Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and system for displaying the search results with a designated image. More specifically, it relates to a method and system for extracting and displaying the graphic-related data designated by an advertiser or specified graphic-related data and the text data in websites.

Background Art It was not too long ago that only some people were able to use computers and the Internet as a means for communication. However, in recent years, a growing number of people have increasingly used the Internet. One of the main reasons for this is due to the fact that the World Wide Web (WWW) has become practical and many utilize the Internet to retrieve their desired information.

Various services like electronic commerce, electronic news, cyber stock trading, electronic mail (e-mail) and so on have been provided through the Internet using the web.

E-business is recognized as a rapidly growing and important business because it has allowed jobs that previously could not be handled with computers to be serviced easily by the Internet now.

Generally, the Internet is based on a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (it will be called TCP/IP hereinafter) between a plurality of unit networks identified by Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and a plurality of hosts, each having private 5 IP addresses within each unit network. A data communications network for performing data communication using Local Area Network (LAN) or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) based upon such TCP/IP is called the Internet. The host, a computer with a communication modem, may communicate with other hosts by transmitting messages between these unique IP addresses offered to each host.

10 The Internet facilitates electronic commerce, access to vast amounts of information in various formats, and access to diverse on-line communities that are currently growing and expanding. Also, the improvement of the technologies of various communication services has allowed Internet users to form their own homepages or to form divers spaces in a website related to their interests. These Internet users need Internet 15 service enterprises to provide services like web hosting for corporations and/or individuals and allocate web-hosting spaces to registered users for uploading their homepages.

It has been possible to try to acquire high quality information because, as the Internet business has become activated and the data within it has become vast, users have been able to come in contact with desired data without filtration.

20 The category searcher provided by an Internet service provider can generate the category of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) automatically and provide the link of URL for the user to search the site using divided categories. The sites providing the service mentioned above are www. yahoo. com, www. altaviste. co. kr, www. empass. com and so on.

However, detailed contents, minute inclination or quality of contents is not 5 provided because the conventional search services mentioned above provide URL or the text of a web page of corresponding websites.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a method is needed for proving the search results in image type as well as in text type.

FIG. 1 represents a screen illustration in case the main page of the website is 10 reduced and is displayed.

However, search results according to the intentions of the advertiser cannot be displayed on the main page when the main page is reduced and displayed, which presents problems.

The prior arts displays not only the contents included in a web page, but contents 15 included in a subordinate web page as well. A tree structure to illustrate this point has been provided.

FIG2 represents a screen illustration in case contents included in a subordinate web page is displayed all at once.

As illustrated in FIG 2, if the search results include the subordinate web page, the 20 user can see detailed contents of the web page according to the search results.

However, as a number of sites providing various services all over the world have been generated, the search results according to the user's keyword cannot help but be enormous. Therefore, if even the subordinate web page is displayed, the search result seen in one screen will not be decreased. The more information is provided through the Internet, the more difficult it will be to narrow down the high quantity of information.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for displaying the search results in various types according to the advertiser's taste by displaying the image and text registered by the user according to search results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for making websites more efficient for the public by storing the image and voice data corresponding to the image registered by the user and outputting the voice data corresponding to searched websites according to the user's operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for searching the website corresponding to search results more effectively, by extracting the representative logo image and text contents from the web page and displaying them.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for easily selecting a plurality of the webistes by receiving the estimated opinion corresponding to each website and determining the grades of them.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, one can be provided with a method for displaying search results using a designated image. This can be comprised of the steps of 5 forming an image and a text and displaying them on a screen according to the search results by an advertiser. This is done provided that at least one selection of information and graphic-related data or text data formed by the advertiser from a corresponding website is stored in a database, extracting one selection from the information derived from the website, the graphic-related data or the text data according to a keyword imputed by a 10 user from the database. Through networks and transmitting at least one selection from the information derived from the website, the graphic-related data, or the text data extracted from the database, a search request of the user can be displayed in a user's communication device.

In here, the website's information can include URL.

15 Also, the graphic-related data includes at least one selection from image data, animation data or moving picture data.

Also, there is a step comprised of being provided voice data corresponding to the websites from the advertiser and storing the voice data in a database.

The method of displaying the search results in accordance with one preferred 20 embodiment of the present invention can further comprise of the steps of transmitting the voice data corresponding to the websites in order to output sound in the user's communication device in case a mouse pointer is located on the graphic-related data or the text data of specific websites in the user's computer system.

The data in the step of at least one selection from the website's information, the 5 graphic-related data or the text data are transmitted for being arranged by popularity rankings in the user's communication.

