Abstract: Techniques include transmitting a search query to a search system and receiving search results from the search system. The search results include an application access mechanism (AAM) that specifies a native application state and an application download address (ADA) that indicates a location for downloading the application. The search results also include preview data associated with the state and/or a web access mechanism (WAM) that specifies a web-based application state. The techniques further include generating a selectable link including the AAM, ADA, and one or both of the preview data and WAM, displaying the link, and receiving a user selection of the link. The techniques also include, in response to receiving the user selection, performing one or more of downloading, installing, and launching the native application, and setting the application into the state, displaying the preview data, and launching the web-based application, and setting the application into the web state.

Abstract: A method for displaying search results on a user device using a layout file includes receiving search results containing one or more result objects. Each result object includes a layout identifier, an access mechanism used to access a state of an application, and result data. For each result object the method includes retrieving a layout file of a plurality of layout files from a storage device based on the layout identifier, obtaining content based on the result data, and generating the user selectable link based on the access mechanism, the layout file, and the content. The layout file defines a template that is used to generate a user selectable link and corresponds to the application referenced by the one or more access mechanisms. The method further includes generating displayable search results using the generated user selectable links and providing, by the processing device, the displayable search results for display.

Abstract: A system provides a software object to a developer for incorporation into an application. The software object includes processor-executable instructions that, upon installation of the software object in a mobile device, register a first domain with an operating system of the mobile device. In response to receiving a first deep link from the operating system, the software object determines whether the corresponding app is installed and, if so, selects a first format and transmits the first deep link using the first format. A web redirection server listens for HTTP requests at the first domain and, in response to receiving an HTTP request, prepares and transmits a redirection message to a source of the HTTP request. The redirection message includes a plurality of access mechanisms associated with the designated state of the designated application. The redirection message includes software instructions configured to select and actuate one of the access mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of sharing a state of an application or a card from a first user device to a second user device is provided. The card is representative of the state. The method includes: receiving, at a processor of the first user device, a user share input; in response to the user share input, determining app state information; generating a data object representative of the state or the card based on the app state information; generating share and destination requests; selecting a share method and a destination link based on responses to the share and destination requests; formatting the data object to generate a message; and transmitting the message to the second user device based on the share method and the destination link. The application is executed on the processor. The transmitting of the message shares the state or the card with the second user device.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a search query from a computing device to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query, and receiving search results from the search system in response to transmitting the search query. The search results include an application access mechanism that references a native application and indicates one or more operations for the application to perform. The application performing the operations sets the application into an application state. The search results also include an application download address that indicates a location for downloading the application. The method also includes generating a user selectable link that includes the application access mechanism and the application download address, and displaying the user link. In response to receiving a user selection of the selectable link, the method also includes downloading, installing, launching, and causing the native application to perform the one or more operations.

Abstract: According to some implementations of the present disclosure, a method for displaying offline content using offline cards and instructions for executing the method are presented. In some implementations, the method includes receiving an offline card object including card data and content data, and storing the card data and the content data in an offline card cache. The method further includes detecting that the user device is in an offline condition. While the user device remains in the offline condition, the method includes: retrieving the card object from the offline card cache; displaying a card based on the card data via a user interface of the user device; receiving a selection of the card via the user interface of the user device; and displaying the content based on the content data via the user interface. The card includes a user selectable link to view content corresponding to the content data.

Abstract: A method for displaying search results on a user device using a layout file includes receiving search results containing one or more result objects. Each result object includes a layout identifier, an access mechanism used to access a state of an application, and result data. For each result object the method includes retrieving a layout file of a plurality of layout files from a storage device based on the layout identifier, obtaining content based on the result data, and generating the user selectable link based on the access mechanism, the layout file, and the content. The layout file defines a template that is used to generate a user selectable link and corresponds to the application referenced by the one or more access mechanisms. The method further includes generating displayable search results using the generated user selectable links and providing, by the processing device, the displayable search results for display.

Abstract: A system provides a software object to a developer for incorporation into an application. The software object includes processor-executable instructions that, upon installation of the software object in a mobile device, register a first domain with an operating system of the mobile device. In response to receiving a first deep link from the operating system, the software object determines whether the corresponding app is installed and, if so, selects a first format and transmits the first deep link using the first format. A web redirection server listens for HTTP requests at the first domain and, in response to receiving an HTTP request, prepares and transmits a redirection message to a source of the HTTP request. The redirection message includes a plurality of access mechanisms associated with the designated state of the designated application. The redirection message includes software instructions configured to select and actuate one of the access mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of sharing a state of an application or a card from a first user device to a second user device is provided. The card is representative of the state. The method includes: receiving, at a processor of the first user device, a user share input; in response to the user share input, determining app state information; generating a data object representative of the state or the card based on the app state information; generating share and destination requests; selecting a share method and a destination link based on responses to the share and destination requests; formatting the data object to generate a message; and transmitting the message to the second user device based on the share method and the destination link. The application is executed on the processor. The transmitting of the message shares the state or the card with the second user device.

