Content-based implicit search query

• US 20060271520A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ragan, Gene Zyrl
• Application Number:
  US11/139,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3334 Selection or weighting of terms from queries, including natural language queries

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer program products, and means for a provided for implicit searching. A method includes determining a context associated with a user interaction with a device; generating implicit search terms based on the context; searching a database using the implicit search terms to produce search results; and outputting the search results. The user interaction can be associated with an application such as a messaging application, word processing application, or an Internet browser. The output search results can be sourced from personal information saved by the application and associated with a user.

Claims

1. A method, including:

determining a context associated with a user interaction with a device;

generating implicit search terms based on the context;

searching a database using the implicit search terms to produce search results; and

outputting the search results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the context includes:

traversing from a first state to a second state responsive to one or more user interactions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction includes one or more of initializing an application, providing content to the application, receiving content in the application, selecting an object, or terminating the application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an application to capture the user interaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction relates to a text string associated with an application, the application including one or more of a document, a web page, a spread sheet, or a message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the implicit search terms includes:

determining a subject matter from a text string.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the implicit search terms includes:

determining the context from a text string following one or more events.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the implicit search terms includes:

retrieving the implicit search terms from a predicted next state responsive to statistical information associated with a current state.

9. The method of claim 1, further including:

mapping the implicit search terms into database-specific commands.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is associated with an application associated with the device.

11. The method of claim 1, further including:

ranking the search results according to relevance to the context.

12. The method of claim 1, further including:

ranking the search results based on a history associated with a user.

13. The method of claim 1, further including:

sorting the search results into categories.

14. The method of claim 1, further including:

organizing the search results based on one or more of user preferences, group preferences, or application-based preferences.

15. The method of claim 1, further including:

generating a results thread for each set of search results corresponding to an application.

16. A method, including:

determining a user interaction associated with a device;

generating implicit search terms based on one or more user interactions;

searching a database using the implicit search terms to produce search results; and

outputting the search results.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interaction includes one or more of initializing an application, inputting content in the application, receiving content in the application, selecting an object, or terminating the application.

18. A method, including:

determining a user interaction associated with a device;

generating implicit search terms based on one or more user interactions;

searching one or more local databases associated with one or more applications on the device using the implicit search terms to produce personalized search results; and

outputting the personalized search results.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating implicit search terms includes:

storing historical data related to the one or more user interactions; and

generating the implicit search terms based on the historical data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein generating implicit search terms includes:

storing frequency data related to the one or more user interactions; and

generating the implicit search terms based on the frequency data.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein generating implicit search terms includes:

receiving personal settings from a user of the device; and

generating the implicit search terms based on the personalized settings.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more local databases include a plurality of messages stored on the device, the plurality of messages associated with a user causing the user interaction.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more applications include one or more of an instant messenger application, an e-mail application, or an SMS application.

24. A method executing on a device, including:

receiving content in a messaging application;

generating implicit search terms based on the received content;

searching one or more local databases associated with one or more applications on a device using the implicit search terms to produce personalized search results; and

outputting the personalized search results.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more applications includes an application other than the messaging application

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more local databases associated with the one or more applications include applications other than the messaging application.

27. A method, including:

receiving content in an Internet browser application;

generating implicit search terms based on the received content;

searching one or more databases associated with one or more applications on a device executing the Internet browsing application, including using the implicit search terms to produce personalized search results; and

outputting the personalized search results.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more applications includes an application other than the Internet browsing application.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the one or more databases is a local database.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more databases includes one or more of an Internet browsing cache, an Internet web site browsing history, Internet bookmarks, an Internet search results history or HTML documents.

31. A method, including:

determining a context associated with a user interaction with a device;

inferring search terms based on the context, including retrieving search terms associated with a predicted next state of user interaction based on a current state of user interaction;

searching a database using the search terms to produce search results; and

outputting the search results.

32. A computer program product including instructions tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, the product including:

instructions for determining a context associated with a user interaction with a device;

instructions for generating implicit search terms based on the context;

instructions for searching a database using the implicit search terms to produce search results; and

instructions for outputting the search results.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the user interaction involves a text string associated with an application, the application including one or more of a document, a web page, a spread sheet, or a message.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein generating the implicit search terms includes:

determining a subject matter from a text string

35. A system, including:

a context engine to determine a context associated with user interaction with a device;

a semantic analysis engine, in communication with the context engine, to generate implicit search terms based on the context;

a query interface, in communication with the semantic analysis engine, to search a database using the implicit search terms and produce search results; and

an output block, in communication to receive the search results, to output the search results.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the system includes one or more of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a multimedia player, a network device, and a cellular telephone.