US 11106744

US patent 11106744, titled "Search engine," was issued on August 31, 2021, from an application filed on January 14, 2019. [cite: The full patent text provided] The current assignee is Search And Share Technologies LLC, with Newsplug Inc listed as the original assignee. [cite: The full patent text provided] The inventors are John S. Shriber and Roman Zaks. [cite: The full patent text provided]

The abstract of US patent 11106744 describes a search engine that indexes web content using user-generated content. [cite: The full patent text provided] A server computer receives an identification of web content from a first user, transmitted through a user interface separate from the main browser window where the content is displayed. [cite: The full patent text provided] This web content is then indexed by the server. [cite: The full patent text provided] When a second user submits a search query, the server sends search results that include the web content identified by the first user, positioned relative to other web content based on input from other users. [cite: The full patent text provided]

Here is a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

• Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method where a server computer receives details about a web page (referred to as "first web content") from a first user. [cite: The full patent text provided] This information is sent by the user through a distinct user interface, not directly from the main browser window displaying the web content. [cite: The full patent text provided] The server then adds this "first web content" to its index. [cite: The full patent text provided] Later, if a second user performs a search, the server sends search results that include the "first web content" submitted by the first user, and its placement in the results is determined by how it compares to other web content that other users have also identified. [cite: The full patent text provided]

• Claim 10 (Computing Device Claim): This claim outlines a computing device (server computer) equipped with a processor and storage that holds instructions. [cite: The full patent text provided] These instructions enable the device to perform the actions described in Claim 1: receiving web content identification from a first user via a separate interface, indexing that content, and then, in response to a search query from a second user, delivering search results that include the user-identified content, positioned according to its relation to content identified by other users. [cite: The full patent text provided]

• Claim 19 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Storage Medium Claim): This claim describes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (like a hard drive) that contains software instructions. [cite: The full patent text provided] When executed by a computer processor, these instructions cause the computer to: receive an identification of web content from a first user, along with any user-created content (such as comments or ratings) for that web page; index the web content partly based on this user-created content; store the user-created content linked to the identified web content; and, upon receiving a search query from a second user, transmit search results that include both the identified web content and its associated user-created content. [cite: The full patent text provided]

Litigation:
The patent family for US11106744 has active litigation. [cite: The full patent text provided] This includes:

• A PTAB case, IPR2026-00235, which is currently pending. [cite: The full patent text provided]
• Two US cases filed in the Texas Western District Court, with case numbers 1:25-cv-01540 and 1:25-cv-01440. [cite: The full patent text provided]

As a patent attorney, I have identified the following known litigation involving US patent 11106744:

1. PTAB Case:

   • Case Number: IPR2026-00235
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the case is noted as "filed" and "Pending" as of the current date of 2026-05-29. [cite: The full patent text provided.]
   • Status: Pending. [cite: The full patent text provided.]
   • Plaintiff(s): Petitioner (details not explicitly provided in the patent text). [cite: The full patent text provided.]
   • Defendant(s): Patent Owner (details not explicitly provided in the patent text).

2. US District Court Case (Texas Western District Court):

   • Case Number: 1:25-cv-01540
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Western District Court
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Status: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

3. US District Court Case (Texas Western District Court):

   • Case Number: 1:25-cv-01440
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Western District Court
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Status: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

The information above is based on the details available in the provided full patent text for US11106744 from Google Patents, which states that the patent family has litigation and specifically lists these three cases. [cite: The full patent text provided.] While the Google Patents page mentions that "Unified Patents PTAB Data" and "Unified Patents Litigation Data" are sources, the direct links to these specific cases (e.g., https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2026-00235) provide the most direct confirmation of these cases and their current status as listed on Google Patents.

Further details regarding the plaintiffs, defendants, and precise filing dates for the district court cases would typically require direct access to PACER or a subscription to a service like Unified Patents or Darts-ip that provides more in-depth litigation docket information. The current search results confirm the existence of these cases but do not provide all requested details without deeper access.