Also, the data in the step of at least one selected from the website's information, the graphic-related data or the text data are transmitted from being arranged by popularity ranking in the user's communication.

10 The method for displaying the search results using a designated image can further be comprised of the steps of : being provided an estimation opinion corresponding to at least one website transmitted to the user's communication device, determining a grade of the website using the estimation opinion according to the website provided by the user transmitting information corresponding to the grade of the website as well as at least one 15 selected from the website's information, and the graphic-related data or the text data extracted according to the search results according to a search request of the user.

The estimation opinion corresponding to at least one website transmitted to the user's communication device can be provided by using an additional pop-up window which will include questions to receive the estimation opinion corresponding to the website 20 at the time the user closes the window of the website the user has visited. These questions will be comprised in an objective test type.

The information corresponding to the grade of the website includes at least one selected from priority ranking information about the website, recommendation information about the website 5 or the user's estimation opinion.

Also, search results using a designated image can be displayed by an advertiser provided that at least one of the search terms from a corresponding websites information and graphic-related data or text data formed by the advertiser. It is also necessary that the information is sorted in a database, extracting at least one search term selected from the 10 websites information. The graphic-related data or the text data according to a keyword inputted by a user from the database or at least from one website coupled through the Internet.

The image data can be data extracted from files included in the main page, including the logo, main, home or top.

15 The animation data can be data extracted from files included in the main page, including the logo, main, home or top.

The moving picture data is data extracted from files included in the main page, including the logo, main, home or top.

The title tag in the main page of the website includes the following data: the text 20 data and the graphic-related data of the website from at least one website coupled through

the Internet.

The step of extracting at least one selected from the website information, the graphic-related-data or the text data of the website from at least one website coupled through the Internet, can further be comprised of the step of extracting the voice data corresponding to the website.

The voice data can be data extracted from files included in the main page, including the background, logo, main, home or top.

The method for displaying search results using a designated image can be comprised of the step of transmitting the voice data corresponding the website in order to output sound in the user's computer system in case a mouse pointer is located on at least one selected from the graphic-related-data or the text data of specified websites in user's computer system.

The method for displaying search results using a designated image is comprised of the following steps: an estimation opinion which corresponds to at least one website transmitted to user's communication device; determining a grade of the website using the estimation opinion; and transmitting information corresponding to the grade of the website as well as at least one selected from the websites information.

The information corresponding to the grade of the website can include at least one selected from priority ranking information about the website, recommendation information about the website or the user's estimation opinion.

The method for displaying search results using a designated image is comprised of the following steps: extracting at least one selected from the websites information, graphic- related-data or the text data according to a keyword inputted by a user from the wherein the graphic-related-data includes image data, animation data or moving picture data extracted 5 from files included in the main page, the name of at least one selected which is to be logo, main, home or top.

An image in accordance with the present invention can be comprised of a database for forming an image and a text context displayed on a screen according to the search results by an advertiser provided that at least one selected from a corresponding websites 10 information and graphic-related-data or text data formed by the advertiser and storing them in a database, a data extracting unit for extracting at least one selected from the websites information, the graphic-related-data or the text data according to a keyword inputted by a user from the database according to a search request of the user through networks and a transmitting unit for transmitting at least one selected from the websites information, the 15 graphic-related-data or the text data extracted from the database in order to be displayed in a user's communication device.

The database can further include a voice data corresponding to the website provided by an advertiser A system for displaying search results using a designated image can comprise a 20 search engine for extracting at least one selected from the website information, the graphic- related-data or the text data of the website according to the keyword inputted by the user from at least one website coupled through Internet wherein the graphic-related-data includes image data, animation data or moving picture data extracted from files included in the main page, including at least one selected logo, main, home or top.

5 Brief Description of the Drawings The above objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the detailed descriptions of its preferred embodiments and with the assistance of the attached drawings in which: 10 FIG. 1 is an illustration of a screen in which the reduced main page of the website is displayed in accordance with the conventional method for displaying the search results.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a screen in which contents included in subordinate web pages are displayed in accordance with the conventional method for displaying the search results.

15 FIG. 3 shows a construction of a system for displaying search results using data stored in a database according to a request of an advertiser in a system for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for displaying search results using data stored in a database according to a request of the advertiser in a system for displaying search results in 20 accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the search results displayed on a website's screen in case the keyword is'TATENT", in order to display the search results according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a construction of a system for displaying search data according to the 5 keyword through database and websites according to a request of an advertiser in a system for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representing the procedure that the search server undergoes as it searches the information corresponding to the keyword from the database and the 10 website and displays them in the user's display device in a method for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is flowchart of the procedure to search the website according to the search command and extracting the related data, not using the data storing in the database as a method for displaying the search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of 15 the present invention.

