TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR SEARCH QUERY REFINEMENT

• US 20110060752A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: MALAHY, EVAN, LANE, MIRA, MacDONALD, BRIAN, CONNELL, DERRICK, RAY, PAUL, FLYNN, JAVIER GARCIA
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods and a computing system are provided for presenting a new user interface paradigm which allows users to explore facets related to a search query term while maintaining the original state of the search query term or staying within the confines of the user defined topic. The methods and system present facets or categories of relevant topics of a user generated search query term. The user may then explore these facets in a number of embodiments while maintaining the state of the search.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for providing a user interface for exploring facets relevant to a user search query term, wherein a state of the user search query is maintained, the method comprising:

receiving at least one search query term from a user;

receiving at least one relevant facet for the at least one search query term, wherein the at least one relevant facet categorizes a set of topics relevant to the at least one search query term and allows the user to refine the one or more search query terms;

displaying at least one of the relevant facets for the at least one search query term;

receiving selection of at least one of the relevant facets;

sending the selection of at least one of the relevant facets to a back end server;

receiving a set of search results for the at least one search query term and the at least one selected facet; and

displaying a set of search results for the at least one search query term and the at least one selected facet.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising storing the at least one search query term in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the facets are displayed in a web browser.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving and displaying a set of search results for the at least one search query term with the at least one relevant facets.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising displaying at least one static facet, wherein the static facet allows the user to refine the at least one search query term.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing a user search query prompt.

7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for, providing a user interface for exploring facets and sub facets relevant to a user-generated query, wherein a state of the user-generated query is maintained, the method comprising:

receiving at least one search query term from a user;

receiving at least one relevant facet for the at least one search query term, wherein the at least one relevant facet categorizes a set of topics relevant to the at least one search query term and allows the user to refine the one or more search query terms;

displaying at least one of the relevant facets for the at least one search query term;

receiving selection of at least one of the relevant facets;

transmitting the selection of the at least one relevant facet to a back end server;

receiving at least one sub facet for the at least one search query term and the at least one selected facet, wherein the at least one sub facet categorizes a set of sub topics relevant to the selected facet and allows the user to further refine the one or more search query terms;

displaying the at least one sub facet and the at least one relevant facet for the at least one search query term;

receiving selection of at least one of the sub facets;

receiving a set of search results for the at least one selected sub facet; and

displaying a set of search results for the at least one selected sub facet and the at least one selected facet and the at least one search query term.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising storing the at least one search query term in a database.

9. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising storing the at least one facet in a database.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sub facets and facets are displayed in a web browser.

11. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising receiving and displaying a set of search results for the at least one search query term with the at least one relevant facets.

12. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising displaying at least one static facet, wherein the static facet allows the user to refine the at least one search query term.

13. A computerized system for providing a user interface for exploring facets relevant to a user search query, wherein a state of the user search query is maintained, the system comprising:

a back-end server configured for;

generating at least one relevant facet for at least one search query term received from a user, wherein the facet categorizes a set of topics relevant to the at least one search query term;

generating a set of results for at least one selected facet and the at least one search query term; and

a front end engine configured for;

sending a user generated search query term to the back end server;

displaying the at least one relevant facet for the at least one search query term;

receiving the user selection of at least one relevant facet for refining the at least one search query term;

displaying the set of results for at least one selected facet and the at least one search query term.

14. The system of claim 13, the system further comprising a database configured for storing the at least one search query term.

15. The system of claim 13, the front end engine further configured for receiving a set of search results for the at least one search query term with the at least one relevant facets from the back end server and further displaying the set of search results for the at least one search query term with the at least one relevant facets.

16. The system of claim 13, the front end engine further configured for sending the at least one search query term with the at least one selected relevant facet to the back end server.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of results comprises a set of search results.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of results comprises at least one sub facet, wherein the at least one sub facet categorizes a set of sub topics relevant to the selected facet and allows the user to further refine the one or more search query terms and the front end engine is further configured to receive the selection of at least one sub facet and display a set of search results for the at least one sub facet and the at least one facet and the at least one search query terms.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the front end engine further comprises a web browser.

20. The system of claim 13, the front end further configured for displaying at least one static facet, wherein the static facet allows the user to refine the at least one search query term.