Seaching within a computer network by entering a search term and optional URI into a web browser

摘要

Disclosed are methods, apparatus and a search manager facilitating searching within specified Web sites or directories in response to search request information entered into a Web Browser's entry field - without the need to locate a search form or field within a downloaded Web page. Web pages stored at Internet-connected server computers include metadata tags. The metadata includes a trigger data element which can be cached at client systems and then used for initiating searches within one or more specific Web sites or directories. Identifiers of one or more Web sites to be searched can be cached with the trigger data element. If data entered within a Browser entry field includes the trigger data element, and one or more search terms, the search manager generates a search request which the Browser sends to the specific Web site to be searched. The generated search request typically includes a cached base portion of a URI which is used to define the scope of the search for the specified search terms.