System and method for query refinement to enable improved searching based on identifying and utilizing popular concepts related to users' queries
First Claim
1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer for refining a user query, the method comprising:
- grouping a plurality of terms into a search concept, the search concept being a category that represents a clustering of the terms;
examining a query log to determine to a number of times that each of the terms appears within queries stored in the query log;
calculating a relative popularity for the search concept by adding the number of times that each of the terms appears within the queries stored in the query log, whereby the relative popularity is calculated relative to at least one other search concept in a list of search concepts;
receiving a query from a user; and
mapping the user query to the search concept.
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Abstract
Refining a user query is disclosed. In one method, a query is received from a user, and then mapped to one or more search concepts. A list of search concepts associated with the query is then displayed. Alternatively or additionally, the search concepts associated with the query are used to provide a set of improved search results. In another method, a number of queries from a number of users are analyzed to identify two or more search concepts, and a popularity value is assigned to them based on the queries. Thus, the relative popularity of the respective search concepts can be determined. Alternatively or additionally, a preferred search query for the search concepts can be determined. The popularity and preferred queries can be used to allow automatic or user-initiated refinement.
120 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer for refining a user query, the method comprising:
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grouping a plurality of terms into a search concept, the search concept being a category that represents a clustering of the terms; examining a query log to determine to a number of times that each of the terms appears within queries stored in the query log; calculating a relative popularity for the search concept by adding the number of times that each of the terms appears within the queries stored in the query log, whereby the relative popularity is calculated relative to at least one other search concept in a list of search concepts; receiving a query from a user; and mapping the user query to the search concept. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a search concept that is a category which represents a clustering of a plurality of terms; and a server communicatively coupled with a client at which a user generates a query, wherein the server groups the terms into the search concept, examines a query log to determine a number of times that each of the terms appears within queries stored in the query log, calculates a relative popularity for the search concept by adding the number of times that each of the terms appears within queries stored in the query log, and maps the user query to the search concept, whereby the relative popularity is calculated relative to at least one other search concept in a list of search concepts. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification