Search equalizer

• US 20080016034A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabbat, Ralph, Guha, Sudipta
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method for processing query data is described that includes receiving a query portion from a client over a network. For each of multiple search contexts, a relevance score is determined, based on the query portion. Each search context corresponds to a different set of information against which queries can be executed. Indication of the relevance scores is provided to the client over the network. Determining the relevance score and providing indication are performed prior to an input indicating a complete query or in response thereto. The method may also include associating shortcuts with search contexts, selecting a set of shortcuts based, at least in part, on the relevance scores for the search contexts and the association between the shortcuts and search contexts, and sending the set of shortcuts to the client. The shortcuts include links for accessing a content location associated with the shortcut.

Claims

1. A method for processing query data, comprising:

receiving from a client, over a network, a query portion;

determining, for each search context of a plurality of search contexts, a relevance score based on said query portion;

wherein each search context corresponds to a different set of information against which queries can be executed; and

providing to said client over said network an indication of said relevance scores;

wherein said search contexts each comprise a unique set of information against which said query portion is executable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed prior to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed in response to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

associating shortcuts with search contexts;

selecting a set of shortcuts based, at least in part, on said relevance scores for said search contexts and the association between said shortcuts and said search contexts; and

sending said set of shortcuts to said client;

wherein said each of said shortcuts comprises a link for accessing a content location associated with said shortcut.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining a relevance score comprises:

obtaining at least two suggested search contexts associated therewith wherein said frequencies associated with said two suggested search contexts are greater than frequencies associated with one or more other search contexts;

returning raw frequencies of said search contexts based on a total number of previous queries;

normalizing said frequencies for each said search context with factors that are respectively based on a ratio of said total number of previous queries to a total number of queries in each of said suggested search contexts;

calculating a cumulative weight for each of said search contexts wherein said calculating comprises attaching a weight to said search contexts based on their respective said frequencies; and

ranking said search contexts based on said cumulative weight.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining a relevance score for each search context comprises:

determining a relevance score for the World Wide Web; and

determining relevance scores for each of a plurality of category-significant web portals.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said query portion comprises a string of characters and wherein, upon receiving an input comprising said string of characters, said providing said indication of said relevance scores comprises:

ranking said category-significant web portals according to said relevance scores;

wherein each of said category-significant web portals is displayed and wherein said each of their relevance score rankings is displayed with a client.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said query portion comprises a random query portion, further comprising categorizing said random query portion into each of said search contexts further based on said relevance score.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said categorizing comprises a function of a query understanding application program interface (API).

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said indication comprises a graphical representation of each said relevance score.

11. A system for processing data related to a query portion, comprising:

a network;

a client coupled to said network and hosting a web browser application and a user interface for allowing a user to input said query portion;

a first server coupled to said network, for receiving said query portion;

a search engine coupled to said first server, for searching for information related to said query portion; and

a second server coupled to said first server for generating a suggested query based on said query portion;

wherein at least one of said first server and said search engine is configured for processing said data related to said query portion with program functions that comprise;

receiving from said client, over said network, said query portion;

determining, for each search context of a plurality of search contexts, a relevance score based on said query portion;

wherein each search context corresponds to a different set of information against which queries can be executed; and

providing to said client over said network an indication of said relevance scores;

wherein said search contexts each comprise a unique set of information against which said query portion is executable.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed prior to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed in response to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said first server and said search engine is further configured for:

associating shortcuts with search contexts;

selecting a set of shortcuts based, at least in part, on the relevance scores for said search contexts and the association between said shortcuts and said search contexts; and

sending said set of shortcuts to said client;

wherein said each of said shortcuts comprises a link for accessing a content location associated with said shortcut.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said determining a relevance score comprises:

obtaining at least two suggested search contexts associated therewith wherein said frequencies associated with said two suggested search contexts are greater than frequencies associated with one or more other search contexts;

returning raw frequencies of said search contexts based on a total number of previous queries;

normalizing said frequencies for each said search context with factors that are respectively based on a ratio of said total number of previous queries to a total number of queries in each of said suggested search contexts;

calculating a cumulative weight for each of said search contexts wherein said calculating comprises attaching a weight to said search contexts based on their respective said frequencies; and

ranking said search contexts based on said cumulative weight.

16. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said determining a relevance score for each search context comprises:

determining a relevance score for the World Wide Web; and

determining relevance scores for each of a plurality of category-significant web portals.

17. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said query portion comprises a string of characters and wherein, upon receiving an input comprising said string of characters, said providing said indication of said relevance scores comprises:

ranking said category-significant web portals according to said relevance scores;

wherein each of said category-significant web portals is displayed and wherein said each of their relevance score rankings is displayed with a client.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said query portion comprises a random query portion and wherein said program functions further comprise categorizing said random query portion into each of said search contexts further based on said relevance score.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a query understanding application program interface (API) wherein said categorizing comprises a function of said API.

20. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein said indication comprises a graphical representation of each said relevance score wherein said graphical representation comprises at least one of a graph based relevance indicator and an array wherein said representation is positioned in said array according to said relevance score.

21. A computer readable tangible storage medium having machine executable instructions encoded therein which, when executed with one or more processors, causes said processors to process query data with a method comprising:

receiving from a client, over a network, a query portion;

determining, for each search context of a plurality of search contexts, a relevance score based on said query portion;

wherein each search context corresponds to a different set of information against which queries can be executed; and

providing to said client over said network an indication of said relevance scores;

wherein said search contexts each comprise a unique set of information against which said query portion is executable.

22. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed prior to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

23. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein the steps of determining a relevance score and providing an indication are performed in response to receiving input that indicates that said query portion represents a complete query.

24. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said method for processing query data further comprises:

associating shortcuts with search contexts;

selecting a set of shortcuts based, at least in part, on the relevance scores for said search contexts and the association between said shortcuts and said search contexts; and

sending said set of shortcuts to said client;

wherein said each of said shortcuts comprises a link for accessing a content location associated with said shortcut.

25. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 24 wherein said determining a relevance score comprises:

obtaining at least two suggested search contexts associated therewith wherein said frequencies associated with said two suggested search contexts are greater than frequencies associated with one or more other search contexts;

returning raw frequencies of said search contexts based on a total number of previous queries;

normalizing said frequencies for each said search context with factors that are respectively based on a ratio of said total number of previous queries to a total number of queries in each of said suggested search contexts;

calculating a cumulative weight for each of said search contexts wherein said calculating comprises attaching a weight to said search contexts based on their respective said frequencies; and

ranking said search contexts based on said cumulative weight.

26. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said determining a relevance score for each search context comprises:

determining a relevance score for the World Wide Web; and

determining relevance scores for each of a plurality of category-significant web portals.

27. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said query portion comprises a string of characters and wherein, upon receiving an input comprising said string of characters, said providing said indication of said relevance scores comprises:

ranking said category-significant web portals according to said relevance scores;

wherein each of said category-significant web portals is displayed and wherein said each of their relevance score rankings is displayed with a client.

28. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said query portion comprises a random query portion and wherein said method for processing query data further comprises categorizing said random query portion into each of said search contexts further based on said relevance score.

29. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 28 wherein said categorizing comprises a function of a query understanding application program interface (API).

30. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said indication comprises a graphical representation of each said relevance score.