Content searching and configuration of search results

• US 20060184512A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wiedemann, Jonathan L., Snelling, David Aaron Ward, Jefson, Christine A., Kohanim, Greg A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Content searching and configuration of search results are described. In an implementation, a method includes in response to a search query, selecting a keyword based on heuristic data which describes a plurality of previously performed searched. A search is performed utilizing the search query and the selected keyword to locate content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response to a search query, selecting a keyword based on heuristic data which describes a plurality of previously performed network searches; and

performing a search utilizing the search query and the selected keyword to locate content.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the heuristic data is formed from user logs which describe a plurality of previous search queries; and

each of the plurality of previous search queries used to select the keyword match at least a portion of the search query.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

performing another search utilizing the search query;

configuring a plurality of results of the search and the other search for concurrent display via a user interface (UI), wherein the results obtained from the search are grouped separately from the results obtained from the other search.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the plurality of results are configured such that when at least one said search result displayed in the user interface (UI) is selected, the UI is reconfigured to display an additional search result which corresponds to the group that includes the at least one said search result.

5. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a relative richness of a display format for each of a plurality of search results, one to another, obtained from the performing of the search; and

configuring the plurality of search results for output in the user interface based on the determined relative richness

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the configuring includes ordering the plurality of search results, one to another, based at least in part on the determined relative richness.

7. A method comprising:

performing a plurality of searches, wherein at least one said search includes a search query and a keyword added to the search query; and

configuring a plurality of results of the plurality of searches for concurrent display via a user interface (UI), wherein;

the plurality of results are arranged for display via the UI in a plurality of groupings; and

at least one said grouping is formed from the results of the at least one said search.

8. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the configuring includes:

determining a display format for each of the plurality of results; and

configuring the plurality of results for output in the user interface based on the determined display format

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the configuring includes ordering the plurality of results based on the determined display formats.

10. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the at least one said grouping is configured such that results which were not obtained from the at least one said search are not included in the at least one said grouping.

11. A method as described in claim 7, wherein the keyword is derived from heuristic data that describes a plurality of previously performed searches that include at least a portion of the search query.

12. A method as described in claim 7, wherein:

another said search is performed utilizing another keyword and the search query; and

the other keyword is corresponds to a content category.

13. A method as described in claim 7, wherein:

another said search is performed utilizing another keyword and the search query; and

the other keyword specifies a particular Internet domain.

14. A method as described in claim 7, wherein:

the deriving and the performing are performed through execution of one or more modules by a search system; and

at least one said extension references a domain name that includes the search system.

15. A method as described in claim 7, wherein another said grouping is formed from the results of another said search.

16. A method comprising:

outputting a plurality of search results for concurrent display in a user interface (UI), wherein the plurality of search results are;

obtained from a plurality of searches; and

arranged into a plurality of groups; and

when at least one said group displayed in the UI is selected, configuring the UI to display an additional search result which corresponds to the at least one said group.

17. A method as described in claim 16, wherein:

each said search is performed utilizing a search query;

one said search is performed utilizing the search query and a keyword; and

one said group is formed from one or more search results obtained from the one said search.

18. A method as described in claim 17, wherein the keyword is selected based on heuristic data which describes another plurality of searches which were performed utilizing at least a portion of the search query.

19. A method as described in claim 16, wherein the configured user interface does not include one or more said search results from another said search.

20. A method as described in claim 16, wherein further comprising:

determining a display format for each of the plurality of search results; and

configuring the plurality of search results for output in the user interface based on the determined display format such that the plurality of search results are ordered, one to another, based on the determined display formats.