Selection of search phrases to suggest to users in view of actions performed by prior users
First Claim
1. A search engine system, comprising:
- a search phrase selection component that selects search phrases from a record of prior search query submissions of a plurality of users of a search engine, each search phrase comprising a sequence of two or more terms;
a data structure that associates each of a plurality of key terms with a corresponding set of related search phrases selected by the search phrase selection component; and
a query processing component that is responsive to a submission by a user of a single-term search query containing a key term by looking up from the data structure a corresponding set of related search phases to suggest to the user.
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Abstract
A search engine system uses information about historical query submissions to a search engine to suggest previously-submitted, related search phrases to users. The related search phrases are preferably suggested based on a most recent set of query submission data (e.g., the last two weeks of submissions), and thus strongly reflect the current searching patterns or interests of users. In one embodiment, the related search phrases are scored and selected for display based at least in-part on (a) a frequency with which each search phrase has been submitted, and/or (b) an evaluation of the “usefulness” of each search phrase, as reflected by actions performed by prior users while viewing corresponding search results.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A search engine system, comprising:
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a search phrase selection component that selects search phrases from a record of prior search query submissions of a plurality of users of a search engine, each search phrase comprising a sequence of two or more terms;
a data structure that associates each of a plurality of key terms with a corresponding set of related search phrases selected by the search phrase selection component; and
a query processing component that is responsive to a submission by a user of a single-term search query containing a key term by looking up from the data structure a corresponding set of related search phases to suggest to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of assisting users of a search engine in refining searches, the method comprising:
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programmatically analyzing data reflective of searches conducted by a plurality of users over a period of time to select, for a key term, a set of previously-submitted search phrases that are related to the key term;
generating a data structure that associates the key term with the set of related search phrases;
receiving a search query specified by a user to search a repository of items, wherein the search query includes the key term; and
looking up from the data structure at least one of the related search phrases to suggest to the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of processing search queries submitted by users to search a repository of items, the method comprising:
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receiving a user submission of a single-term search query that contains a single search term;
executing the search query to identify items that are responsive to the search query;
accessing a data structure to look up a previously-submitted search phrase that includes the search term and that, based at least in-part on a computer analysis of prior search query submissions of a plurality of users, has been ranked highly relative to other previously-submitted search phrases that include the search term, said search phrase comprising a sequence of two or more search terms; and
generating a search results page that lists at least some of the responsive items and provides a user option to select the search phrase to submit a refined search query. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented method of identifying search phrases to suggest to users, the method comprising
monitoring and recording transactional events associated with searches conducted by users of a search engine to generate search event data; -
identifying within the search event data a search phrase submitted by users to conduct searches, said search phrase comprising a sequence of two or more search terms; and
programmatically analyzing the search event data associated with user submissions of the search phrase to generate a score that represents a desirability of suggesting the search phrase to users. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification