SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXT BASED QUERY AUGMENTATION

• US 20120078938A1
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Marc Eliot, Paretti, Christopher T., King, Simon P., Nair, Rahul, Burgener, Carrie
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for context based query augmentation. A question is received over a network from a questioning user comprising an identification of a user and at least one question criteria. A first query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify user context data relevant to question criteria. The question is modified using the user context data to create at least one modified question having at least one additional criteria based on the user context data. A second query is formulated so as to search, via the network, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria. The knowledge data is transmitted, over the network, to the questioning user.

Claims

1-146. -146. (canceled)

147. A method comprising:

receiving a question, over a network, from a questioning user, the question comprising an identification of a user and question criteria;

formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the question criteria and the identified user so as to identify user context data relevant to the question criteria;

modifying the question, via the network, using the user context data to create a modified question having additional criteria based on the user context data;

formulating a second query so as to search, via the network, using the modified question criteria and the user identification so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria;

transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the questioning user.

148. The method of claim 147 wherein the knowledge data comprises questions and answers entered by a first plurality of users.

149. The method of claim 148 wherein the knowledge data for each question and answer additionally comprises spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the first plurality of users who entered the knowledge data at the time the knowledge data was entered.

150. The method of claim 148 wherein the knowledge data for each question and answer additionally comprises an identification of one of a second plurality of users who consumed the knowledge data.

151. The method of claim 150 wherein the knowledge data for each question and answer additionally comprises spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the second plurality of users who consumed the knowledge data at the time the knowledge data was consumed.

152. The method of claim 149 wherein the identified knowledge data is ranked based on the closeness of fit between social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available, via the network, that relates to the identified user and the spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the first plurality of users who entered the identified knowledge data at the time the identified knowledge data was entered.

153. The method of claim 151 wherein the identified knowledge data is ranked based on the closeness of fit between social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available, via the network, that relates to the identified user and the spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the second plurality of users who consumed the identified knowledge data at the time the knowledge data was consumed.

154. The method of claim 147 wherein the identified knowledge data transmitted to the questioning user is filtered using user preferences comprising spatial, temporal, social and topical criteria.

155. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a suggested question, over a network, from a requesting user, the question comprising an identification of a user;

formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data available to the network that relates to the user identification so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user'"'"'s current context;

transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the requesting user.

156. The method of claim 155 wherein the request is automatically submitted on behalf of the requesting user in response to a trigger event.

157. The method of claim 156 wherein the trigger event is the expiration of a time interval.

158. The method of claim 156 wherein the trigger event is a change in the requesting user'"'"'s current context data.

159. The method of claim 158 wherein the change in the requesting user'"'"'s current context data is a change in the requesting user'"'"'s current physical location.

160. The method of claim 158 wherein the change in the requesting user'"'"'s current context data is a change in the state of a sensor associated with the requesting user.

161. The method of claim 155 wherein the knowledge data comprises questions and answers entered by a first plurality of users.

162. The method of claim 161 wherein the knowledge data for each question and answer additionally comprises spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the first plurality of users who entered the knowledge data at the time such knowledge data was entered.

163. The method of claim 161 wherein the knowledge data for each question and answer additionally comprises spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the second plurality of users who consumed the knowledge data at the time the knowledge data was consumed.

164. The method of claim 162 wherein the identified knowledge data is ranked based on the closeness of fit between social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available, via the network, that relates to the identified user and the spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the first plurality of users who entered the identified knowledge data at the time the identified knowledge data was entered.

165. The method of claim 163 wherein the identified knowledge data is ranked based on the closeness of fit between social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available, via the network, that relates to the identified user and the spatial, temporal, social and topical data that related to each of the second plurality of users who consumed the identified knowledge data at the time the knowledge data was entered.

166. The method of claim 155 wherein the identified knowledge data transmitted to the questioning user is filtered using user preferences comprising spatial, temporal, social and topical criteria.

167. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

logic executed by the processor for receiving a question, over a network, from a questioning user, the question comprising an identification of a user and question criteria;

logic executed by the processor for formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the question criteria and the user identification so as to identify user context data relevant to the question criteria;

logic executed by the processor for modifying the question, via the network, using the user context data to create a modified question having additional criteria based on the user context data;

logic executed by the processor for formulating a second query so as to search, via the network, using the modified question criteria and the identified user so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria; and

logic executed by the processor for transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the questioning user.

168. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

logic executed by the processor for receiving a request for a suggested question, over a network, from a requesting user, the question comprising an identification of a user;

logic executed by the processor for formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data available to the network that relates to the user identification so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user'"'"'s current context; and

logic executed by the processor for transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the requesting user.

169. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media for tangibly storing thereon computer readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a question, over a network, from a questioning user, the question comprising an identification of a user and question criteria;

formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data that is available via the network and relates to the question criteria and the user identification so as to identify user context data relevant to the question criteria;

modifying the question, via the network, using the user context data to create a modified question having additional criteria based on the user context data;

formulating a second query so as to search, via the network, using the modified question criteria and the identified user so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user and the modified question criteria;

transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the questioning user.

170. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media for tangibly storing thereon computer readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a request for a suggested question, over a network, from a requesting user, the question comprising an identification of a user; and

formulating a first query so as to search, via the network, using a global index that relates entities known to the network with one another, for knowledge data, user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data and topical data available to the network that relates to the user identification so as to identify knowledge data relevant to the identified user'"'"'s current context;

transmitting, over the network, the identified knowledge data to the requesting user.