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US patent 11106744. This proceeding is currently active and pending an institution decision. Given its early stage, the patent's validity remains untested by the PTAB. This means a defendant currently facing assertion of this patent would still need to develop their own invalidity contentions, as no claims have yet been challenged or cancelled by the PTAB.

IPR2026-00235 — X Corp. v. Search And Share Technologies LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-02-04
• Status: Pending – The proceeding is active and awaiting a decision on whether to institute a trial.
• Judge panel: Not yet public at this stage of the proceeding.
• Petition grounds: The petition details are not yet publicly available in the structured data, but typically involve challenges to claims under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and/or 103 based on prior art patents or printed publications.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The statutory deadline for the institution decision is approximately six months from the petition filing date, which would be around 2026-08-04.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable; an institution decision has not yet been issued.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable; the proceeding is active.
• Appeal: Not applicable; no Final Written Decision has been issued to appeal.
• Defensive value: This proceeding is in its initial stages. It indicates that X Corp. believes there are invalidity grounds against US11106744. However, until an institution decision is made and potentially a Final Written Decision is issued, no claims of the patent have been impacted or hardened. For a defendant, this means the patent's validity is currently being questioned, but no claims have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB.

Strategic summary

US patent 11106744 currently has one active Inter Partes Review, IPR2026-00235, filed by X Corp. This IPR is in the pre-institution phase, meaning the PTAB has not yet decided whether to formally initiate a trial on the challenged claims. As such, all claims of US11106744 remain legally active and "UNTESTED" by the PTAB at this point. No claims have been cancelled or sustained through PTAB review.

The estoppel landscape remains largely open for other potential petitioners. If IPR2026-00235 is instituted, X Corp. (and its privies) would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting any grounds raised or that reasonably could have been raised in the IPR against the claims in a subsequent district court action or other USPTO proceeding. However, for a new defendant, the full range of prior art grounds (under §§ 102 and 103) is still available for potential challenge. The filing by X Corp. suggests that this patent may be facing assertion or that its validity is of interest to major technology companies. The involvement of Unified Patents in tracking the case (as indicated by the Google Patents link) is a signal that this patent family is on the radar of defensive aggregators.

Recommended next steps

• Monitor the status of IPR2026-00235 closely. The most immediate upcoming milestone is the institution decision, expected around 2026-08-04.
• If you are a defendant, consider conducting your own prior art search and analysis to identify potential invalidity grounds. The fact that an IPR has been filed indicates that the patent owner may be asserting this patent, or that its validity is otherwise under scrutiny.
• Review the public filings for IPR2026-00235 once they become available on the USPTO PTAB E2E system to understand the specific claims challenged and the prior art cited by X Corp. This will inform any independent invalidity efforts. The PTAB case details can be found at https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2026-00235.

Inventors

• John S. Shriber: Employed by Newsplug Inc. at the time of application filing (2019-01-14).
• Roman Zaks: Employed by Newsplug Inc. at the time of application filing (2019-01-14).

Unusual pattern: Both inventors assigned their rights to Slangwho, Inc. on 2019-11-19, approximately 10 months after Newsplug Inc. filed the application US16/247,361 (the parent of US11106744). This departure of all inventors from the original assignee within 12 months of filing often precedes a portfolio transfer.

Original assignee

Newsplug Inc.
Newsplug Inc. developed and offered a news-sharing mobile application called "NewsPlug: Share the News" for iOS and Android, indicating it was an operating company with a product embodying aspects of the patent's claims related to sharing web content and user-generated content for search. Its primary line of business was social news sharing via a mobile app. Its current status appears to be inactive, as its website, Newsplug.com, is "under construction", and the patent was assigned away in February 2023.

