SEARCH ENGINE SEGMENTATION

• US 20070179847A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jain, Kamal
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.540
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0263 based upon Internet or website rating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

The claimed subject matter can provide a mechanism that facilitates market segmentation among search engines. A segmentation mechanism is provided that displays a plurality of search engines that can be employed in connection with a plurality of search types. Thus, an Internet search query can be analyzed, e.g., by keywords to determine a type of search being performed, and subsequently directed to the search engine selected for that type rather than all search queries going to a single search engine. The routing of a query can be based upon a user'"'"'s choices, which takes advantage of the fact that some search engines perform better than others based upon the type of search. The segmentation mechanism can be built into, e.g., an operating system, a browser and the like, and can be easily configured.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system coupled to the Internet, the system facilitates market segmentation among search engines, comprising:

a segmentation component, comprising;

a configuration component that displays a plurality of search engines that can be employed in connection with a plurality of search types; and

a routing component that receives a query and determines a query type from among the plurality of search types.

2. The system of claim 1, the configuration component provides for a selection of one of the plurality of search engines that is selected for each of the plurality of search types.

3. The system of claim 2, the selected search engine is associated with the respective search type.

4. The system of claim 3, the routing component routes the query to the selected search engine.

5. The system of claim 1, the query type is determined by comparing the query to a key word list.

6. The system of claim 5, the key word list is an indexed list of common search terms.

7. The system of claim 6, the query type is determined based upon search terms for which an advertiser has bid.

8. The system of claim 6, the query type is determined based upon search terms that yield a higher percentage of click-throughs from a consumer.

9. The system of claim 6, the query type is determined based upon at least one of a default priority, a pre-set selection, a consumer search history, and a consumer transaction history.

10. The system of claim 6, the key word list is updated periodically.

11. The system of claim 1, the query is at least one of an Internet search query, a product search and a service search.

12. The system of claim 1, the plurality of search types include a consumer search, an image search, an entertainment search, a news search, a default search and a local default search.

13. The system of claim 1, the segmentation component is a component of a web browser.

14. The system of claim 1, the segmentation component is a component of an operating system.

15. A computer implemented method for facilitating market segmentation among search engines, comprising:

presenting a plurality of search engines that can be employed in connection with a plurality of query types, each of the plurality of search engines is associated with one of the plurality of query types based upon a selection;

receiving a query;

matching the query to one of the plurality of query types; and

directing the query to the search engine designated by the selection for the matching query type.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the type of a query by comparing search terms of the query with an indexed list of key words.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving an updated indexed list of key words.

18. A computer executable system coupled to the Internet, the system facilitates market segmentation among search engines, comprising:

computer implemented means for displaying a plurality of search engines that can be employed in connection with a plurality of query types, each of the plurality of search engines is associated with one of the plurality of query types based upon a selection;

computer implemented means for receiving a query;

computer implemented means for matching the query to one of the plurality of query types; and

computer implemented means for routing the query to the search engine designated by the selection for the matching query type.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising computer implemented means for determining the type of a query by comparing search terms of the query with an indexed list of key words.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising computer implemented means for receiving an updated indexed list of key words.