Systems and methods for collaborative searching

• US 7,472,120 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denny, Michael S., Topfl, Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/471,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/10, 707/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

Systems and methods for collaborative searching are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a database stores previously executed queries and corresponding results. An application server compares an entered query with the previously executed queries. If the application server finds a query that is substantially similar to the entered query, the application server returns the results corresponding to the previously executed query. If no substantially similar result is found, the query is executed against one or more data sources. When results are returned, an embodiment provides the user with the ability to rate them. The ratings are used to determine the similarity of various queries.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for searching information network-based content, comprising:

receiving a first query;

before executing the first query, searching a database for a second query, wherein the second query bears a predetermined substantial similarity to the first query;

upon finding the second query, retrieving the second query and a corresponding result of the second query from the database and presenting the corresponding result and the second query;

determining whether the corresponding result of the second query is an acceptable response to the first query;

if the corresponding result is not an acceptable response, executing the first query in an information network and presenting a new result based on the execution of the first query;

upon failing to find a second query, executing the first query in an information network and presenting an original result of the first query;

accepting a rating of the new result, the original result, or the corresponding result; and

storing the rating in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first query comprises a voice query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second query is identical to the first query.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the original result in the database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an evolution of the second query.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a natural language engine to compare the first query and the second query.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising recommending a search strategy in response to receiving the first query.