CONTEXT-BASED SERVICES

• US 20110264656A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pell, Barney Darryl, Dumais, Susan T., Kinsel, Patrick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing context-based services. In one embodiment, context-based output is provided. The context-based output can include context-based search results for a query. Contextual information can be used to improve access to real-time, social, and other content by enabling a search engine to better understand and/or to supplement queries based upon the context within which the query is received. The contextual information can include, but are not limited to, searches and content associated with the searcher, one or more locations associated with the searcher, the time of day at which a query is received, the device from which a query is received, an application running at the device from which the query is received, the capabilities of the device from which the query is received, and other variables. The contextual information can be used to manipulate the search query, the search results, the presentation of the search results, and/or the content surrounding the search results such as, for example, advertising, links, graphics, and other content.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing context-based services, the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving a request for context-based output;

determining a context associated with the request for the context-based output;

updating the request based upon the determined context;

identifying the context-based output based upon the updated request; and

outputting the context-based output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving the request for context-based output comprises receiving an implicitly augmented query comprising one or more contexts associated with a client device,

obtaining relevant data for at least one of the contexts associated with the implicitly augmented query, and

pushing the relevant data to the client device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relevant data is used to augment a post or status update generated at the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the context-based output comprises a query.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the context-based output comprises search results, and further comprising:

identifying a data object corresponding to a one of the search results;

obtaining context data corresponding to the data object; and

associating the context data with the data object.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the context associated with the request further comprises:

obtaining query context data associated with the query;

analyzing the query context data to identify a context associated with the query; and

manipulating the query to reflect the identified context.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein manipulating the query comprises adding or removing at least one of a term, metadata, or operator to the query.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying the context comprises identifying a capability or attribute of a client device or service provider from or via which the query was generated, and wherein manipulating the query comprises adding data indicating the capability of the client device to the query.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying the context comprises identifying a location at which the query was generated, and wherein manipulating the query comprises adding data indicating the location to the query.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying the context comprises identifying a time at which the query was generated, and wherein manipulating the query comprises adding data indicating the time to the query.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the context-based output comprises a search result set, and the method further comprises:

identifying a data object corresponding to one of the search results;

obtaining context data corresponding to a context associated with the data object;

comparing the context associated with the query with the context associated with the data object; and

ranking the search result set corresponding to the data object based upon the comparing.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

ranking the search result higher, in response to determining that the context associated with the data object is similar to the context associated with the query.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that the context associated with the data object is similar to the context associated with the query comprises determining that the data object and the query were created at one or more of the same location or the same time.

14. A computer-implemented method for providing context based services, the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving a query for a search of real-time data, the query being received from a client device;

determining a context associated with the query by analyzing query context data obtained from the client device;

updating the query based upon the determined context;

identifying search results based upon the updated query; and

outputting the identified search results.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the real-time data comprises a social networking wall associated with a user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the real-time data comprises real-time messages posted by a user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the context associated with the query further comprises:

obtaining the query context data from the client device;

analyzing the query context data to identify a context associated with the query; and

manipulating the query to reflect the identified context.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying a data object corresponding to a one of the search results;

obtaining context data corresponding to a context associated with the data object;

comparing the context associated with the query with the context associated with the data object; and

ranking the search results corresponding to the data object based upon the comparing.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

analyzing the query context data to identify a context associated with the query;

manipulating the query to reflect the identified context;

identifying a data object corresponding to a one of the search results;

obtaining context data corresponding to a context associated with the data object;

comparing the context associated with the query with the context associated with the data object; and

filtering the search results corresponding to data objects for which the context is not similar to the context associated with the query.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a query for real-time data from a client device;

determine a context associated with the query by analyzing query context data obtained from the client device to identify a context within which the query was generated;

manipulate the query to reflect the identified context;

identify search results based upon the manipulated query;

output the identified search results;

identify a data object corresponding to a one of the search results;

obtain context data corresponding to a context within which the data object was generated;

associate the context data with the data object;

store data indicating that the context data and the data object are associated at a data storage location;

compare the context within which the query was created with the context within which the data object was created; and

rank the search results corresponding to the data object based upon the comparing.