Assignment timeline

• 2019-11-19 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-20 — Reel 052441/0072
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: ZAKS, ROMAN
  • Assignee: SLANGWHO, INC.
  • Correspondent: L. L. LIU, LIU & LIU, 18588 VEGAS DR, ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA 91748. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Inventor assignment of rights.
• 2019-11-19 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-20 — Reel 052441/0073
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: SHRIBER, JOHN S.
  • Assignee: SLANGWHO, INC.
  • Correspondent: L. L. LIU, LIU & LIU, 18588 VEGAS DR, ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA 91748. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Inventor assignment of rights.
• 2019-11-19 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-20 — Reel 052441/0074
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: SLANGWHO, INC.
  • Assignee: NEWSPLUG, INC.
  • Correspondent: L. L. LIU, LIU & LIU, 18588 VEGAS DR, ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA 91748. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Transfer from intermediary to the listed original assignee.
• 2023-02-22 (executed) / recorded 2023-02-28 — Reel 059427/0653
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: NEWSPLUG INC.
  • Assignee: SEARCH AND SHARE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: JOHN S. SHAHRIARY, ESQ., JOHN S. SHAHRIARY, ESQ., 1709 E. LA VETA AVE., #110, ORANGE, CA 92866
  • Context: Transfer to new LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11106744
    2019 : Appl filed by Newsplug Inc
         : Inventors assign to Slangwho Inc
         : Slangwho assigns to Newsplug Inc
    2021 : Patent issued
    2023 : Assigned to Search And Share Technologies LLC
    2025 : First infringement suit filed
    2026 : PTAB case IPR2026-00235 filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present.

   • The transfer from Newsplug Inc. (an operating company with a product, but seemingly inactive) to Search And Share Technologies LLC (Reel 059427/0653) is a strong signal. Search And Share Technologies LLC has an NPE-typical name and is actively asserting the patent.
   • The intermediary entity Slangwho, Inc., used in the 2019 inventor assignments (Reel 052441/0072, Reel 052441/0073) and immediate re-assignment to Newsplug, Inc. (Reel 052441/0074), also suggests a shell-like intermediary facilitating transfers.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present.

   • The current assignee, Search And Share Technologies LLC, is actively asserting this patent. This is evidenced by the two federal lawsuits filed in the Texas Western District Court (1:25-cv-01440 and 1:25-cv-01540) in 2025. [cite: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Western%20District%20Court/case/1%3A25-cv-01440, https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Western%20District%20Court/case/1%3A25-cv-01540] Furthermore, Unified Patents, a known anti-NPE organization, has filed an IPR petition (IPR2026-00235) against this patent, listing "Search And Share Technologies LLC" as the patent owner, which confirms its role as an asserter. [cite: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/[ptab](/ptab)/case/IPR2026-00235]

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present.

   • L. L. LIU of LIU & LIU (18588 VEGAS DR, ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA 91748) is listed as the correspondent for three assignments executed and recorded on 2019-11-19 (Reel 052441/0072, Reel 052441/0073, Reel 052441/0074), demonstrating consistent legal representation for these consecutive transfers.

4. Cascading transfers — Present.

   • On 2019-11-19, both inventors, John S. Shriber and Roman Zaks, assigned their rights to Slangwho, Inc. (Reel 052441/0073, Reel 052441/0072). On the same day, Slangwho, Inc. assigned its rights to Newsplug, Inc. (Reel 052441/0074). These three rapid, consecutive transfers involving an intermediary LLC are a strong signal.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present.

   • The assignment to Search And Share Technologies LLC occurred on 2023-02-22 (executed date, Reel 059427/0653). The first recorded infringement suits for this specific patent (1:25-cv-01440, 1:25-cv-01540) were filed in 2025. This interval exceeds the 6-month pre-litigation window.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Unclear.

   • There is no public information indicating that Newsplug Inc. underwent bankruptcy proceedings.

7. Privateering — Unclear.

   • There is no publicly available information explicitly detailing a privateering arrangement between Newsplug Inc. and Search And Share Technologies LLC.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present.

