Suggesting Search Results to Users Before Receiving Any Search Query From the Users

• US 20120310922A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael Dudley, Patterson, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,268,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

In one embodiment, in response to a user accessing a search tool and before the user submitting any search query or portion thereof to the search tool, compiling a first set of search results based on information known about the user and presenting the first set of search results to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by one or more computing devices,

in response to a user accessing a search tool and before the user submitting any search query or portion thereof to the search tool,

compiling a first set of search results based on information known about the user; and

presenting the first set of search results to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information known about the user comprises the user'"'"'s demographical data, social connections, interests, hobbies, past actions, behavior patterns, and calendar entries.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of search results is compiled further based on a time when the user accesses the search tool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of search results is compiled further based on a location where the user accesses the search tool.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking the first set of search results based on the information known about the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising for each of one or more search results from the first set of search results:

selecting one or more call-to-action elements for the search result based on the information known about the user; and

presenting the one or more call-to-action elements in close proximity to the search result.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user is a member of a social-networking system; and

the information known about the user comprises information about the user stored with the social-networking system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search query submitted by the user to the search tool;

identifying a second set of search results in response to the search query; and

presenting the second set of search results to the user, replacing the first set of search results.

9. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and

the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

in response to a user accessing a search tool and before the user submitting any search query or portion thereof to the search tool,

compile a first set of search results based on information known about the user; and

present the first set of search results to the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information known about the user comprises the user'"'"'s demographical data, social connections, interests, hobbies, past actions, behavior patterns, and calendar entries.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first set of search results is compiled further based on a time when the user accesses the search tool.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first set of search results is compiled further based on a location where the user accesses the search tool.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to rank the first set of search results based on the information known about the user.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to, for each of one or more search results from the first set of search results:

select one or more call-to-action elements for the search result based on the information known about the user; and

present the one or more call-to-action elements in close proximity to the search result.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the user is a member of a social-networking system; and

the information known about the user comprises information about the user stored with the social-networking system.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

receive a search query submitted by the user to the search tool;

identify a second set of search results in response to the search query; and

present the second set of search results to the user, replacing the first set of search results.

17. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computer systems to:

in response to a user accessing a search tool and before the user submitting any search query or portion thereof to the search tool,

compile a first set of search results based on information known about the user; and

present the first set of search results to the user.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein the information known about the user comprises the user'"'"'s demographical data, social connections, interests, hobbies, past actions, behavior patterns, and calendar entries.

19. The media of claim 17, wherein the first set of search results is compiled further based on a time when the user accesses the search tool, or a location where the user accesses the search tool.

20. The media of claim 17, wherein:

the user is a member of a social-networking system; and

the information known about the user comprises information about the user stored with the social-networking system.