QUERYLESS SEARCH BASED ON CONTEXT

• US 20170068739A1
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: SCHECHTER, MICHAEL AUSTIN, MALHOTRA, NIPOON
• Granted Patent: US 9,977,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing devices for initiating a queryless search is provided. In this regard, a search can be initiated without a user inputting a query. In one embodiment, the method includes recognizing a search indication provided by a user to indicate a desire to view one or more search results related to content being presented. Such a search indication can be performed without accessing a web page associated with a search engine. In accordance with the search indication, contextual information related to the content being presented can be automatically captured. Thereafter, the captured contextual information is provided to initiate a search for information corresponding with the contextual information. Search results corresponding with the contextual information are received and presented.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a search indication comprising an action performed by a user while media content is being presented;

in response to detecting the search indication, automatically obtaining contextual information related to the media content at or near detection of the search indication;

initiating a search to be performed using the contextual information by automatically communicating the contextual information at least to a remote search service that formulates a query based on the contextual information; and

receiving one or more search results related to the obtained contextual information.