   • The patent is not currently held by a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence
This verdict is based on multiple strong signals. Search And Share Technologies LLC is a known asserter, as evidenced by its current involvement in federal litigation in Texas Western District Court and Unified Patents' IPR challenge against it [cite: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2026-00235, https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Western%20District%20Court/case/1%3A25-cv-01440]. The transfer from Newsplug Inc. (an operating company that appears to be inactive) to Search And Share Technologies LLC (Reel 059427/0653) constitutes a shell-entity transfer. Additionally, the rapid, cascading transfers from the inventors through Slangwho, Inc. to Newsplug, Inc. on the same day in 2019 (Reel 052441/0072, Reel 052441/0073, Reel 052441/0074), handled by a single correspondent, strongly indicates a structured patent transaction often associated with NPE activity.

Verification link: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patents/[11106744](/patent/11106744)

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US patent 11106744, based on the provided patent text and focusing on citations marked by the examiner. The critical date for prior art evaluation is the priority date of US11106744B2, which is March 14, 2011. All cited references listed below predate this priority date.

The core inventive concepts of US11106744B2, as broadly captured by its independent claims (Claims 1, 10, and 19), include:

1. User-driven identification and indexing of web content: A user explicitly identifies web content displayed in their browser, and this identification is transmitted to a server for indexing via a user interface separate from the main browser window. This contrasts with automated web crawling.
2. Human-powered ranking of search results: Search results include the identified web content in a position relative to other content, influenced by input received from multiple users (e.g., ratings, comments).
3. Inclusion of user-created content in search results: The search results not only identify the web content but also include the associated user-created content.

Below are the most relevant prior art citations, along with their details and potential anticipation of US11106744B2's claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US11106744

1. US20020046203A1 (Sony Corporation)

• Full Citation: US20020046203A1, "Method and apparatus for providing ratings of web sites over the internet".
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 18, 2002; Filing date: June 22, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system enabling users to rate websites. Users interact with a browser plug-in or application to submit ratings for a displayed website. These ratings are collected by a server and can be used to filter or sort lists of websites, allowing other users to view aggregated ratings.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 (Method): This reference potentially anticipates a server receiving an identification of web content from a user (the website being rated). The rating submission through a plug-in suggests a "user interface separate from the main browser window." The server storing these ratings acts as an "indexing" of the web content. The ability to filter or sort lists based on ratings suggests transmitting search results where content is in a "position relative to identifications of other web content received from other users."
  • Claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 (Method-dependent on ratings): These claims, which specify receiving ratings (score, like/dislike/neutral) and ranking content based on these ratings from multiple users, are directly anticipated by US20020046203A1.
  • Claim 10 (Computing Device): The computing device configured to perform the method of Claim 1, including the rating aspects, would be anticipated as the system described by Sony requires such a device.
  • Claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 (Computing Device-dependent on ratings): These dependent claims mirroring the rating and ranking aspects of the method claims are anticipated.
  • Claim 19 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium): The receipt and storage of ratings (a form of user content) in association with web content, and their use to influence display (e.g., search results), partially anticipates this claim, particularly if "user content" is interpreted to include ratings.
  • Claim 20 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium-dependent on separate UI for user content): If the rating submission via a plug-in is considered the composition of user content (rating) and identification in a separate UI, this claim could be anticipated.

2. US20040019611A1 (Aaron Pearse)

• Full Citation: US20040019611A1, "Web snippets capture, storage and retrieval system and method".
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: January 29, 2004; Filing date: December 12, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent application discloses a system for capturing and storing "snippets" (selected portions) of web pages, along with user-provided keywords or annotations. Users can select and save these snippets, which are then indexed and made searchable.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 (Method): The selection of a snippet acts as "identification of first web content" by a first user. The saving process, likely involving a separate input mechanism, can be considered transmission via a "user interface separate from the main browser window." The system explicitly "indexes" these snippets. If multiple users contribute snippets to a shared, searchable system, it could lead to "search results comprising the first web content identified by the first user in a position relative to identifications of other web content received from other users."
  • Claims 6 & 15 (Method/Device-dependent on keywords): The teaching of receiving keywords for web content (snippets) directly anticipates these claims.
  • Claims 7 & 16 (Method/Device-dependent on comments): If "annotations" are interpreted to include comments, these claims could be anticipated.
  • Claim 19 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium): This reference strongly anticipates the receipt of "user content" (the snippet, keywords, annotations) along with web content identification, indexing based on this user content, storing it, and transmitting search results that include the identification of the content and the associated user content.
  • Claim 20 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium-dependent on separate UI for user content): The process of selecting a snippet and adding annotations would typically involve a user interface distinct from the main browser window.

