Dynamic Search Interaction

• US 20110202533A1
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rounthwaite, Robert L., Wang, Ye-Yi, Imig, Scott K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

This patent application pertains to dynamic search interaction. One example includes an organizational component configured to obtain a search query from a user. The organizational component can also be configured to obtain related search queries. The organizational component can further be configured to organize the related search queries by topic and to estimate a relative likelihood that an intent of the user matches an individual topic. This example also includes an image generation component configured to cause the organized related search queries to be presented on a graphical user interface (GUI) in a manner that reflects the relative likelihood.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an organizational component configured to obtain a search query from a user, to obtain related search queries and to organize the related search queries by topic, and to estimate a relative likelihood that an intent of the user matches an individual topic; and

,

an image generation component configured to cause the organized related search queries to be presented on a graphical user interface (GUI) in a manner that reflects the relative likelihood.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the organizational component is further configured to refine the estimated relative likelihood based upon subsequent user input.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the organizational component includes a similarity module configured to assign individual related search queries to an individual associated topic.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the organizational component is configured to obtain the related search queries from query search logs or from the user'"'"'s history.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the organizational component is configured to utilize frequencies that individual related search queries occur in the query search logs or the user'"'"'s history to determine the relative likelihood.

6. A computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computing device, wherein the computing device causes acts to be performed, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s search query;

obtaining search queries that are related to the user'"'"'s search query;

determining user intent associated with the user'"'"'s search query;

organizing the related search queries based at least in part on the user intent; and

,

causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be generated that presents the related search queries in a global manner that conveys the organizing.

7. The computer-readable storage media of claim 6, wherein the determining is based upon one or more of:

accessing user history relating to previous search queries, accessing a log of other users related to the search query, or accessing resources not associated with previous search queries.

8. The computer-readable storage media of claim 6, wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining the related search queries from query logs.

9. The computer-readable storage media of claim 6, wherein determining user intent is based at least in part on identifying potential ambiguity of the user'"'"'s search query.

10. The computer-readable storage media of claim 6, wherein determining user intent is based upon checking for multiple definitions or topics for the user search query at a web-based resource.

11. The computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the organizing comprises associating individual related search queries with individual definitions.

12. The computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the associating is based at least in part on a similarity between the individual related search queries and the individual definitions.

13. The computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the organizing is based upon one or more parameters comprising topic, time, or location.

14. A computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computing device, wherein the computing device causes acts to be performed, comprising:

identifying search queries that are related to a user'"'"'s search query;

organizing the related search queries; and

,

graphically presenting the related search queries in a manner that reflects the organization.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the identifying comprises locating the search query in query search logs and reviewing a browsing history of the user.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the organizing comprises identifying multiple topics for the search query and associating the related search queries with individual topics.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the graphically presenting comprises presenting individual topics in a weighted manner based upon a relative probability of matching an intent of the user'"'"'s search query.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the graphically presenting comprises presenting the related search queries in a blob defined by an individual topic.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the graphically presenting comprises presenting the related search queries in an individual topic and presenting the multiple topics as nodes relative to the user'"'"'s search query.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the graphically presenting further comprises presenting the related search queries in a weighted manner relative to a probability of matching an intent of the user'"'"'s search query.