Interactive search engine

• US 20070143262A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jollify Management Limited
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kasperski, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2468 Fuzzy queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a highly interactive user interface to a search engine using user input prediction is disclosed. As the user enters a portion of a query in a query field, the portion of the query is sent over a network to a query predictor. The query predictor determines a set of one or more predicted queries that correspond to the portion of the query. A particular predicted query is selected from the set of predicted queries based on selection criteria. The particular predicted query is processed by a search engine to obtain search results. The set of predicted queries and the search results are sent to the user and displayed on the user interface. The user may choose a different predicted query in the set of predicted queries or continue entering characters, both of which may result in different search results being displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing query data comprising:

receiving from a client over a network a portion of a query;

determining a set of one or more predicted queries that correspond to the portion of the query;

selecting, based upon selection criteria, a particular predicted query from the set of one or more predicted queries;

processing the particular predicted query to obtain search results; and

providing both the set of one or more predicted queries and the search results to the client over the network.

2. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein determining the set of one or more predicted queries is based on how often the predicted queries were issued in the past.

3. The computer-implemented method as in claim 2, wherein determining the set of one or more predicted queries is also based on when the predicted queries were issued.

4. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein providing the set of one or more predicted queries to the client over the network further comprises:

sending indication information with the one or more predicted queries based on how often the predicted queries issued in the past,

wherein the indication information indicates an ordering of the set of one or more predicted queries in which the client may display the predicted queries.

5. The computer-implemented method as in claim 4, wherein sending indication information with the set of one or more predicted queries is also based on when the predicted queries were issued.

6. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein one of the selection criteria is determined by a selection of a user and the selection is received with the portion of the query.

7. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein determining the set of one or more predicted queries that correspond to the portion of the query comprises:

identifying key words in the portion of the query; and

determining one or more predicted queries that correspond to the key words.

8. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein:

a query predictor determines the set of one or more predicted queries; and

a search engine processes the particular predicted query to obtain the search results.

9. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, wherein:

the particular predicted query is received from the client after the set of one or more predicted queries are provided to the client over the network; and

the search results are subsequently sent to the client.

10. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, wherein the set of one or more predicted queries are provided to the client over the network at substantially the same time the particular predicted query is sent to the search engine.

11. The computer-implemented method as in claim 8, wherein:

the portion of the query is received at a front end server;

the front end server sends the portion of the query to the query predictor;

the front end server receives the set of one or more predicted queries and sends the particular predicted query to the search engine;

the front end server receives the search results; and

the front end server subsequently provides both the set of one or more predicted queries and the search results to the client over the network.

12. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, comprising providing to the client additional data, including advertisements, that relates to the search results.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection of another predicted query in the set of one or more predicted queries; and

providing new search results based on the selection of the selected predicted query.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client over the network the portion of the query and a subsequent portion of the query;

determining a second set of one or more predicted queries that corresponds to the portion of the query and the subsequent portion of the query; and

selecting, based upon selection criteria, a subsequent particular predicted query from the second set of one or more predicted queries,

wherein the subsequent particular predicted query is not processed to obtain search results if the subsequent particular predicted query is the same as the previous particular predicted query.

15. A machine-readable medium carrying instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes the method of:

receiving from a client over a network a portion of a query;

determining a set of one or more predicted queries that correspond to the portion of the query;

selecting, based upon selection criteria, a particular predicted query from the one or more predicted queries;

processing the particular predicted query to obtain search results; and

providing both the one or more predicted queries and the search results to the client over the network.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the set of one or more predicted queries is based on how often the predicted queries were issued in the past.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining the set of one or more predicted queries is also based on when the predicted queries were issued.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein providing the set of one or more predicted queries to the client over the network further comprises:

sending indication information with the set of one or more predicted queries based on how often the predicted queries issued in the past,

wherein the indication information indicates an ordering of the set of one or more predicted queries in which the client may display the predicted queries.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein sending indication information with the set of one or more predicted queries is also based on when the predicted queries were issued.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein one of the selection criteria is determined by a selection of a user and the selection is received with the portion of the query.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining one or more predicted queries that correspond to the portion of the query comprises:

identifying key words in the portion of the query; and

determining one or more predicted queries that correspond to the key words.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein:

a query predictor determines the set of one or more predicted queries; and

a search engine processes the particular predicted query to obtain the search results.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the particular predicted query is received from the client after the set of one or more predicted queries are provided to the client over the network; and

the search results are subsequently sent to the client.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the set of one or more predicted queries are provided to the client over the network at substantially the same time the particular predicted query is sent to the search engine.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the portion of the query is received at a front end server;

the front end server then sends the portion of the query to the query predictor;

the front end server receives the set of one or more predicted queries and sends the particular predicted query to the search engine;

the front end server receives the search results; and

the front end server subsequently provides both the set of one or more predicted queries and the search results to the client over the network.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising providing to the client additional data, including advertisements, that relates to the search results.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection of another predicted query in the set of one or more predicted queries; and

providing new search results based on the selection of the selected predicted query.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client over the network the portion of the query and a subsequent portion of the query;

determining a second set of one or more predicted queries that corresponds to the portion of the query and the subsequent portion of the query; and

selecting, based upon selection criteria, a subsequent particular predicted query from the second set of one or more predicted queries,

wherein the subsequent particular predicted query is not processed to obtain search results if the subsequent particular predicted query is the same as the previous particular predicted query.