SEARCH QUERY PROCESSING

• US 20110191319A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: He, Wei, Xiao, He, Nie, Xuping, Zhong, Jinghui
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Providing search results includes: receiving a search query; determining a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query, based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query; performing the plurality of preprocessing functions on the search query to obtain a plurality preprocessed search queries; generating, based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query; and inputting the search plan to the search engine to obtain the search results.

Claims

1. A method for providing search results, comprising:

receiving a search query;

determining a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query, based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query;

performing the plurality of preprocessing functions on the search query to obtain a plurality preprocessed search queries;

generating, based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query; and

inputting the search plan to the search engine to obtain the search results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the search plan includes selecting among the plurality of preprocessed search queries ones that meet a precision requirement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the precision requirement is determined based on historical data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the search plan further includes determining whether there is a conflict among the preprocessed search queries that meet the precision requirement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether there is a conflict among the preprocessed search queries that meet the first precision requirement includes determining whether two or more preprocessed search queries meet the precision requirement.

6. The method of claim 4, in the event that there is a conflict, selecting a preprocessed search query that has the highest precision level.

7. The method of claim 4, in the event that there is a conflict, generating the search plan further comprising determining that the multiple preprocessed search queries meet a confidence level requirement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of preprocessing functions have a unified interface.

9. A system for providing search results, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive a search query;

determine a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query, based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query;

perform the plurality of preprocessing functions on the search query to obtain a plurality preprocessed search queries;

generate, based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query; and

input the search plan to the search engine to obtain the search results; and

one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein generating the search plan includes selecting among the plurality of preprocessed search queries ones that meet a precision requirement.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the precision requirement is determined based on historical data.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein generating the search plan further includes determining whether there is a conflict among the preprocessed search queries that meet the precision requirement.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein determining whether there is a conflict among the preprocessed search queries that meet the first precision requirement includes determining whether two or more preprocessed search queries meet the precision requirement.

14. The system of claim 12, in the event that there is a conflict, selecting a preprocessed search query that has the highest precision level.

15. The system of claim 12, in the event that there is a conflict, generating the search plan further comprising determining that the multiple preprocessed search queries meet a confidence level requirement.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of preprocessing functions have a unified interface.

17. A computer program product for providing search results, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a search query;

determining a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query, based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query;

performing the plurality of preprocessing functions on the search query to obtain a plurality preprocessed search queries;

generating, based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query; and

inputting the search plan to the search engine to obtain the search results.