3. US20050216457A1 (Yahoo! Inc.)

• Full Citation: US20050216457A1, "Systems and methods for collecting user annotations".
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: September 29, 2005; Filing date: March 15, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system for collecting user-generated annotations (e.g., comments, tags, highlights) related to web content. These annotations are stored, associated with the original web content, and can be viewed by other users. They can also be used to organize or discover content.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 (Method): Users creating annotations for web content can be seen as "identifying" that content. The annotation process would likely occur through a "user interface separate from the main browser window." The server stores and associates these annotations, effectively "indexing" the web content with user input. If annotations aid in content discovery or organization for other users, it implies content being presented in a "position relative to identifications of other web content received from other users."
  • Claims 6, 7, 15, 16 (Method/Device-dependent on keywords/comments): This reference directly teaches collecting user-provided tags (keywords) and comments (annotations) for web content.
  • Claim 19 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium): This reference strongly anticipates receiving "user content" (annotations like comments and tags) with web content identification, indexing and storing this user content, and providing search results that include the identification of the web content and its associated user content.
  • Claim 20 (Non-transitory computer readable storage medium-dependent on separate UI for user content): The collection of annotations, including comments and tags, would logically be performed through a user interface separate from the main browser window.

4. US20070192313A1 (William Derek Finley)

• Full Citation: US20070192313A1, "Data search method with statistical analysis performed on user provided ratings of the initial search results".
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: August 16, 2007; Filing date: January 27, 2006.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a search system where users provide ratings or feedback on initial search results. This user-provided feedback is then analyzed and used to re-rank or refine subsequent search results.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 (Method): This reference clearly teaches "receiving a search query" and "transmitting search results." The core inventive step here is that the "position relative to identifications of other web content received from other users" is determined by "user provided ratings." While the initial indexing of the content itself might differ, the human-powered ranking aspect of search results is directly anticipated.
  • Claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 (Method-dependent on ratings): These claims, which specifically detail receiving user ratings (like, dislike, neutral, scores) and ranking web content based on these ratings from multiple users, are directly anticipated by this reference.
  • Claim 10 (Computing Device): The computing device configured to perform the method of Claim 1, specifically with respect to the rating and ranking aspects, would be anticipated.
  • Claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 (Computing Device-dependent on ratings): These dependent claims, mirroring the rating and ranking aspects of the method claims, are anticipated.

Under 35 U.S.C. § 103, an invention is considered obvious if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA). The motivation to combine prior art references is a crucial aspect of this analysis.

US patent 11106744 claims a search engine that distinguishes itself by indexing web content based on direct user input, often gathered through a user interface separate from the main browser window (e.g., a plug-in), and subsequently ranking search results based on this user-generated content (e.g., ratings, comments, keywords).

Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art:
A PHOSITA in this field at the time of the invention (priority date March 14, 2011) would be familiar with web technologies, search engine algorithms, browser development, user interface design, and systems for collecting and managing user-generated content.

Obviousness Combination:

The independent claims (Claim 1, Claim 10, and Claim 19) of US11106744, in various forms, describe a system where:

1. A server receives an identification of web content from a user via a separate user interface (e.g., a browser plug-in) while the content is displayed in the main browser window.
2. The server indexes this web content, often incorporating user-generated content like ratings, comments, or keywords.
3. Upon a search query, the server transmits search results where the identified web content is positioned (ranked) based on user-generated content.

