System and method for refining search queries
DCFirst Claim
1. In a computer system that implements a search engine that is accessible to a community of users, a method of assisting users in refining search queries, the method comprising:
- receiving a search query submitted by a user, the search query comprising at least one term;
using a history of search queries submitted to the search engine over a selected period of time by the community of users to identify at least one refinement to the search query; and
suggesting the at least one refinement to the user.
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Abstract
A search engine is disclosed which suggests related terms to the user to allow the user to refine a search. The related terms are generated using query term correlation data which reflects the frequencies with which specific terms have previously appeared within the same query. The correlation data is generated and stored in a look-up table using an off-line process which parses a query log file. The table is regenerated periodically from the most recent query submissions (e.g., the last two weeks of query submissions), and thus strongly reflects the current preferences of users. Each related term is presented to the user via a respective hyperlink which can be selected by the user to submit a modified query. In one embodiment, the related terms are added to and selected from the table so as to guarantee that the modified queries will not produce a NULL query result.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a computer system that implements a search engine that is accessible to a community of users, a method of assisting users in refining search queries, the method comprising:
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receiving a search query submitted by a user, the search query comprising at least one term;
using a history of search queries submitted to the search engine over a selected period of time by the community of users to identify at least one refinement to the search query; and
suggesting the at least one refinement to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for assisting users in refining search queries submitted to a search engine, comprising:
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a first program module which processes query logs of the search engine to generate correlation data that reflects frequencies of occurrences of query terms within the same query; and
a second program module which uses at least the correlation data to suggest refinements to search queries received from users. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of facilitating refinement of search queries, comprising:
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receiving a search query submitted by a user;
identifying a plurality of refined search queries, each of which comprises all terms of the query submitted by the user and an additional term; and
presenting each refined search query to the user as a respective link which is selectable to perform a corresponding search;
wherein the method allows the user to select a query refinement and initiate a refined search with a single selection action. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification