Method, System, and Apparatus for Routing a Query to One or More Providers

• US 20070136261A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bailey, Eric, Taboada, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A method and system for routing a query to one or more providers. The system may include a search interface for presenting a service list including one or more services offered by the one or more providers, permitting selection of one or more of the one or more services, and a query entry for receiving input of the query. A search processor is capable of receiving and parsing the query. A service recognizer for a particular provider is capable of receiving and analyzing one or more terms of the query to determine if the particular provider is a match for the query. A query router can route the query to the particular provider if the particular provider is determined to be a match and block the query to the particular provider if the particular provider is determined not to be a match. A results interface presents results of the query.

Claims

1. A system for routing queries, the system comprising:

a search processor configured to receive a query from a user passed by an application program, and to break the query into one or more query terms;

a service recognizer configured to analyze the query terms to identify one or more providers that are matches for the query terms;

a query router configured to route the query terms to the providers that are matches, wherein the providers each include a database of information that is queried using the query terms; and

a results interface configured to present results from the providers that are matches to the user in context within the application program.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the application program, wherein the application program is configured to allow the user to select text in the application program to initiate the query.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the application program is selected from a group consisting of a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, and an email program.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the search processor is further configured to parse the query, break the query into the query terms, stem at least one of the query terms, spell check at least one of the query terms, and generate context based on an origin of the query.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service recognizer is further configured to compare the query terms to a list of terms for each of the providers to identify the providers that are matches for the query terms.

6. A method for routing a query, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a user passed by an application program;

processing the query to create one or more query terms;

analyzing the query terms to identify one or more providers that are matches for the query terms;

querying the providers that are matches; and

presenting results from the providers to the user in context within the application program.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving the query further comprises allowing the user to select text in the application program to initiate the query.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of allowing the user to select the text further comprises:

allowing the user to highlight the text in the application program; and

allowing the user to select one or more action items from a menu to initiate the query.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of processing the query further comprises analyzing the query to identify patterns in the query.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of processing the query further comprises:

parsing the query;

breaking the query into the query terms;

stemming at least one of the query terms;

spell checking at least one of the query terms; and

generating context based on an origin of the query.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of analyzing the query terms further comprises comparing the query terms to a list of terms for each of the providers to identify the providers that are matches for the query terms.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising grouping the providers into a plurality of categories according to information provided by the providers.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to select a category from the plurality of categories to route the query.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting the application program from a group consisting of a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, and an email program.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the application program is the word processing program, and wherein the step of receiving the query further comprises:

allowing the user to highlight text in the word processing program; and

allowing the user to select one or more action items from a menu to initiate the query.

16. A method for routing a query, the method comprising:

allowing a user to highlight text in a word processing program to initiate a query;

receiving the query from the word processing program;

processing the query to create one or more query terms, and to identify patterns in the query;

comparing the query terms to a list of terms for each of one or more providers to identify the providers that are matches for the query terms;

querying the providers that are matches; and

presenting results from the providers to the user in context within the word processing program.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising grouping the providers into a plurality of categories according to information provided by the providers.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising allowing the user to select a category from the plurality of categories to route the query.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of processing the query further comprises:

parsing the query;

breaking the query into the query terms;

stemming at least one of the query terms;

spell checking at least one of the query terms; and

generating context based on an origin of the query.

20. A tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 16.