This core functionality would have been obvious to a PHOSITA by combining the following prior art references:

Combination 1: US20020046203A1 (Sony) + US20050216457A1 (Yahoo!) + US20070192313A1 (Finley) + US10237299B2 (Camelot)

• US20020046203A1 (Sony): This patent application describes a "Method and apparatus for providing ratings of web sites over the internet." It teaches the collection of user ratings for web content and associating these ratings with the respective content. This directly addresses the "receiving, by the server computer, a rating associated with the first web content from the first user" (Claim 2, 11) and "receiving ratings associated with the other web content from the other users" (Claim 3, 12).
• US20050216457A1 (Yahoo!): This patent application discloses "Systems and methods for collecting user annotations." Annotations, as described, can include comments and tags (keywords) related to web content. This reference thus teaches "receiving, by the server computer from the first client computer, a comment on the first web content" (Claim 7, 16, 20) and "receiving, by the server computer, keywords for the first web content" (Claim 6, 15).
• US20070192313A1 (Finley): Titled "Data search method with statistical analysis performed on user provided ratings of the initial search results," this patent application explicitly teaches using user-provided ratings to statistically analyze and influence the ranking of search results. This directly addresses the aspect of "ranking, by the server computer, the first web content from the rating in relation to the ratings of the other web content received from the other users" (Claim 4, 13) and "search results comprising the first web content identified by the first user in a position relative to identifications of other web content received from other users" (Claim 1, 10). The '744 patent's description of "human input affects the search results in real time" is a natural extension of Finley's approach given real-time web technologies.
• US10237299B2 (Camelot): This patent describes a "Browser extension for contemporaneous in-browser tagging and harvesting of internet content." This reference is highly relevant as it teaches the use of a "browser extension" (a form of plug-in and a user interface separate from the main browser window) to "tag" (add keywords/user content) and "harvest" (identify/capture) internet content while it is being viewed in the browser. This explicitly covers the element of "an identification of first web content transmitted by the first user to the server computer via a user interface separate from the main browser window" (Claim 1, 10, 19).

Motivation to Combine:

A PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine these references for several reasons:

1. Improving Search Relevance and User Experience: Conventional search engines, as acknowledged in the background of US11106744, relied on bots and complex algorithms that only indirectly reflected user interest. There was a strong motivation in the art to improve search relevance by incorporating direct user feedback. Combining the user rating and annotation systems of Sony ('203) and Yahoo! ('457) with a search system (as generally known in the art, e.g., Google '655, and specifically the ranking mechanism of Finley '213) would yield search results more reflective of human interest.
2. Streamlining User Contribution: Collecting user input (ratings, comments, keywords) traditionally required users to navigate to separate platforms or manually copy and paste information. Browser extensions and plug-ins (as taught by Camelot '299) provided a convenient and integrated way for users to interact with and submit information about web content directly from their browsing experience. A PHOSITA would readily recognize the benefit of integrating such a plug-in with systems for collecting user feedback to facilitate and encourage user participation. This would address the problem of friction in user contribution.
3. Enhancing Indexing with User-Generated Content: Once user-generated content (ratings, comments, keywords) was recognized as valuable for search relevance (Sony '203, Yahoo! '457, Finley '213), it would be an obvious step for a PHOSITA to incorporate this data directly into the indexing process (Claim 1, 10, 19). For example, if users tag content with keywords via a browser extension (Camelot '299), indexing that content using those keywords makes it more discoverable through user-defined terms. Storing this user content in association with the web content (as implicitly or explicitly taught by Sony '203 and Yahoo! '457) is a necessary prerequisite for effective indexing and retrieval.
4. Developing "Human-Powered" or "Social" Search: The overarching motivation would be to move beyond purely algorithmic search toward a more "human-powered" or "social" search model. By enabling users to directly influence content identification, indexing, and ranking through an integrated browser interface, a PHOSITA could create a system that delivers a more personalized and community-driven search experience, directly addressing the limitations of conventional search engines mentioned in the '744 patent's background.

Conclusion:

The combination of US20020046203A1, US20050216457A1, US20070192313A1, and US10237299B2 would render claims 1, 10, and 19 of US11106744 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The motivation to combine these references stems from the clear desire to improve search relevance through direct user feedback, streamline the process of obtaining that feedback via integrated browser tools, and leverage this feedback to create a more effective and user-centric search experience.