Method for organizing information

• US 6,014,665 A
• Filed: 10/29/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ask Jeeves, Inc. (IAC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Culliss, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US08/960,140
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5
• US Class Current: 707/711
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3349 Reuse of stored results of previous queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A method of organizing information in which the search activity of users is monitored and such activity is used to suggest additional key terms for addition to a search query. The invention operates by assigning scores to key term groupings in an index. As users enter search queries of two or more key terms, the scores are altered. The scores are then used in subsequent searches to suggest other key terms which can be added to the search query to narrow the search. As millions of people use the Internet and type in millions of search queries, the invention learns which key terms should be suggested for addition to a search query through an evolutionary process.

Claims

1. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index, the index being able to store key terms and associate each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further being able to associate a key term matching score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a first user, with key terms of the first search query dcefining at least one key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query;

storing the at least one key term grouping within the index; and

storing a key term matching score with the at least one key term grouping;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores;

(d) accepting a second search query containing at least a first key term from a second user;

(e) suggesting at least a second key term to the second user from one of the key term groupings defined by the first user that contains the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term.

2. The method for organizing information of claim 1, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

and further wherein step (e) comprises;

(e2a) comparing the key term matching scores with their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings;

(e2b) suggesting at least a second key term to the second user from one of the key term groupings containing the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term.

3. The method for organizing information of claim 2, wherein step (e2a) comprises:

(e3a) dividing the key term matching scores by their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings.

4. The method for organizing information of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b2) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a first user, with key terms of the first search query defining at least one key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query, storing the at least one key term grouping within the index, storing a key term matching score with the at least one key term grouping, and searching for articles related to the first search query.

5. The method for organizing information of claim 1, and further comprising the steps of:

(f) allowing the second user to select the second key term;

(g) adding the second key term to the second search query to define a third search query;

(h) searching for articles related to the third search query.

6. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a first user, with key terms of the first search query defining at least one key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query;

storing the at least one key term grouping within the index; and

storing a key term matching score with the at least one key term grouping;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores;

(d) accepting a second search query containing a first key term from a second user;

(e) suggesting at least a second key term to the second user from one of the key term groupings defined by the first user that contains the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term.

7. The method for organizing information of claim 6, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

and further wherein step (c) comprises;

(c1) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores; and

altering the index such that the key term matching total scores for the key term groupings that contain at least one of the key terms of the first search query are altered relative to other key term matching total scores.

8. The method for organizing information of claim 6, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

and further wherein step (e) comprises;

(e1a) comparing the key term matching scores with their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings;

(e1b) suggesting at least a second key term to the user from one of the key term groupings containing the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term.

9. The method for organizing information of claim 8, wherein step (e1a) comprises:

(e2a) dividing the key term matching scores by their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the key term groupings.

10. The method for organizing information of claim 6, wherein step (d) comprises:

(d2) accepting a second search query containing a first key term from a second user, and searching for articles related to the second search query.

11. The method for organizing information of claim 6, and further comprising the steps of:

(f) allowing the second user to select the second key term;

(g) adding the second key term to the second search query to define a third search query;

(h) searching for articles related to the third search query.

12. The method for organizing information of claim 6, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b1) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a first user;

searching for articles related to the first search query;

displaying at least a portion of the articles to the first user; and

allowing the first user to select one of the articles, with key terms of the first search query defining at least one key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query;

storing the at least one key term grouping within the index scores only after the first user has selected one of the articles; and

storing a key term matching score with the at least one key term grouping scores only after the first user has selected one of the articles;

and further wherein step (c) comprises;

(c2) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores only after the first user has selected one of the articles.

13. The method for organizing information of claim 12, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

and further wherein step (c) comprises;

(c1) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores; and

altering the index such that the key term matching total scores for the key term groupings that contain at least one of the key terms of the first search query are altered relative to other key term matching total scores.

14. The method for organizing information of claim 6, wherein the index associates an operator with each key term grouping;

and further wherein step (b) comprises;

(b2) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms and an operator from a first user;

and further wherein step (c) comprises;

(c3) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that is associated with the operator of the first search query and that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores.

15. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) accepting a first search query from a first user containing at least first and second key terms;

(b) recording an association between the first and second key terms of the first search query as a result of the first user entering the first and second key terms together in the first search query;

(c) accepting a second search query from a second user containing at least a third key term, the second user being different from the first user;

(d) suggesting to the second user the second key term for combination with the second search query when the third key term is related to the first key term of the first search query.

16. The method for organizing information of claim 15, and further comprising the steps of:

(e) allowing the second user to select the second key term;

(f) adding the second key term to the second search query to define a third search query;

(g) searching for articles related to the third search query.

