Google's Desktop Search Patent Application

[msgraph]

Persistent user interface for providing navigational functionality [appft1.uspto.gov]

Tom Nielsen is Google's toolbar guy.

1. A method for providing a user interface for providing navigational functionality, the method comprising: providing a query input area persistently on a desktop of a computer user interface; responsive to a query received via the query area, obtaining a result; and generating an on-demand result window from which to output the result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-demand result window is generated for display dominantly relative to other open applications windows.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the result includes a link to a web document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the result is obtained by searching user data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user data is stored locally by at least one user device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the result is obtained via an intranet.

[StupidScript]

Oh man, good luck, big G!
To do almost all of the stuff they want to patent they'd need deep and lasting (and constantly updated) blessings from Microsoft and Apple, at the very least.

They seem to be trying to patent a concept, or an approach, rather than an application (like Yahoo in their recent filing [appft1.uspto.gov]).

Not sure if I like that, too much. It would preclude any of us from developing our own desktop-based search engine, even if we used significantly different "under the hood" methodologies. They seem to be trying to patent the idea of a persistent query area on the desktop. I wonder if this will affect Microsoft's stance that "first to file" should get the patent rather than "first to invent"?

(BTW: What I really want is a way to search through my bookmarks! Where the heck did I put that one ...?)