METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED INITIATION OF SEARCH QUERIES FROM COMPUTER DISPLAYED CONTENT

摘要

A method of generating search queries automatically from document text or other media objects based on a minimum of user interaction. For each defined type of user input action (e.g. 'single-click' or 'tap'), there is a predetermined 'search target.' The search target options are defined in a locally stored configuration file. An algorithm determines the search term (e.g. word or set of words) the user desires when pointing to an area of text on a screen. A 'hover-click' methodology is employed that activates the search functionality as a result of the user hovering the cursor over the intended term for a period of time. A parsing engine matches the search target URL being queried to a database of known search targets, and appends additional information from a search target profile in the database (such as an ID or affiliate number) to the predetermined query string.