System and method for query refinement

• US 20060167842A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Watson, Eric B.
• Application Number:
  US11/041,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion

Abstract

A method and system are provided for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query. The method may include implementing a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy of the initial search results. The method may additionally include formulating at least one alternative query, such as a sub-query, if the initial search results are deemed inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism. The method may additionally include displaying result information including the initial search results and a listing of any formulated alternative queries.

Claims

1. A method for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the method comprising:

implementing a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy of the initial search results;

formulating at least one alternative query if the initial search results are deemed inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism; and

displaying result information including the initial search results and a listing of any formulated alternative queries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the result evaluation mechanism comprises evaluation at least one of a quantity and relevance of the initial results.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating the at least one alternative query comprises formulating at least one sub-query from the multi-word user query.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising formulating multiple sub-queries.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining at least one of a quantity and a relevance of sub-query results.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying at least one of the quantity and the relevance of the sub-query results.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating the at least one query if the initial search results fall below one of a relevance and quantity threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a tunable threshold for triggering the formulation of the at least one alternative query.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising eliminating the formulation of alternative queries during high usage periods.

10. A method for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the method comprising:

parsing the multi-word user query into multiple sub-queries;

determining validity of the multiple sub-queries by determining one of a number of sub-query results and a relevance of sub-query results; and

displaying the initial search results.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the sub-queries and the determined validity of the sub-queries.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying only sub-queries having a determined validity value exceeding a pre-selected threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising evaluating the validity of the initial search results by evaluating one of a quantity and a relevance of the initial search results.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising parsing the multi-word query if the initial search results fall below one of a relevance and quantity threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying at least one of the quantity and the relevance of the sub-query results.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a tunable threshold for triggering the parsing of the multi-word query.

17. A system for automatically enhancing initial search results produced by a search engine in response to a multi-word user query, the system comprising:

a result evaluation mechanism within the search engine for evaluating adequacy the initial search results;

an alternative query determination mechanism for formulating an alternative query if the initial search results are evaluated as inadequate by the result evaluation mechanism; and

a result output component for outputting the alternative query for display along with the initial search results.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the result evaluation mechanism comprises a mechanism for evaluation of at least one of a quantity and relevance of the initial results.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the alternative query formulation mechanism formulates at least one sub-query from the multi-word user query.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the sub-query evaluation mechanism includes components for determining at least one of a quantity and a relevance of sub-query results.