities and for-profit entities. The for-profit entities can share a portion of or all of their income with non-profit entities such as charitable organizations. The various entities in the system can serve as sponsors to other entities.

Abstract: A method for allowing an information seeker to utilize affiliate group searching involving human searchers who are members of particular information affiliate groups. Each affiliate group has an area of expertise in which they are particularly skilled. In at least one embodiment, the method includes accepting designation of an affiliate group for providing information searching and presenting search results produced by a member of the affiliate group to an information seeker.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for generating, storing, retrieving, and utilizing a search macro or shortcut link to a resource, such as a web site that provides access to an information database. The system may load a page into an application from the resource. The resource may have a Uniform Resource Identifier, and the page may have a search field that causes the application to generate a message when activated. The system may read the Uniform Resource Identifier insert a placeholder into the search field, and activate the search field, which causes the application to generate a message. The system may read the message and parse the message to isolate a search string containing the placeholder. The system may store the search string in a data structure, and may also store the Uniform Resource Identifier and associate it with the search string in the data structure.

Abstract: A method for providing a viewable search results log to allow determination of the effectiveness of search strategies and sharing results of searches with others. The search results log reveals search strategies utilized by a human searcher with which the search results log is associated. The search results produced by at least one human searcher are stored in the search results log and presented according to a view format selected by a viewer. The search results log can be interrelated to other systems such as a blog or a search engine.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking work performed by a human worker and providing a graphic representation for gauging points, cash, credits, compensation, or other recognition earned by the human worker in association with the work. In the case of a human-assisted search engine, a sponsoring searcher or worker may sign up other searchers or workers and make a percentage of the compensation earned by the signed-up searchers.

Abstract: A method for enhancing search skills of human searchers in an information search system. The invention allows human searchers to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The training can allow the searcher to increase their performance rating, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers. The method can include determining whether a searcher is eligible to receive or provide training; and training an idle searcher with training queries, and/or search results.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing search skills of human guides in an information search system. The method allows human guides to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The method can include determining whether a guide is idle and presenting to a human guide at least one video or audio source for training the human guide. The video training can include a demonstration of the most effective method for providing search results for an information search query, thereby enabling a guide to learn effective strategies and skills for conducting information searching. The training can contribute to the likelihood of the guide being promoted to a level of a more experienced human guide, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers.

Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein provide a search system where a searcher can perform searches and earn income in the form of cash or non-cash compensation based on completed searches or other search related tasks and an associated payment system, such as a bank, where the searcher can be substantially immediately paid the earned income. As the searcher completes searches, income is posted to an account of the searcher in the search system. Upon request by the searcher, using a graphical user interface where a payment amount can be specified, the earned income corresponding to the payment amount is substantially immediately transferred from a search system account in the payment system to a searcher's account in the payment system via an account credit request sent by the search system to the payment system. The searcher's account in the search system is debited for the amount of the payment.

Abstract: A method for determining whether secondary activities (activities that can be executed during system “down time”) should be executed at a time, and executing at least one of the secondary activities according to a priority or interrupt scheme. The invention monitors a threshold, which can be based on several factors, to determine when system conditions are such that secondary activities should be conducted. When system conditions are such that secondary activities should occur, the invention conducts secondary activities according to an interrupt scheme.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for performing a search with the assistance of a computer. The system may assign a unique identifier to a user, to a query submitted to the system by the user, to a human searcher that may respond to the query, and to a result produced by a human searcher in response to the query. These unique identifiers may be stored in a database, and associated with one another. The system may receive a query from the user during a first communication session, and present the query to the searcher to perform a search responsive to the query. The searcher may produce search results and transmit the results to the system during the first communication session. The system may receive the search results from the searcher during the first communication session, and forward the results to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for qualifying keyword(s) or phrase(s) to formulate a query string for submitting a search request when the query string contains one or more keywords that may have multiple meanings associated therewith. Database information containing keywords and associated meanings or forms of the keywords is maintained and a requester is prompted to identify one or more of the meanings of a keyword when building the query string. One or more advertisements pertaining to the associated meanings or forms of the keywords in the query string is presented to the requester submitting a search request.

Abstract: A method and system for sharing and accessing resources useable to retrieve information is provided. Data of resources used by human providers to retrieve information in response to a query from requesters are maintained in a database for use in relation to subsequent queries. The method and system identifies categories and/or keywords of queries for which the resources were used to retrieve information and indicates the resources to providers and/or requesters as a search resource(s).

Abstract: A method and system providing optional use of human search guides to allow a user to select between a human guide assisted search and an automated search. The user is provided with an option of submitting a query requesting assistance of one or more human guides, initiating a search without requesting assistance from human guide(s) using automated results, or a combination of both.

Abstract: An automated tool for human assisted analysis of search results for obtaining precise results responsive to a request. A single query entry triggers a search using one or more resources and results returned from the resources are displayed in a corresponding embedded renderer. A human provider analyzes the returned results and extracts pertinent information for delivery to a requestor who submitted the query.

Abstract: A method and system providing optional use of human search guides to allow a user to select between a human guide assisted search and an automated search. The user is provided with an option of submitting a query requesting assistance of one or more human guides, initiating a search without requesting assistance from human guide(s) using automated results, or a combination of both.