Best Modes for carrying out the Invention Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20

FIG. 3 shows a construction of a system for displaying search results using data stored in a database according to the request of an advertiser in a system for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the system for displaying search results in accordance with the present invention includes a search server 100 retrieving website information from a database 200 corresponding to a keyword inputted by a user and database 200 storing data related to a website and provided by the advertiser.

The database 200 can include an image database 210 storing the image data corresponding to the website according to the request of the advertiser and a text database 220 storing the text data representing general information of the website.

Also, the database 200 can include an animation database 230 displaying the search results in animation type and a moving picture database 240 displaying the search results in moving picture type according to the request of the advertiser as well as the image data.

Furthermore, the database 200 can further include a voice database 250 storing the voice data, to output background music or introduction voice of the corresponding website according to the moving of the mouse pointer on the screen of search results.

The search server 100 can include an interface 110 for transmission of data to a plurality of users and a central processing unit 120 retrieving the corresponding website information from information related the website stored in the database according to the keyword inputted through the interface 110 and providing them with users.

The central processing unit 120 can include an ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) for executing calculation, a register for temporary storing data and instruction language and a control unit for controlling the search server 100.

5 The central processing unit 120 can be a processor of various architectures. For example, Alpha of Digital Co, MIPS of MIPS technology Co, NEC Co, IDT Co and Siemens Co etc, x86 of Intel Co, Cyrix Co, AMD Co, Nexzen Co and Power PC of Motolora Co and IBM.

The database 200 includes a high-speed main memory which is a storing 10 medium type like RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), a second memory unit which is a long-term storing medium type like floppy disk, hard disk, tape, CD-ROM, flash memory etc and storing unit for storing data using electric, magnetic, optical and other storing mediums. It will be apparent to those experienced in the technical field of the present invention that the Database is able to have various 15 storing efficiencies and shapes.

In the technical field of the present invention, the search server can include an operating system and at least one application program. The operating system is the gathering of software to control the operation of computer systems and the designation of resources. The application program is a gathering of the software for performing duties 20 requested by a user, using available computer resources on an operating system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for displaying search results using data stored in database according to a request of the advertiser in a system for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 Referring to FIG. 4, the advertiser can select the image data, the text data, the animation data, the moving picture data or the voice data displayed on the screen according to search results when the user connects the search server, inputs the keyword and searches the website. That is, the advertiser can select the website information displayed on the screen according to the search results.

10 The advertiser can provide the logo image or public text displayed on a screen corresponding to the search results with a search server. Also, the advertiser can provide animation or the moving picture data instead of the logo image. The animation or the moving picture data can be produced by an application like Flash program or GIF (Graphic Interface Format) animation program or be moving data photographed in practice.

15 Also, the advertiser can append the voice data to output background music or introduction music of the corresponding website when a mouse pointer is located on the image data or the text data of contents displayed on the screen according to search results.

As mentioned above, at least one data selected from the image data, the text data, the animation data, the moving picture data or the voice data by an advertiser is provided 20 (slO) and stored in database 200 (S 12). In this case, it is preferable for the image data, the

text data, the animation data, the moving picture data and the voice data to be stored in each database (210,..., 250) separately for data search efficiency. Also, to search the website corresponding to keyword, additional website information can be stored. In here, the image data, the animation data and the moving picture data exclusive of the text data and the voice data can be called as graphic-related-data.

In the status equipped with database 200, the search server 100 searches the website information corresponding to the keyword inputted by user in the database 200.

The website information retrieved from database 200 (for example, the graphic-related-data including the image data, the animation data and the moving picture data and the text data) according to the search results is transmitted to the user through the Internet.

Also, the advertiser can use not only the graphic-related-data and the text data but also the voice data. In this case, when the mouse pointer is located on the specified website information during the user's survey of search results through a display device of computer systems, the voice data can be transmitted to output background music or introduction voice corresponding to the website information. (sl8) Also, the website information stored in the database 200 can be arranged by the priority order of websites. For example, websites with high connection times, an indicator of a high degree of popularity, transmit them to the user in order to output them in the order in the user's system.

Also, the present invention can provide means for measuring the degree of satisfaction and gathering the opinions of the user in regards to the website. That is, the user can visit the website displayed on the screen and can express the degree of their satisfaction and give their opinions to the contents of the website.

Generally, the user is inclined to close the window of the website after looking up 5 the contents of the website, thereby not answering questions about their opinions about the website and the degree to which they would recommend the site. Therefore, it is preferable create a new pop-up window that would appear at the closing of the window of the website. This pop-up window would ask the user some simple opinion questions about the website without placing too much burden on the user.

