Techniques for providing suggestions for creating a search query

• US 20070208738A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/211 Syntactic parsing, e.g. based on context-free grammar [CFG] or unification grammars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Provided are techniques for providing suggestions for a search query. As input of a search query is received, it is determined that the input corresponds to a stem. It is determined whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term. In response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term, a new query is generated based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms. In response to executing the new query, results are received and suggestions for completing the search query are provided based on the received results.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing suggestions for a search query, comprising:

as input for a search query is received,

determining that the input corresponds to a stem;

determining whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term; and

in response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term,

generating a new query based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms;

in response to executing the new query, receiving results; and

providing suggestions for completing the search query based on the received results.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the input indicates that a search query has been submitted; and

submitting the search query to a search engine.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the input indicates that an option from among a set of possible suggestions for completing the search query has been selected; and

updating a resolved portion of the search query.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined term is one of an attribute name, a custom command, a partial attribute value, with, show, and a portion of an attribute name.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the results are provided in a natural language style in real-time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a keystroke.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the new query is submitted to a search engine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined term is a custom command and wherein generating the new query comprises performing a custom search.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

as input for a search query is received,

determine that the input corresponds to a stem;

determine whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term; and

in response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term,

generate a new query based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms;

in response to executing the new query, receive results; and

provide suggestions for completing the search query based on the received results.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

determine that the input indicates that a search query has been submitted; and

submit the search query to a search engine.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

determine that the input indicates that an option from among a set of possible suggestions for completing the search query has been selected; and

update a resolved portion of the search query.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined term is one of an attribute name, a custom command, a partial attribute value, with, show, and a portion of an attribute name.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the results are provided in a natural language style in real-time.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the input comprises a keystroke.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the new query is submitted to a search engine.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the predetermined term is a custom command and wherein generating the new query comprises performing a custom search.

17. A system for providing suggestions for a search query, comprising:

logic capable of performing operations, the operations comprising;

as input for a search query is received,

determining that the input corresponds to a stem;

determining whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term; and

in response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term,

generating a new query based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms;

in response to executing the new query, receiving results; and

providing suggestions for completing the search query based on the received results.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the input indicates that a search query has been submitted; and

submitting the search query to a search engine.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the input indicates that an option from among a set of possible suggestions for completing the search query has been selected; and

updating a resolved portion of the search query.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined term is one of an attribute name, a custom command, a partial attribute value, with, show, and a portion of an attribute name.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the results are provided in a natural language style in real-time.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the input comprises a keystroke.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the new query is submitted to a search engine.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined term is a custom command and wherein generating the new query comprises performing a custom search.