UNIFIED SEARCH INTERFACE

• US 20110225146A1
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Boswell, Dustin
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,525 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/287 Visualization; Browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products feature determining a plurality of search result items responsive to a search query. A plurality of search modes are identified based on the query or the plurality of search result items or both. Each search mode is associated with a respective collection of records. The plurality of search result items are provided to a user with an indication of each search mode in the plurality of search modes. User input selecting a first search mode is received, where the first search mode is one of the plurality of search modes. One or more mode-specific search result items are determined based on the search query, where each mode-specific search result item is from the collection of records that is associated with the first search mode. The one or more mode-specific search result items are provided to the user.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records that share a first common attribute structure,

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure, and

the first common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements;

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query; and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the search modes.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the search modes.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the search modes.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the method further comprises;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the method further comprises;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.

13. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

26. A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records that share a first common attribute structure,

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure, and

the first common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

27. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

29. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein:

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements;

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query; and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements.

30. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the search modes.

31. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the search modes.

32. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the search modes.

33. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

34. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

35. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

36. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

37. The computer storage medium of claim 36, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

38. The computer storage medium of claim 36, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

40. The computer storage medium of claim 26, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.

28. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

41. A system comprising:

one or more computers; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more computers having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records that share a first common attribute structure,

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure, and

the first common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein:

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements;

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query; and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the search modes.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the search modes.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein identifying search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the search modes.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

55. The system of claim 41, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.

43. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

56. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying one or more search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified one or more search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records,

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements,

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query, and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the one or more search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

57. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

58. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein:

the first search mode is associated with the first collection of records that share the common attribute structure;

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure; and

the common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure.

59. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

60. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

61. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the one or more search modes.

62. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the method further comprises;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

63. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the method further comprises;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

64. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

65. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, further comprising:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

66. The computer-implemented method of claim 65, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

67. The computer-implemented method of claim 65, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

68. The computer-implemented method of claim 56, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.

69. A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying one or more search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified one or more search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records,

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements,

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query, and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the one or more search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

70. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

71. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein:

the first search mode is associated with the first collection of records that share the common attribute structure;

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure; and

the common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure.

72. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

73. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

74. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the one or more search modes.

75. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

76. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

77. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

78. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

79. The computer storage medium of claim 78, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

80. The computer storage medium of claim 78, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

81. The computer storage medium of claim 69, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.

82. A system comprising:

one or more computers; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more computers having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

receiving a search query;

generating first search results that identify resources that a search engine has identified as being responsive to the search query;

identifying one or more search modes based on the search query, the resources, or both the search query and the resources;

providing a first user interface that presents for display at least a portion of the first search results and a respective search mode selector for each of one or more of the identified one or more search modes;

receiving user input selecting a first search mode by selecting one of the search mode selectors, wherein;

the first search mode is associated with a first collection of records,

all records in the first collection have a common attribute structure of data elements,

the first search results identify resources that the search engine has identified from a corpus of resources as being responsive to the search query, and

all records in the corpus do not have the common attribute structure of data elements;

generating second search results that satisfy the search query and that refer to mode-specific records from the first collection of records that are associated with the first search mode, each of the one or more search modes being associated with a particular collection of records from among multiple collections of records;

formatting a plurality of the second search results using a mode-specific presentation template that is associated with the first search mode to generate formatted search results; and

providing a second user interface that presents for display the formatted search results.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein all records in each particular collection have a common attribute structure of data elements that pertain to the respective search mode.

84. The system of claim 82, wherein:

the first search mode is associated with the first collection of records that share the common attribute structure;

a second of the search modes is associated with a second collection of records that share a second common attribute structure; and

the common attribute structure is different from the second common attribute structure.

85. The system of claim 82, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that the search query includes one or more keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

86. The system of claim 82, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources include respective keywords that are associated with the one or more search modes.

87. The system of claim 82, wherein identifying one or more search modes comprises:

determining that one or more of the resources are associated with respective one or more records from among the multiple collections of records, the one or more records being associated with the one or more search modes.

88. The system of claim 82, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that identifies and allows users to specify an attribute value constraint for an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

removing from the second user interface second search results that do not satisfy the attribute value constraint to generate a revised second user interface, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

89. The system of claim 82, wherein:

the second user interface further presents a user interface element that allows users to sort the second search results according to values of an attribute that is specific to the first search mode; and

the operations further comprise;

receiving an indication of a user selection of the user interface element,

reordering in the second user interface the second search results in a sorted order according to values of the attribute to generate a revised second user interface, wherein before the user selection the second search results were not presented in the sorted order, and

providing the revised second user interface for display.

90. The system of claim 82, wherein the first user interface presents for display a respective search mode selector for each of two or more of the identified search modes.

91. The system of claim 82, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying mode-specific user interface elements that are associated with the first search mode, wherein the second user interface further presents for display the mode-specific user interface elements;

receiving user input selecting one of the mode-specific user interface elements;

generating a display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element; and

providing a third user interface that presents for display the generated display of third search results.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes ordering the third search results by values of a mode-specific attribute that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein generating the display of third search results based on the selected mode-specific user interface element includes limiting the third search results to search results that have attribute values that satisfy a constraint that is associated with the selected mode-specific user interface element.

94. The system of claim 82, wherein:

the mode-specific presentation template specifies a mode-specific format for displaying the mode-specific records; and

another of the search modes is associated with another mode-specific presentation template that specifies another different mode-specific format for displaying records.