Abstract: A method of sharing a state of an application by a first user device to a second user device is provided. The method includes: receiving at a processor of the first user device a user input to share the state, where the application is executed on the processor at the first user device; in response to the user input, generating share and destination requests selecting a share method and a destination link based on responses to the share and destination requests; determining app state information corresponding to the state; and generating via the processor a data object based on the app state information. The method further includes transmitting the data object from the processor to a sharing server or a second user device based on the share method and the destination link, wherein the transmitting of the data object shares the state with the second user device.

Abstract: A method for displaying search results on a user device using a layout file includes receiving search results containing one or more result objects. Each result object includes a layout identifier, an access mechanism used to access a state of an application, and result data. For each result object the method includes retrieving a layout file of a plurality of layout files from a storage device based on the layout identifier, obtaining content based on the result data, and generating the user selectable link based on the access mechanism, the layout file, and the content. The layout file defines a template that is used to generate a user selectable link and corresponds to the application referenced by the one or more access mechanisms. The method further includes generating displayable search results using the generated user selectable links and providing, by the processing device, the displayable search results for display.

Abstract: Methods and systems are directed to receiving a user instruction to display a set of bookmarked search results. One or more bookmark result objects can be obtained in response to the user instruction, each bookmark result object respectively corresponding to a previously received search result that a user selected for bookmarking and including one or more parameter values previously entered by a user and reference data to obtain content from a third party resource. For each of the one or more bookmark result objects, the methods and systems are further directed to requesting content from the third party resource using the reference data and the one or more parameter values; receiving the requested content from the third party resource; rendering a bookmarked search result based on the requested content; and outputting the bookmarked search result to a bookmark results page.

Abstract: Techniques include transmitting a search query to a search system and receiving search results from the search system. The search results include an application access mechanism (AAM) that specifies a native application state and an application download address (ADA) that indicates a location for downloading the application. The search results also include preview data associated with the state and/or a web access mechanism (WAM) that specifies a web-based application state. The techniques further include generating a selectable link including the AAM, ADA, and one or both of the preview data and WAM, displaying the link, and receiving a user selection of the link. The techniques also include, in response to receiving the user selection, performing one or more of downloading, installing, and launching the native application, and setting the application into the state, displaying the preview data, and launching the web-based application, and setting the application into the web state.

Abstract: Techniques include receiving a search query from a user device, determining native applications installed on the user device, and identifying function records based on the search query and the applications. In this example, each function record includes an application access mechanism (AAM) and application state information (ASI). The AAM references a native application and indicates operations for it to perform. The ASI describes a state of the application after it has performed the operations. In this example, identifying the function records based on the applications includes determining that the AAM included in each function record references one of the applications. The method further includes selecting AAMs from the identified function records, and transmitting the AAMs to the user device. Other techniques include receiving AAMs at a user device, determining native applications installed on the user device, and displaying only those of the received AAMs that reference any of the applications.

Abstract: A method for displaying search results on a user device using a layout file includes receiving search results containing one or more result objects. Each result object includes a layout identifier, an access mechanism used to access a state of an application, and result data. For each result object the method includes retrieving a layout file of a plurality of layout files from a storage device based on the layout identifier, obtaining content based on the result data, and generating the user selectable link based on the access mechanism, the layout file, and the content. The layout file defines a template that is used to generate a user selectable link and corresponds to the application referenced by the one or more access mechanisms. The method further includes generating displayable search results using the generated user selectable links and providing, by the processing device, the displayable search results for display.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a search query from a computing device to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query, and receiving search results from the search system in response to transmitting the search query. The search results include an application access mechanism that references a native application and indicates one or more operations for the application to perform. The application performing the operations sets the application into an application state. The search results also include an application download address that indicates a location for downloading the application. The method also includes generating a user selectable link that includes the application access mechanism and the application download address, and displaying the user link. In response to receiving a user selection of the selectable link, the method also includes downloading, installing, launching, and causing the native application to perform the one or more operations.