TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR SEARCH QUERY REFINEMENT

• US 20140195521A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: LANE, MIRA, FLYNN, JAVIER GARCIA, RAY, PAUL, MALAHY, EVAN, CONNELL, DERRICK, MACDONALD, BRIAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,162,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods and a computing system are provided for presenting a new user interface paradigm which allows users to explore facets related to a search query term while maintaining the original state of the search query term or staying within the confines of the user defined topic. The methods and system present facets or categories of relevant topics of a user generated search query term. The user may then explore these facets in a number of embodiments while maintaining the state of the search.

Claims

1. One or more memory devices having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for providing a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a search query;

displaying a first set of search results and a set of facets for the search query;

receiving a selected facet from the set of facets;

concurrently displaying;

(1) a second set of search results based on the search query and the selected facet; and

(2) displaying the set of facets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of search results are generated using the search query and the selected facet as a refinement query.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

concurrently displaying a set of sub facets, wherein the set of sub facets are generated using the search query and the selected facet as a refinement query.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising concurrently displaying a graphical indication highlighting the selected facet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one or more static facets, wherein the static facets allow the user to refine search results.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a second selected facet;

displaying a third set of search results, wherein the third set of search results are generated using the search query and the second selected facet as a refinement query.

7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for, providing a user interface for, the method comprising:

receiving a search query;

displaying a first set of search results and a set of facets for the search query;

receiving a selected facet from the set of facets; and

displaying a second set of search results and a set of sub facets, wherein the set of sub facets are generated using the search query and the selected facet as a refinement query.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selected sub facet; and

displaying a third set of search results and the set of sub facets.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the third set of search results are generated using the search query, the selected facet, and the selected sub facet as a refinement query.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising

concurrently displaying:

(1) a first graphical indication highlighting the selected facet; and

(2) a second graphical indication highlighting the selected sub facet.

11. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising displaying one or more static facets, wherein the static facet allows the user to refine search results.

12. The method of claim 7, the method further:

receiving a selected static facet; and

refining the second set of search results using the selected static facet.

13. One or more memory devices having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for providing a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a search query;

storing the search query;

displaying a set of facets for the search query;

receiving a selected facet from the set of facets;

storing the selected facet;

maintaining the state of the set of facets when the selected facet corresponds to search query, wherein maintaining comprises;

(1) retrieving the search query from a stored location;

(2) determining that the selected facet links to the set of facets generated for the search query;

displaying the set of facets.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein storing the search query further comprises:

assigning the search query a search query source identifier used to identify the selected facet as corresponding the search query.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second selected facet from the set of facet; and

maintaining the state of the set of facets when the second selected facet corresponds to search query, wherein maintaining comprises;

(1) retrieving the search query from the stored location;

(2) determining that the second selected facet links to the set of facets generated for the search query;

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

concurrently displaying a set of sub facets for the search query and the selected facet.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a selected sub facet; and

maintaining the state of the set of facets and the set of sub facets when the selected sub facet corresponds to search query.

18. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising displaying one or more static facets, wherein the static facets allow the user to refine search results.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further:

receiving a selected static facet; and

refining a set of search results for the search query using the selected static facet.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second search query;

determining that the second search query does not correspond to the search query such that a state of the first set of facets is not maintained;

displaying a second set of facets for the second search query.