10 The search server can receive the user's opinion and establish the degree of satisfaction of the website according to the user's opinion. If the website's satisfaction rate is determined as mentioned above, the website information according to the search results can be provided including the determined rate.

The user can save time when it comes to keyword searches because the user will be 15 able to visit websites with established high degrees of satisfaction, thereby assuring that he/she will receive good contents.

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the search results displayed on the screen in the case the keyword is'PATENT", in order to display the search results according to one preferred 20 embodiment of the present invention

Referring to FIG. 5, if the keyword is, for example,'PATENT', and is inputted by the user and is transmitted to the search server, the search server retrieves data corresponding to'PATENT'in database 200.

The retrieved data is transmitted to the user's computer system through the Internet and the user can then refer to the information of more than one website.

The logo images and simple texts of websites related to patents like Korean Intellectual Property Office (www. kipo. go. kr), Korean Industrial Property Rights Center (www. kipris. or. kr), EZ international Patent & Trademark Law Office (www. ez- patent. co. kr) and Worldwide Intellectual Property Service (www. wips. co. kr) are shown in FIG. 5.

Each website information displayed on the screen shows the logo image and the text data corresponding to the website. And, the logo image and the text data of the each website is stored in the database (200) of the search server according to request of the advertiser. Therefore, if the advertiser changes the logo image and the text data, the context displayed according to the search results can be changed easily.

However, it is preferable for the advertiser to not provide the graphic-related-data, the text data or the voice data with database 200. In this case, it is necessary for the present invention to include the search engine to extract the graphic-related-data, the text data or the voice data from main page of website.

FIG. 6 shows a construction of a system for displaying search data according to the keyword through database and websites according to the request of an advertiser in a system for displaying search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention 5 Referring to FIG. 6, the system for displaying search results in accordance with the present invention includes search server 100 for searching the database 200 and a plurality of websites coupled through the Internet for the information corresponding to a keyword inputted by the user and database 200 for storing data related to a website and provided by the advertiser.

10 As mentioned in FIG. 3, the database 200 can include an image database 210 storing the image data corresponding to the website according to the request of the advertiser and a text database 220 storing the text data representing general information of the website, and the animation database 230 displaying the search results in animation type and a moving picture database 240 displaying the search results in moving picture type 15 according to the request of the advertiser.

Furthermore, the database 200 can include a voice database 250 storing the voice data, to output background music or introduction voice of the corresponding website according to the moving of the mouse pointer on the screen of search results.

The search server 100 can include an interface 110 for transmitting data to a 20 plurality of users, a central processing unit 120 for retrieving the corresponding website information from information related the website stored in the database according to the keyword inputted through the interface 110 and providing them with users and a search engine 130 for retrieving the information corresponding to the keyword in a plurality of the websites coupled through the Internet.

5 The search engine 130 visits a plurality of websites, selects the websites corresponding to the keyword imputted by the user and extracts the graphic-related-data like the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data, the text data or the voice data from the websites.

Generally, the format of the image data used in the web page is GIF (Graphic 10 Interchange Format) or JPG using JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression technique. Also, the logo image used in each website is logo. gif (logo. jpg), main. gif (mainjpg), home. gif (homejpg) or top. gif (top. jpg) etc, and the name corresponding to the logo of each website is used as file name. Therefore, it is not difficult to extract the logo image from the searched websites.

15 In the same manner, the animation corresponding to the logo of websites is inclined to use a file name like logo. ani, main. ani, home. ani or top. ani, the moving picture data uses the real player format like logo. rm (logo. ram), main. rm (main. ram), home. rm (home. ram) or top. rm (top, ram) etc or Windows Media Player format like logo. mpg, main. mpg, home. mpg or top. mpg etc.

20 What is more, because the format like. wav,. mid, mov or. mp3 is mainly used as the voice data, the voice data can be easily extracted by extracting a file like background. wav, logo. mid, home. mov or sound. mp3 and so on.

On the other hand, the text data can be extracted orderly from texts displayed in the main page of the searched websites, selectively from the text data existing in <title> 5 tag in index. htm file.

The graphic-related-data, like the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data and the text data extracted in the way mentioned above, can be stored separately in database 200. Namely, after the search results are stored in database 200, if the same keyword is inputted, the search server can transmit the search results to the user 10 rapidly by retrieving not the websites but the database 200.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representing the way in which the search server searches information corresponding to the keyword from the database and the website and displays them in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

15 Referring to FIG. 7, the advertiser can form the graphic-related-data (the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data), the text data or the voice data displayed on the screen according to the search results by the user's request. Namely, the advertiser can form the logo image of the public text corresponding to the websites displayed on the screen according to the search results by the user's request and provide 20 them or animation or the moving picture data instead of the logo image with the search server.

