EFFICIENT NAVIGATION OF SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20090282363A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: JHAVERI, VIVEK J., RAGNO, ROBERT
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for navigating search results are provided. In response to receiving a search query, at least one individual search result is presented in an overlay window, the overlay window being configured to overlay at least a portion of a document viewing window. Navigation between the overlay window and the document viewing window may be performed in response to receiving input of at least one pre-determined command. Content associated with a selected individual search result (or other document identifier) may be presented in the document viewing window and, substantially simultaneously, the overlay window may be hidden from view. Subsequently, in response to receiving at least one pre-determined command, the overlay window may be re-presented such that it again overlays at least a portion of the document viewing window.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method using one or more of a processor and computer storage media for navigating search results that are generated in response to a search query, which is input into a first browser window, the method comprising:

receiving the search query and in response thereto presenting an overlay window having at least a portion of the search results presented therein, wherein the overlay window is a separate window from the first browser window and is displayed in a view at least partially obstructing a view of the first browser window; and

navigating between the overlay window and a document viewing window upon receiving input of one or more pre-determined commands, wherein navigating comprises;

(1) receiving a selection of one of the search results in the overlay window and in response thereto both presenting in the document viewing window content associated with the one of the search results that was selected and hiding the overlay window; and

(2) receiving a pre-determined command and in response thereto re-presenting the overlay window in a view at least partially obstructing a the view of the document viewing window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pre-determined commands comprise one or more of a combination of keyboard characters selected simultaneously, a combination of keyboard characters selected in succession, a single keyboard character, a mouse click, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the search results comprises one or more of a link to a web site, a document preview, a thumbnail, a video preview sample or a representative icon thereof, an audio sample or a representative icon thereof, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein upon re-presenting the overlay window, the at least one individual search result for which a selection was received is visibly identified.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting an overlay window having at least a portion of the search results comprises presenting an overlay window having a list of a plurality of individual search results presented therein, wherein the method further comprises navigating within the list upon receiving input of at least one of the one or more predetermined commands, and wherein navigation begins with the visibly identified at least one individual search result.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the one of the search results comprises receiving input of an identifier associated with a document.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an overlay window having at least a portion of the search results comprises presenting an overlay window having a list of a plurality of individual search results presented therein, and wherein the method further comprises navigating within the list upon receiving input of at least one of the one or more pre-determined commands.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting an overlay window having a list of a plurality of individual search results presented therein comprises presenting an overlay window having a list comprising at least one sponsored individual search result and at least one non-sponsored individual search result, and wherein upon receiving input of the at least one of the one or more pre-determined commands, navigation begins at the at least one non-sponsored individual search result.

9. One or more computer storage media embodying a system for navigating search results, the system comprising:

a presentation module configured to present on a user'"'"'s display;

(1) a document viewing window for viewing content relating to one or more of the search results, and

(2) a separate overlay window comprising a plurality of individual search results, wherein the presentation module is configured to visibly distinguish an individual search result for selection in the overlay window and upon receipt of a first pre-determined command visibly distinguish an alternative individual search result for selection in the overlay window; and

a navigation control module configured to;

(1) receive a second pre-determined command and in response thereto display the separate overlay window in a view at least partially obstructing the document viewing window; and

(2) upon receipt of a selection of one of the search results, hide the separate overlay window.

10. The one or more computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the navigation module is further configured to navigate to a web site upon receiving an identifier therefore, and wherein the presentation module is further configured to present content associated with the web site in the document viewing window and to hide the overlay window from view upon such presentation.

11. The one or more computer storage media of claim 10, wherein the presentation module is further configured to re-present the overlay window upon receiving a third pre-determined command.

12. The one or more computer storage media of claim 11, wherein the presentation module is further configured to visibly identify one or more of the search results that have been previously selected.

13. The one or more computer storage media of claim 11, wherein the navigation module is further configured to begin navigation at a most recently selected individual search result upon re-presentation of the overlay window.

14. The one or more computer storage media of claim 9, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present at least one sponsored individual search result and at least one non-sponsored individual search result visibly separated from one another, and wherein the navigation module is further configured to begin navigation at a first non-sponsored individual search result.