Searching based on messages

• US 20070088687A1
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Ying, Dominowska, Ewa, Ray, Ethan, Valli, Aly, Goodman, Joshua, Carr, Matthew, Leung, Thomas, Weber, Paul, Shahine, Omar, Bromm, Kristin, Copfer, Wende, Hui, Denise, Wong, Chun
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,081 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

While interacting with a messaging interface, keywords or other search criteria are automatically identified and used to perform a search. Search results and sponsored links (or advertisements) are displayed to the user within the messaging interface. To alleviate privacy concerns, this process will not be performed unless the user has explicitly opted-in to the search feature. In another embodiment, the user can highlight keywords in an outbound or inbound message to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface. In another embodiment, the user can input a search keyword or phrase to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing search capability, comprising:

providing a messaging user interface, said messaging user interface provides interaction with messages;

providing a user with an option to consent to automatic searching while using said messaging user interface;

automatically determining search criteria based on at least one message in said messaging user interface and causing a search based on said search criteria, if said user consents to automatic searching; and

providing results from said search in said messaging user interface if said user consents to automatic searching.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said messaging user interface includes an inbox view; and

said providing results includes displaying said results in said inbox view.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

causing advertisements to be identified that are relevant to said search criteria if said user consents to automatic searching; and

providing said advertisement in said messaging user interface if said user consents to automatic searching.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said automatically determining search criteria includes taking into account demographics of said user to identify said search criteria.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said automatically determining search criteria includes taking into account past searching data to identify said search criteria.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said automatically determining search criteria includes taking into account frequency data for search terms in order to identify said search criteria.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said message is unsafe mail, said automatically determining search criteria is performed if said message is not unsafe mail.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said message includes one or more forbidden topics, said automatically determining search criteria is performed if said message does not include a forbidden topic.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

filtering out unwanted words prior to said step of automatically determining.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said automatically determining search criteria includes determining search criteria based on all email messages in an inbox.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said user is a person or a software process;

said message is an email, an instant message, a chat stream or voice message;

said search criteria includes one or more keywords; and

said steps of providing a messaging user interface, providing a user with an option, automatically determining search criteria, and providing results are performed by a front door server remote from a client device operated by said user.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said user consents to automatic searching by clicking a button in response to text explaining said automatic searching and asking said user if said user want to use said automatic searching.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said user consents to automatic searching by opening a search pane within said messaging user interface.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said causing a search includes sending a request to a search server with said search criteria.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said providing a messaging user interface includes storing data for default searching;

said step of automatically determining search criteria attempts to find queries that meet a minimum relevance threshold; and

if said step of automatically determining search criteria cannot find queries that meet said minimum relevance threshold than said search criteria is identified based on said data for default searching.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a set of one or more keywords;

receiving a request to search within said messaging user interface;

causing a search to be performed within said messaging user interface based on said keywords in response to said request to search within said messaging user interface

automatically causing an Internet search to be performed based on said keywords in response to said request to search within said messaging user interface.

17. One or more processor readable storage devices storing processor readable code, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

providing a messaging user interface;

automatically determining multiple search criteria options based on at least one message in said messaging user interface;

providing a user with a choice of said multiple search criteria options;

receiving a selection of one of said multiple search criteria options;

causing a search based on said selected one of said multiple search criteria options; and

providing results from said search in said messaging user interface.

18. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 17, wherein:

said automatically determining multiple search criteria options takes into account common words, sensitive language and past searching data.

19. An apparatus for providing search capability, comprising:

a storage device;

a communication interface; and

one or more processors in communication with said storage device and said communication interface, said one or more processors perform a method comprising;

providing a message composing interface within a messaging user interface, said message composing interface enables creation of a messages,

receiving a selection of content in a first message being composed in said messaging composing interface from an entity composing said first message,

receiving a request to perform a search based on said content,

causing a search based on said content, and

providing results from said search in said messaging user interface.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said step of causing a search includes:

determining that a spelling error exists in said content;

identifying a correctly spelled replacement for said content;

causing said search based on said correctly spelled replacement.