Category ranking based on query fingerprints

• US 10,304,111 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sarmento, Luis Antonio Diniz Fernandes de Morais, Hinegardner, Lisa Jane, Hoover, Thomas Jay, Spinelli, Alexander Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Casey, Alexis M
• Application Number:
  US14/290,829
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2661
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy

Abstract

A method and system for analyzing user behavior as users search for items within an electronic marketplace is provided. A query is submitted by a user of the electronic marketplace, the query is processed to identify a series of actions or behaviors performed by the user in relation to the query and fingerprint information for the query is determined based at least in part on analyzing the actions. In one embodiment, the electronic marketplace modifies a user experience for the user based on the fingerprint information. An interactive network region comprising search results related to a query issued by a user is generated, based on fingerprint information. Various categories of items related to a query issued by the user are identified based on fingerprint information and the search results are organized based on categories.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a query issued by a user of an electronic marketplace;

determining a fingerprint for the query based at least in part on comparing fingerprint information stored in a query classification database to an action performed by the user in relation to the query by;

identifying a number of actions associated with the query, the number of actions identified as having been performed by other users from which the query was received; and

generating a vector that represents the action performed by the user and the number of actions;

identifying a plurality of categories related to the query based on the fingerprint;

identifying a plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories based on the fingerprint by comparing the vector to vectors assigned to each sub-category of the plurality of categories;

arranging the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with a layout;

providing information for rendering a network page comprising the plurality of categories and the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the layout; and

rendering the network page comprising the plurality of categories in accordance with a number of search results obtained for each category.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a sub-category from the plurality of sub-categories from the user; and

rendering a network page of search results comprising a plurality of items related to the selected sub-category.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint for the query is determined based at least in part on identifying one or more actions performed by a plurality of users of the electronic marketplace.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of a re-formulation of the query, a term swap, a term addition, a term deletion, an abandonment of the query, an item detail page click, a refinement of the query, or a scope change of the query.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in at least one of a grid layout, a list layout, or an image layout in the network page.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the number of search results obtained for each category.

7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media collectively storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to collectively perform operations comprising:

receiving a query issued by a user of an electronic marketplace;

determining a fingerprint for the query based at least in part on an action performed by the user in relation to the query based at least in part on comparing fingerprint information stored in a query classification database to the action by;

identifying the action performed by the user in relation to the query; and

generating a vector that represents the identified action;

identifying a plurality of categories related to the query based on the fingerprint;

identifying a plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories based on the fingerprint by comparing the vector to vectors assigned to each sub-category of the plurality of categories;

arranging the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with a layout;

modifying search results presented to the user based at least in part on the layout; and

rendering a network page comprising the plurality of categories in accordance with a number of search results obtained for each category.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising:

arranging a plurality of items within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the layout in the network page rendered to the user.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein modifying the search results comprises providing information to render the network page comprising the plurality of categories and the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories to the user.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a sub-category from the plurality of sub-categories from the user; and

rendering a network page of search results comprising a plurality of items related to the selected sub-category.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the fingerprint for the query is determined based at least in part on identifying one or more actions performed by a plurality of users of the electronic marketplace.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of a re-formulation of the query, a term swap, a term addition, a term deletion, an abandonment of the query, an item detail page click, a refinement of the query, or a scope change of the query.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising:

arranging the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in at least one of a grid layout, a list layout, or an image layout in the network page.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising:

arranging each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the number of search results obtained for each category.

15. A computerized system comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the memory, the at least one processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to collectively at least;

receive a query issued by a user of an electronic marketplace;

determine a fingerprint for the query based at least in part on an action performed by the user in relation to the query based at least in part on comparing fingerprint information stored in a query classification database to the action by;

identifying the action performed by the user in relation to the query; and

generating a vector that represents the identified action;

identify a plurality of categories related to the query based on the fingerprint;

identify a plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories based on the fingerprint by comparing the vector to vectors assigned to each sub-category of the plurality of categories;

arrange the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with a layout;

modify search results presented to the user based at least in part on the layout; and

render a network page comprising the plurality of categories in accordance with a number of search results obtained for each category.

16. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

arrange a plurality of items within each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the layout in the network page rendered to the user.

17. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein modifying the search results comprises providing information to render the network page comprising the plurality of categories and the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories to the user.

18. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a selection of a sub-category from the plurality of sub-categories from the user; and

render a network page of search results comprising a plurality of items related to the selected sub-category.

19. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein the fingerprint for the query is determined based at least in part on identifying one or more actions performed by a plurality of users of the electronic marketplace.

20. The computerized system of claim 19, wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of a re-formulation of the query, a term swap, a term addition, a term deletion, an abandonment of the query, an item detail page click, a refinement of the query, or a scope change of the query.

21. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

arrange the plurality of sub-categories within each category of the plurality of categories in at least one of a grid layout, a list layout, or an image layout in the network page.

22. The computerized system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

arrange each category of the plurality of categories in accordance with the number of search results obtained for each category.