Systems and methods for constructing and using a user profile

• US 20070276801A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Niniane, Lawrence, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US10/814,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276801A1
• 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

Systems and computer-readable mediums constructing and using a user profile are described. In one described system, a query system receives an implicit query comprising a first search term, receives a user search attribute from a user profile derives a second search term from the user search attribute, and processes the search query based on the second search term and/or the user search attribute. The query system may add the first search term to the user profile for use in modifying a subsequent query.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a search query comprising a first search term from a user;

receiving a first user search attribute and a second user search attribute from a user profile associated with the user;

deriving a second search term from the first user search attribute;

processing the search query based on the second search term to generate a processed search query;

receiving a search result generated in response to the processed search query modifying the search result based on the second user search attribute to generate a modified search result; and

returning the modified search result to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the search query comprises modifying the search query to include the second search term.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the search result comprises processing the search result based on the second search term.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the search result comprises sorting the search result based on the second user search attribute.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the search query comprises an implicit search query.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the search query comprises an explicit search query.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the search query comprises replacing the first search term with the second search term.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the search query comprises adding the second search term to the search query.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the processed search query to a search engine, the search engine associated with an index.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the index comprises a local index.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the index comprises a global index.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a search result comprises receiving a result set from the search engine, the result set comprising a plurality of article identifiers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein modifying the search result comprises ranking the plurality of article identifiers based at least in part on the second user search attribute.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the first search term to the user profile.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the user based in part on a user activity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user activity comprises at least one of a typing pattern and a mouse movement.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprises a data store.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data store comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a file and a database.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user search attribute comprises a category.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user search attribute comprises a user preference.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user search attribute comprises a user activity.

22. A method comprising:

receiving a search query comprising a first search term from a user;

receiving a first user search attribute and a second user search attribute from a user profile associated with the user;

processing the search query based on the first user search attribute to generate a processed search query;

receiving a search result generated in response to the processed search query;

modifying the search result based on the second user search attribute to generate a modified search result; and

returning the modified search result to the user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first user search attribute identifies a level of interest in a category.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting the processed search query to a search engine, the search engine associated with an index.

25. A computer-readable tangible medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a search query comprising a first search term from a user;

program code for receiving a first user search attribute and a second user search attribute from a user profile associated with the user;

program code for deriving a second search term from the first user search attribute;

program code for processing the search query based on the second search term to generate a processed search query;

program code for receiving a search result generated in response to the processed search query;

program code for modifying the search result based on the second user search attribute to generate a modified search result; and

program code for returning the modified search result to the user.

26. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for processing the search query comprises program code for replacing the first search term with the second search term.

27. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for processing the search query comprises program code for adding the second search term to the search query.

28. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, further comprising program code for transmitting the processed search query to a search engine, the search engine associated with an index.

29. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for receiving a search result comprises program code for receiving a result set from a search engine, the result set comprising a plurality of article identifiers.

30. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 29, wherein program code for modifying the search result comprises program code for ranking the plurality of article identifiers based at least in part on the second user search attribute.

31. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, further comprising program code for adding the first search term to the user profile.

32. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, further comprising program code for identifying the user based in part on a user activity.

33. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for processing the search query comprises program code for modifying the search query to include the second search term.

34. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for modifying the search result comprises program code for processing the search result based on the second search term.

35. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 25, wherein program code for modifying the search result comprises program code for sorting the search result.

36. A computer-readable tangible medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a search query comprising a first search term from a user;

program code for receiving a first user search attribute and a second user search attribute from a user profile associated with the user;

program code for processing the search query based on the first user search attribute to generate a processed search query;

program code for receiving a search result generated in response to the processed search query;

program code for modifying the search result based on the second user search attribute to generate a modified search result; and

program code for returning the modified search result to the user.

37. The computer-readable tangible medium of claim 36, wherein the first user search attribute identifies a level of interest in a category.

38. A method comprising:

receiving a search query comprising a first search term from a user;

receiving a user search attribute from a user profile associated with the user;

automatically deriving a second search term from the user search attribute without user intervention;

processing the search query based on the second search term to generate a processed search query;

receiving a search result generated in response to the processed search query; and

returning the search result to the user.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein automatically deriving a second search term further comprises automatically selecting a term from the user search attribute as the second search term without user intervention.