Abstract: Methods and systems for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query. A method of incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines is based in part on identifying a set of search engines associated with corresponding metadata, receiving a partial search query entered by the user of a device, inferring after each user keypress a set of potential full queries intended by the user, using the potential full queries and the search engine metadata to identify a set of relevant search engines, and for each of these search engines, providing a direct link to launch a relevant query in the search engine. The user input may be either ambiguous, or erroneous, and may be entered using an input-constrained device.

Abstract: A system for finding and presenting content items in response to keystrokes entered by a user on an input device having a known layout of overloaded keys selected from a set of key layouts. The system includes a database containing content items and terms characterizing the content items; input logic for receiving keystrokes from the user and building a string corresponding to incremental entries by the user, each item in the string having the set of alphanumeric symbols associated with a corresponding keystroke; mapping logic to map the string to the database to find the most likely content items corresponding to the incremental entries, the mapping logic operating in accordance with a defined error model corresponding to the known layout of overloaded keys; and presentation logic for ordering the most likely content items identified by the mapping logic and for presenting the most likely content items.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on context-sensitive learned user preferences is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having descriptive terms. The method includes receiving user input for identifying items and, in response thereto, presenting a subset of items. The method includes receiving user selections of said items and analyzing the descriptive terms of those items to learn the user's content preferences. The method includes determining the context in which the user performed the selections and associating those contexts with the user content preferences learned from the corresponding user selections. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, determining a context of said subsequent input and selecting and ordering a collection of items based on comparing those items' descriptive terms with the user's learned content preferences associated with the determined context in which the user entered the subsequent input.

Abstract: A method of selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signature from multiple users is provided. The method includes providing a set of content items having associated descriptive terms and receiving search input from users. The method includes presenting a subset of content items, receiving content selection actions, and learning users' preferences, wherein the preferences are weighted based on content items usage so that the user preferences are specified as a set of descriptive terms and associated weights. The method includes identifying users with similar preferences by comparing sets of learned user preferences and presenting content items to at least one user of the plurality of users by identifying for presentation content items selected by users identified as having learned user preferences that are similar to the learned user preferences of said at least one user.

Abstract: A user-interface method of selecting and presenting a collection of content items based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content is provided. The method includes associating a relevance weight on a per user basis with content items to indicate a relative measure of likelihood that the user desires the content item. The method includes receiving a user's navigation and selections actions for identifying desired content items, and in response, adjusting the associated relevance weight of the selected content item and group of content items containing the selected item. The method includes, in response to subsequent user input, selecting and presenting a subset of content items and content groups to the user ordered by the adjusted associated relevance weights assigned to the content items and content groups.

Abstract: A user-interface system and method for searching among multiple documents and searching for subsections within individual documents using a single search interface on an input-constrained user device having a screen and a keypad.