Speculative search result for a search query

• US 20070055652A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jollify Management Limited
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kapur, Shyam, Thrall, John, Anick, Peter, Shah, Mihir, Hall, Ashley, Gourlay, Alastair, Hood, Stephen, Durfee, Adam, Rabbat, Ralph, Kasperski, Richard, Bayley, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing speculative search results, comprising:

receiving a search query from a client node, wherein said search query is not-yet-submitted;

determining a speculative search result for said not-yet-submitted search query prior to receiving an indication from said client node that said not-yet-submitted search query is completely formed;

providing said speculative search result to said client node, wherein said speculative search result identifies at least one item that satisfies said not-yet submitted search query;

receiving input that indicates that said search query is submitted; and

performing a search based on said submitted search query.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining whether said not-yet-submitted search query meets a criterion for initiating said determining the speculative search result.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said criterion comprises said not-yet-submitted search query comprising a complete word.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said criterion comprises determining whether said not-yet-submitted search query matches a phrase in a dictionary of pre-defined phrases.

5. A method as recited in, claim 2, wherein said criterion comprises determining that a pre-determined period of time has passed since a character was last entered in said not-yet-submitted search query.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining the speculative search result comprises performing an ordered search of different databases, wherein said order is based on expected relevancy to said not-yet-submitted search query.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said databases comprise a database of pre-defined search results each comprising an organized collection of information related to a search query.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining the speculative search result comprises determining a navigational link related to said not-yet-submitted search query.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said determining the speculative search result comprises determining if said not-yet-submitted search query matches at least one of a collection of pre-defined phrases as a condition of further searching for said speculative search result.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a further portion of said not-yet-submitted search query from said client node;

determining an updated speculative search result for said further portion prior to receiving an indication from said client node that said not-yet-submitted search query is completely formed; and

providing said updated speculative search result to said client node, wherein said updated speculative search result identifies at least one item that satisfies said not-yet submitted search query.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a suggestion to said client node to improve said not-yet submitted search query prior to receiving an indication from said client node that said search query is completely formed.

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

14. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

15. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

16. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

17. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

18. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.

19. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 8.

20. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 9.

21. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 10.

22. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 11.