In the same manner, the advertiser can append the voice data, to output background music or introduction music of the corresponding website if the mouse pointer is located on the image data or the text data of contents displayed on the screen according 5 to the search results.

As mentioned above, the search server 100 provides at least one selection from the image data, the text data, the animation data the moving picture data or the voice data by the advertiser and stores them in database 200 (s32).

As mentioned in FIG. 4, it is preferable for the image data, the text data, the 10 animation data, the moving picture data and the voice data to be stored in each database (210,..., 250) separately for data search efficiency. Also, to search websites corresponding to a keyword, additional website information can be stored.

Also, the database 200 can include information separately related with websites like URL (Uniform Resource Locator) to search website information according to the 15 keyword inputted by the user.

If the keyword is inputted by the user connecting the search server 100 through the Internet, the search server searches the website information corresponding to the keyword in database 200. And then the search server 100 searches a plurality of the websites coupled with the Internet to search the information not stored in the database 20 200 and extracts the logo image and the text data from the websites (s36). Here, it is possible to extract the graphic-related-data including the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data, but it is preferable to extract the logo image to improve the search time.

On this occasion, if the data search was executed using generally used logo file 5 names like logo, main or top as thesearching condition, the loge image, animation image or the moving picture data can be extracted easily. Also, the text data can be extracted from the text in the main page of a website or selectively extracted from the text data in the <title> tag.

Also, even in the case the voice data is extracted from the website, the voice data 10 can be extracted form the data having the file name like background, logo, main or top.

The loge image (the graphic-related-data), the text data extracted as above mentioned or the graphic-related-data and the text data extracted from database (200) are transmitted to the user through the Internet. (s36) The user can see the information about the search results with the display device 15 equipped with a computer system and the configuration displayed in the display device may be similar to that shown in FIG. 5.

In case that the advertiser provides the voice data as well as the graphic-related- data and the text data or the voice data is extracted from the websites, it is possible to output background music or introduction voice of the corresponding website according 20 to the moving of mouse pointer on the screen of search results.

For example, if the keyword is'PATENT,'as described in FIG. 5, websites like Korean Intellectual Property Office (www. kipo. go. kr), Korean Industrial Property Rights Center (www. kipris. or. kr), EZ international Patent & Trademark Law Office (www. ez- patent. co. kr) and Worldwide Intellectual Property Service (www. wips. co. kr) are displayed 5 in the user's display device.

If the mouse pointer is positioned on the loge image of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the background music or the logo music of Korean Intellectual Property Office is outputted from the speaker of a computer system and if the mouse pointer is positioned on the loge image of the Korean Industrial Property Rights Center, the 10 background music or the logo music of Korean Industrial Property Rights Center is outputted from the speaker of a computer system.

The method for inserting sound in the loge image is realized by using instructional language like'onMouseOver'or'onMouseOut'in JAVA program or by using FLASH program.

15 Also, the graphic-related-data (the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data), the text data or the voice data is stored in database 200, and then in the case the same keyword is inputted, the search time can be shortened.

Even in this case, the present invention can receive opinions from the user, store recommendations, and append these opinions and recommendations according to the 20 contents of the website. Therefore, a user can select a website to visit by selecting the

website with the a high degree of satisfaction according to other users FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the procedure to search the website according to the search command and extract the related data, not using data storing in the database as a method for displaying the search results in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to 8, the present invention searches a plurality of websites according to the user's search request (s50) and extracts the logo image, the text data or the voice data from the searched website using a condition formula for them (s52).

Then, the extracted logo image, the text data or the voice data is transmitted to the corresponding user and the user can see the information according to the keyword.

By not using the graphic-related-data, the text data and the voice data stored in database, the procedure to retrieve and to extract data in database described in FIG. 7 can be omitted in FIG. 8.

Industrial Applicability According to the method and system for displaying the search results in accordance with the present invention, the advertiser can form the image data, the text data or the voice data displayed on the screen according to the search results to fit the advertiser's taste, thereby making the website more efficient to the public.

Also, the method and system for displaying the search results in accordance with the present invention, the graphic-related-data (the image data, the animation data or the moving picture data) and the text data of the voice data is easily extracted and can therefore provide the user with efficient search results.

Also, the present invention can increase search efficiency by storing the graphic- 5 related-data, the text data or the voice data according to search results in the database and extracting the data related with the database in case the same search is requested.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of various preferred embodiments to provide a method for displaying search results, it is not intended that the 10 invention be limited to these embodiments. Also, Modification and adjustment within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.