Power filter for online listing service

• US 20070143312A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wiseman, Garry
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A unique system and method that facilitates searching an online listing service by employing a plurality of attributes, parameters, and search terms in a search query is provided. The system and method involve using parameters such as the listed item'"'"'s location and a trust category associated with the listed item (or owner) to assist in providing more meaningful listings in response to the search query. These parameters can be applied to one or more search queries or can be modified for each search query. Categories, subcategories, and attributes can also be used to optimize the searching capability of the system and method. In particular, the set of available attributes displayed to a user can depend on the particular category and/or subcategory. Listing owners can manage their listings and increase traffic and/or revenue using such filtering and viewing modes.

Claims

1. A filtering system for an online listing service that facilitates searching for and selectively displaying items comprising:

a query component that receives a search query; and

a listing display component that dynamically displays one or more listings as a function of search terms within the query, a location associated with each listing, and a trust categorization of the listing.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprises an analysis component that parses the search query and filters a plurality of listings to converge on a set of listings that satisfy the search query.

3. The system of claim 1, the search query comprises user-based search terms, a location and distance radius parameter, and a trust parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the query component further comprises a category look-up component that limits a scope of search terms within the query.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the search query further comprises one or more attribute types which are selected for display based at least in part on one or more of the search terms.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprises an Al component that is trained to automatically provide at least one of the following based on historical user data:

search terms, attribute terms, and parameter terms.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the search query comprises a standing search that is performed periodically in an automated manner to mitigate repeated user input of the search query.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprises a mapping component that provides one or more map related views of the one or more listings displayed by the listing display component.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprises a user identification component that receives user data wherein the user data comprises login information, username, and user profile information to facilitate determine a user'"'"'s trust associations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the location associated with each listing comprises a geographic reference to at least one of a source of the listing or an item in the listing.

11. A filtering method for a listing service that facilitates performing searches comprising:

receiving a search query; and

dynamically displaying one or more listings as a function of search terms within the query, a location associated with each listing, and a trust categorization of the listing.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises employing a location selection component and applying it across a plurality of queries.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprises employing a trust selection component and applying it across a plurality of queries.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprises employing one or more filtering components to facilitate managing listings and to facilitate increasing traffic to such listings.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more filtering components comprise a location selection component.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprises mapping the one or more listings to facilitate providing a geographic perspective of the listings in relation to a user or to any other listings.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprises repeatedly running the search query in a periodic manner thereby mitigating repetitive input by a user.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprises adjusting at least one of the location and the trust categorization to modify a filtered view of the one or more listings without rerunning the search query.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprises augmenting one or more search terms by adding one or more attributes in the search query, wherein the attributes are determined by one or more of the search terms.

20. A filtering system for an online listing service that facilitates searching for and selectively displaying items comprising:

a means for receiving a search query; and

a means for dynamically displaying one or more listings as a function of search terms within the query, a location associated with each listing, and a trust categorization of the listing.