US 10180952

US patent 10180952, titled "Search engine," was issued on January 15, 2019, from an application filed on April 29, 2016. The original assignee was Newsplug Inc, with the current assignee being Search And Share Technologies LLC. The inventors are John S. Shriber and Roman Zaks.

Abstract:
The patent describes a search engine designed to index web content based on user-generated content. A server computer receives an identification of web content from a first user, who has viewed this content in their web browser's main window. This identification is transmitted via a separate user interface. The server then indexes this web content. Subsequently, upon receiving a search query from a second user, the server transmits search results that include the web content identified by the first user, positioning it relative to other web content submissions from other users.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim outlines a method performed by a server computer. The method involves:

  1. Providing a first user interface that operates on a first client computer. This interface is separate from the web browser's main window and automatically displays a portion of third-party content based on user-defined settings.
  2. Receiving a submission related to this third-party content from the first user via the first user interface.
  3. Indexing the third-party content based on this user submission.
  4. Ranking the third-party content based on a rating provided by the first user in their submission.
  5. Receiving a search query from a second client computer operated by a second user.
  6. Selecting a set of search results, which includes an identification of the third-party content, based on the indexing and ranking.
  7. Transmitting these search results to the second client computer.

• Independent Claim 7 (Computing Device): This claim defines a computing device (e.g., a server computer) comprising a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to perform the same sequence of actions as described in Method Claim 1. Specifically, it involves providing a user interface, receiving submissions, indexing content, ranking content, processing search queries, selecting search results, and transmitting them.

• Independent Claim 14 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Storage Medium): This claim describes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions. When these instructions are executed by a server computer, they cause the server computer to perform the same set of operations detailed in Method Claim 1, including providing a user interface, receiving submissions, indexing content, ranking content, processing search queries, selecting search results, and transmitting them.

Litigation Status:
The patent family has ongoing litigation. A PTAB case, IPR2026-00244, has been filed and is currently pending. Additionally, US cases related to this patent family have been filed in the Texas Western District Court. First worldwide family litigation has also been filed.