Presenting Images as Search Results

• US 20120317097A1
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tseng, Erick
• Granted Patent: US 10,185,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

In one embodiment, accessing a set of characters of a search query currently entered into a text entry box; compiling a first set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, wherein the compiling is re-executed responsive to changes to the set of characters entered into the text entry box; associating an image with each search result from the first set of search results; and presenting the first set of search results as a first set of images adjacent to the text entry box.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a first computing device,

accessing a set of characters of a search query currently entered into a text entry box;

compiling a first set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, wherein the compiling is re-executed responsive to changes to the set of characters entered into the text entry box;

associating an image with each search result from the first set of search results; and

presenting the first set of search results as a first set of images adjacent to the text entry box.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more additional characters to the set of characters of the search query entered into the text entry box;

compiling a second set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, which includes the one or more additional characters;

associating an image with each search result from the second set of search results; and

presenting the second set of search results as a second set of images adjacent to the text entry box, the second set of images replacing the first set of images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein compiling and presenting the first set of search results comprises:

identifying one or more first search results from information stored on the first computing device;

presenting the one or more first search results as one or more first images; and

if the one or more first search results are insufficient, then;

identifying one or more second search results from information stored on one or more second computing devices; and

presenting the one or more second search results as one or more second images.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein compiling the first set of search results comprises identifying the first set of search results from information stored on the first computing device and one or more second computing devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the first set of search results as the first set of images comprises:

assigning a portion of a screen of the first computing device to each of one or more search results from the first set of search results; and

displaying the image associated with each of the one or more search results from the first set of search result in the portion of the screen assigned to the search result, wherein the image substantially consumes the portion of the screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the image with each search result from the first set of search results comprises for each search result from the first set of search results, selecting the image that represents the search result.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of images are arranged adjacent to each other, such that at least one edge of each image touches at least one edge of at least one other image.

8. 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;

access a set of characters of a search query currently entered into a text entry box;

compile a first set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, wherein the compiling is re-executed responsive to changes to the set of characters entered into the text entry box;

associate an image with each search result from the first set of search results; and

present the first set of search results as a first set of images adjacent to the text entry box.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

receive one or more additional characters to the set of characters of the search query entered into the text entry box;

compile a second set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, which includes the one or more additional characters;

associate an image with each search result from the second set of search results; and

present the second set of search results as a second set of images adjacent to the text entry box, the second set of images replacing the first set of images.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein compiling and presenting the first set of search results comprises:

identify one or more first search results from information stored on the first computing device;

present the one or more first search results as one or more first images; and

if the one or more first search results are insufficient, then;

identify one or more second search results from information stored on one or more second computing devices; and

present the one or more second search results as one or more second images.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein compiling the first set of search results comprises identify the first set of search results from information stored on the first computing device and one or more second computing devices.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein presenting the first set of search results as the first set of images comprises:

assign a portion of a screen of the first computing device to each of one or more search results from the first set of search results; and

display the image associated with each of the one or more search results from the first set of search result in the portion of the screen assigned to the search result, wherein the image substantially consumes the portion of the screen.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein associating the image with each search result from the first set of search results comprises for each search result from the first set of search results, select the image that represents the search result.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first set of images are arranged adjacent to each other, such that at least one edge of each image touches at least one edge of at least one other image.

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

access a set of characters of a search query currently entered into a text entry box;

compile a first set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, wherein the compiling is re-executed responsive to changes to the set of characters entered into the text entry box;

associate an image with each search result from the first set of search results; and

present the first set of search results as a first set of images adjacent to the text entry box.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the software is further operable when executed by the one or more computer systems to:

receive one or more additional characters to the set of characters of the search query entered into the text entry box;

compile a second set of search results based on the set of characters currently entered into the text entry box, which includes the one or more additional characters;

associate an image with each search result from the second set of search results; and

present the second set of search results as a second set of images adjacent to the text entry box, the second set of images replacing the first set of images.

17. The media of claim 15, wherein compiling and presenting the first set of search results comprises:

identify one or more first search results from information stored on the first computing device;

present the one or more first search results as one or more first images; and

if the one or more first search results are insufficient, then;

identify one or more second search results from information stored on one or more second computing devices; and

present the one or more second search results as one or more second images.

18. The media of claim 15, wherein compiling the first set of search results comprises identify the first set of search results from information stored on the first computing device and one or more second computing devices.

19. The media of claim 15, wherein presenting the first set of search results as the first set of images comprises:

assign a portion of a screen of the first computing device to each of one or more search results from the first set of search results; and

display the image associated with each of the one or more search results from the first set of search result in the portion of the screen assigned to the search result, wherein the image substantially consumes the portion of the screen.

20. The media of claim 15, wherein the first set of images are arranged adjacent to each other, such that at least one edge of each image touches at least one edge of at least one other image.