17. The method for organizing information of claim 15, wherein step(a) comprises:

(a1) accepting a first search query from a first user containing at least first and second key terms;

searching for articles related to the first search query;

displaying at least a portion of the articles to the first user; and

allowing the first user to select one of the articles;

and further wherein step (b) comprises;

(b1) recording an association between the first and second key terms of the first search query as a result of the first user entering the first and second key terms together in the first search query only after the first user has selected one of the articles.

18. The method for organizing information of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises:

(a2) accepting a first search query containing at least first and second key terms and an operator;

and further wherein step (b) comprises;

(b2) recording an association between the first and second key terms and the operator of the first search query as a result of the first user entering the first and second key terms together in the first search query;

and further wherein step (d) comprises;

(d1) suggesting to the second user the second key term and the operator for combination with the second search query when the third key term is related to the first key term of the first search query.

19. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing first and second key terms from a user;

(c) determining a first suggested key term from one of the key term groupings containing the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term;

(d) determining a second suggested key term from one of the key term groupings containing the second key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching scores of the key term groupings that contain the second key term;

(e) associating the key term matching score for the key term grouping containing both the first suggested key term and the first key term of the search query with the key term matching score for the key term grouping containing both the first suggested key term and the second key term of the search query to define a first search query matching score for the key term grouping containing the first suggested key term;

(f) associating the key term matching score for the key term grouping containing both the second suggested key term and the second key term of the search query with the key term matching score for the key term grouping containing both the second suggested key term and the first key term of the search query to define a second search query matching score for the key term grouping containing the second suggested key term;

(g) suggesting one of the suggested key terms to the user for combination with the first search query in accordance with the superiority of their respective search query matching scores.

20. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least a first key term from a user;

(c) comparing the key term matching scores with their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings;

(d) suggesting at least a second key term to the user from one of the key term groupings containing the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term.

21. The method for organizing information of claim 20, wherein step (c) comprises:

(c1) dividing the key term matching scores by their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the first key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings.

22. The method for organizing information of claim 20, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b1) accepting a first search query containing first and second key terms from a user;

wherein step (d) comprises;

(d1a) determining a first suggested key term from one of the key term groupings containing the first key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the first key term;

(d1b) determining a second suggested key term from one of the key term groupings containing the second key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the second key term;

(d1c) associating the key term matching probability score for the key term grouping containing both the first suggested key term and the first key term of the search query with the key term matching probability score for the key term grouping containing both the first suggested key term and the second key term of the search query to define a first search query matching probability score for the key term grouping containing the first suggested key term;

(d1d) associating the key term matching probability score for the key term grouping containing both the second suggested key term and the second key term of the search query with the key term matching probability score for the key term grouping containing both the second suggested key term and the first key term of the search query to define a second search query matching probability score for the key term grouping containing the second suggested key term;

(d1e) suggesting one of the suggested key terms to the user for combination with the first search query in accordance with the superiority of their respective search query matching probability scores.

23. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a user;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores;

(d) altering the index such that the key term matching total scores for the key term groupings that contain at least one of the key terms of the first search query are altered relative to other key term matching total scores.

24. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a user;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores;

(d) accepting a second search query containing a second key term from a user;

(e) comparing the key term matching scores with their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the second key term to create a key term matching probability score for the respective key term groupings;

(f) suggesting at least a third key term to the user from one of the key term groupings containing the second key term in accordance with the superiority of the key term matching probability scores of the key term groupings that contain the second key term.

25. The method for organizing information of claim 24, wherein step (e) comprises:

(e1) dividing the key term matching scores by their respective key term matching total scores for at least some of the key term groupings containing the second key term to create a key term matching probability score for the key term groupings.

26. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping, wherein the index further associates a key term matching total score with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms from a user;

searching for articles related to the first search query;

displaying at least a portion of the articles to the user; and

allowing the user to select one of the articles;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores only after the user has selected one of the articles;

(d) altering the index such that the key term matching total scores for the key term groupings that contain at least one of the key terms of the first search query are altered relative to other key term matching total scores.

27. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) providing an index of key terms, the index associating each key term with at least one other key term to form key term groupings, the index further associating a key term matching score with each key term grouping, wherein the index associates an operator with each key term grouping;

(b) accepting a first search query containing at least two key terms and an operator from a user;

(c) altering the index such that the key term matching score for the key term grouping that is associated with the operator of the search query and that contains at least two of the key terms of the first search query is altered relative to other key term matching scores.

28. A method for organizing information comprising:

(a) accepting a first search query containing at least first and second key terms and an operator;

(b) recording an association between the first and second key terms and the operator of the first search query;

(c) accepting a second search query containing at least a third key term;

(d) suggesting the second key term and the operator for combination with the second search query when the third key term is related to the first key term of the first search query.