Dynamic search box for web browser

• US 20070162422A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Djabarov, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2453 Query optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions

Abstract

A system may receive one or more terms of a search query. The system may automatically identify prior search queries that include the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries. The system may automatically identify possible spelling corrected search queries based on the one or more terms of the search queries. The system may automatically receive remote server-based query completion suggestions including the one or more terms of the search query. The system may present query refinement options, the query refinement box being populated with the prior search queries as suggested queries for possible selection by a user, the identified possible spelling corrected search queries, and the received query completion suggestions.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving one or more terms of a search query;

automatically identifying prior search queries that include the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries; and

presenting query refinement options to a user, the query refinement options including the prior search queries as suggested queries for possible selection by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more terms of the search query are received into a text entry box.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the text entry box is provided in a toolbar associated with a web browser.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting query refinement options to a user further comprises presenting a query refinement drop-down box to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the history of prior search queries includes a history stored on a client device associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the history of prior search queries includes prior search queries shared between more than one user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the history of prior search queries includes prior search queries shared between a predefined group of users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying prior search queries including the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries, further comprises:

determining whether a prior search query begins with an identical sequence of terms as the search query; and

identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query begins with the identical sequence of terms as the search query.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying prior search queries including the search term from a local history of prior search queries, further comprises:

determining whether a prior search query includes each term included within the search query; and

identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query includes each term included within the search query.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying prior search queries including the search term from a local history of prior search queries, further comprises:

determining whether a prior search query includes any term included within the search query; and

identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query includes a term included within the search query.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a listing of available search contexts in the query refinement options,

wherein selection of an available search context from the listing of available search contexts directs a subsequent query submission to a particular type of search.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the listing of available search contexts in the query refinement box is performed following receipt of a user selection of a search context selection icon.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically spell-checking the received search query;

identifying possible corrections to the received search query; and

presenting the possible corrections in the query refinement options.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the automatically spell-checking the received search query, further comprises:

determining whether a predetermined period of time has passed since a last term was entered in the received search query; and

spell-checking the received search query when it is determined that a predetermined period of time has passed since the last term was entered in the received search query.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the automatically spell-checking the received search query, further comprises:

querying a remote server to spell-check the received search query; and

receiving a predetermined number of possible corrections from the remote server.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting query completion suggestions from a remote server based on the received search query;

receiving a predetermined number of query completion suggestions from the remote server in response to the request; and

presenting the received query completion suggestions in the query refinement.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the received query completion suggestions are sorted by popularity.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting an explain search query option in the query refinement options;

receiving selection of the explain query option; and

presenting a description of a syntax of the search query to the user in response to the received selection.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the description of the syntax of the search query is presented in a tool-tip associated with a user pointing device location.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a clear history option in the query refinement options;

receiving selection of the clear history option; and

deleting the local history of prior search queries in response to the received selection.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying query tokens associated with the received search query; and

distinctly highlighting the identified query tokens, such that different tokens are presented differently.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distinctly highlighting includes coloring text of different query tokens to indicate differing syntax rules.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a query token;

presenting a description of a syntax of the search query associated with the selected query token.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the description of the query syntax is presented in a tool-tip.

25. A system, comprising:

means for presenting a toolbar in a web browser, the toolbar include a search box;

means for receiving one or more terms of a search query into the search box;

means for automatically identifying prior search queries including the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries;

means for spell-checking the one or more terms of the search query to identify potential corrections to the search query; and

means for presenting query refinement options associated with the search box, the query refinement options configured to include the previously received search queries and the identified potential corrections as suggested queries for possible selection by a user.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for dynamically modifying the identified potential corrections and the identified prior search queries including the one or more terms of the search query based on continued modification of the one or more terms of the search query received into the search box.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for automatically identifying prior search queries including the one or more terms of the search term from a history of prior search queries, further comprises:

means for determining whether a prior search query begins with an identical sequence of terms as the one or more terms of the search query;

means for identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query begins with the identical sequence of terms as the one or more terms of the search query;

means for determining whether a prior search query includes each term included within the one or more terms of the search query when it is determined that the prior search query does not begin with the identical sequence of terms as the one or more terms of the search query;

means for identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query includes each term included within the one or more terms of the search query;

means for determining whether a prior search query includes a term included within the one or more terms of the search query when it is determined that the prior search query does not include each term included within the one or more terms of the search query; and

means for identifying the prior search query as a matching search query when it is determined that the prior search query includes a term included within the one or more terms of the search query.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for identifying query tokens associated with the search query; and

means for modifying text within the search box to reflect differences between the identified query tokens.

29. A method performed by a device, comprising:

providing a dynamic search box selectable object within a web browser application window;

receiving a search query within the dynamic search box selectable object;

identifying local historical search queries matching at least a portion of the received search query;

identifying possible spelling corrections to the received search query;

identifying server-based historical search queries beginning with the received search query; and

populating a refinement box associated with the dynamic search box selectable object with the identified local historical search queries, the identified possible spelling corrections, and the identified server-based historical search queries.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising:

providing a listing of available search contexts;

receiving a user selection of a search context;

identifying the local historical search queries matching at least a portion of the received search query based on the received search context selection.

31. A method, comprising:

receiving a search query;

identifying query tokens within the search query, wherein the query tokens relate to query operations and syntax; and

graphically presenting the search query to represent differences in the identified query tokens.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphically presenting the search query to represent differences in the identified query tokens includes presenting different query tokens in different fonts.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphically presenting the search query to represent differences in the identified query tokens includes presenting different query tokens in different font colors.

34. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by a client device, comprising:

instructions for causing the client device to receive one or more terms of a search query;

instructions for causing the client device to automatically identify prior search queries including the one or more terms of the search query from a history of prior search queries associated with one or more users;

instructions for causing the client device to automatically identify possible spelling corrected queries based on the one or more terms of the search query; and

instructions for causing the client device to present query refinement options to the user, the query refinement options including the previously received search queries as suggested queries and the possible spelling corrected queries for possible selection by a user.

35. A method, comprising:

receive one or more terms of a search query into a text entry box;

automatically identifying possible spelling corrected queries based on the one or more terms of the search query;

automatically requesting server-based query completion suggestions from a server that include the one or more terms of the search query;

receiving a predetermined number of query completion suggestions from the server; and

presenting a query refinement box associated with the text entry box including the previously received search queries as suggested queries and the possible spelling corrected queries for possible selection by a user.