Web Query Classification

• US 20100299290A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Kingdom Assets Limited
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beitzel, Steven Michael, Lewis, David Dolan, Kolcz, Aleksander, Chowdhury, Abdur R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/353 into predefined classes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A query phrase may be automatically classified to one or more topics of interest (e.g., categories) to assist in routing the query phrase to one or more appropriate backend databases. A selectional preference query classification technique may be used to classify the query phrase based on a comparison between the query phrase and patterns of query phrases. Additionally, or alternatively, a combination of query classification techniques may be used to classify the query phrase. Topical classification of a query phrase also may be used to assist a search system in delivering auxiliary information to a user who entered the query phrase. Advertisements, for instance, may be tailored based on classification rather than query keywords.

Claims

1. A method, performed at least partially on a computer, for enabling satisfaction of a search responsive to a query based on classification of the query, the method comprising:

receiving, from user input, a query phrase;

parsing the received query phrase into constituent parts;

accessing, from classification information stored in a computer storage medium that includes patterns of query phrases, a pattern that is associated with at least one category;

determining whether a constituent part parsed from the received query phrase corresponds to at least a subportion of an accessed pattern;

based on a determination that a constituent part parsed from the received query phrase corresponds to at least a subportion of an accessed pattern, associating the category that is associated with the pattern also with the query phrase or the constituent part; and

identifying at least one search resource for satisfying the query phrase based on the associated category.

2-29. -29. (canceled)