COLLABORATIVE SEARCHING

摘要

Disclosed are techniques that allow users (102, 104, 106) to collaborate in a search. Each user (102, 104, 106) can contribute (300, 400) to an original search and to refining (304, 410) the results of the search. Preferences of all of the users (102, 104, 106) are considered (308, 402) in the search even while those preferences can be kept private. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least two users (102, 104, 106) each submit (300, 304) a search query. The multiple search queries are logically combined (306) to produce (310) one set of search results. The results can be reviewed by the users (102, 104, 106) and refined (304) if necessary. In some embodiments, a search query can be specified (400) by a single user (102, 104, 106), but the search engine takes into consideration (402) the stored preferences of multiple users (102, 104, 106) (in addition to the search query itself, of course).