GUIDED SEARCH

• US 20160132602A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kumaresh Pattabiraman
• Inventors: Pattabiraman, Kumaresh, Desai, Nihit, Tunkelang, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,691,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9532 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Techniques for assisting a user in conducting a search for online content are described. According to various embodiments, a set of search results is generated, in response to a user search query. A list of candidate facet-value pairs, for inclusion in a suggestion facet user interface element for display in-line with the set of search results, is then accessed. The suggestion facet user interface element may be configured, upon user selection, to filter the set of search results based on the corresponding facet-value pair. Thereafter, win rate information identifying win rates associated with each of the candidate facet-value pairs is accessed. A specific one of the candidate facet-value pairs having the highest win rate is then selected for inclusion in the suggestion facet user interface element.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, in response to a user search query, a set of search results;

accessing a list of candidate facet-value pairs for inclusion in a suggestion facet user interface element for display in-line with the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being configured to filter the set of search results based on the corresponding facet-value pair;

accessing win rate information identifying win rates associated with each of the candidate facet-value pairs;

selecting, using one or more processors, a specific one of the candidate facet-value pairs having the highest win rate for inclusion in the suggestion facet user interface element; and

displaying, via a user interface, the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being displayed in line with the set of search results.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of the suggestion facet user interface element; and

filtering the set of search results, based on the selected candidate facet-value pair.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the facet-value pairs includes a facet corresponding to industry, location, or company.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and search results that were displayed below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element in a search results page.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a predetermined number of search results that were displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a specific-sized portion of a search results page that was displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the specific-sized portion corresponds to a display height of the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

8. A system comprising:

a search module, implemented by one or more processors, configured to generate, in response to a user search query, a set of search results; and

a suggestion facet module, implemented by the one or more processors, configured to;

access a list of candidate facet-value pairs for inclusion in a suggestion facet user interface element for display in-line with the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being configured to filter the set of search results based on the corresponding facet-value pair;

access win rate information identifying win rates associated with each of the candidate facet-value pairs;

select a specific one of the candidate facet-value pairs having the highest win rate for inclusion in the suggestion facet user interface element; and

display, via a user interface, the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being displayed in line with the set of search results.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the suggestion facet module is further configured to:

receive a user selection of the suggestion facet user interface element; and

filter the set of search results, based on the selected candidate facet-value pair.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the facet-value pairs includes a facet corresponding to industry, location, or company.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and search results that were displayed below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element in a search results page.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a predetermined number of search results that were displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a specific-sized portion of a search results page that was displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the specific-sized portion corresponds to a display height of the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

generating, in response to a user search query, a set of search results;

accessing a list of candidate facet-value pairs for inclusion in a suggestion facet user interface element for display in-line with the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being configured to filter the set of search results based on the corresponding facet-value pair;

accessing win rate information identifying win rates associated with each of the candidate facet-value pairs;

selecting a specific one of the candidate facet-value pairs having the highest win rate for inclusion in the suggestion facet user interface element; and

displaying, via a user interface, the set of search results, the suggestion facet user interface element being displayed in line with the set of search results.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a user selection of the suggestion facet user interface element; and

filtering the set of search results, based on the selected candidate facet-value pair.

17. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein at least one of the facet-value pairs includes a facet corresponding to industry, location, or company.

18. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and search results that were displayed below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element in a search results page.

19. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a predetermined number of search results that were displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.

20. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein each win rate indicates a number of clicks received by at least one previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element including the corresponding candidate facet-value pair, divided by the number of clicks received by the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element and a specific-sized portion of a search results page that was displayed immediately below the previously displayed suggestion facet user interface element.