Search system using search subdomain and hints to subdomains in search query statements and sponsored results on a subdomain-by-subdomain basis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-executed method comprising:
- receiving, from a requesting entity, a search query comprising one or more query words, wherein the one or more query words include a particular keyword;
determining whether the particular keyword is a first hint keyword;
if the particular keyword is the first hint keyword, then searching a first set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words, wherein the first set of one or more databases is selected based on the first hint keyword;
if the particular keyword is not the first hint keyword, then searching a second set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words;
wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises one or more of the following;
(a) comparing the particular keyword against a list of words that are not hint keywords;
(b) comparing a type of the particular keyword against a list of types of keywords that are not hint keyword types;
(c) detecting a pattern in the particular keyword, wherein the pattern is identified by a business rule to be indicative of a hint keyword; and
(d) detecting a pattern of usage based on a query log, wherein the pattern of usage identifies the particular keyword as the first hint keyword, wherein the query log comprises a record of a previous search query and an indicator of a particular document in which the requesting entity has expressed an interest, and wherein the particular document is from a set of results based on the previous search query;
wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises;
finding a match for the particular keyword in a query log, wherein the query log maintains a history of prior queries;
identifying the particular keyword to be the first hint keyword based on matches in the query log;
retrieving information regarding a first set of one or more documents resulting from the step of searching either the first set of one or more databases or the second set of one or more databases; and
returning, to the requesting entity, the information regarding the first set of one or more documents.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-executed method comprising:
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receiving, from a requesting entity, a search query comprising one or more query words, wherein the one or more query words include a particular keyword; determining whether the particular keyword is a first hint keyword; if the particular keyword is the first hint keyword, then searching a first set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words, wherein the first set of one or more databases is selected based on the first hint keyword; if the particular keyword is not the first hint keyword, then searching a second set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words; wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises one or more of the following; (a) comparing the particular keyword against a list of words that are not hint keywords; (b) comparing a type of the particular keyword against a list of types of keywords that are not hint keyword types; (c) detecting a pattern in the particular keyword, wherein the pattern is identified by a business rule to be indicative of a hint keyword; and (d) detecting a pattern of usage based on a query log, wherein the pattern of usage identifies the particular keyword as the first hint keyword, wherein the query log comprises a record of a previous search query and an indicator of a particular document in which the requesting entity has expressed an interest, and wherein the particular document is from a set of results based on the previous search query; wherein determining whether the particular keyword is the first hint keyword further comprises; finding a match for the particular keyword in a query log, wherein the query log maintains a history of prior queries; identifying the particular keyword to be the first hint keyword based on matches in the query log; retrieving information regarding a first set of one or more documents resulting from the step of searching either the first set of one or more databases or the second set of one or more databases; and returning, to the requesting entity, the information regarding the first set of one or more documents. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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2. A computer-executed method of providing search results in response to a search request wherein the search request includes at least a search query string, comprising:
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parsing the search query string into tokens;
determining which tokens, if any, are hint tokens;if the search query string includes at least one hint token, then performing a hint directed action on the search request, wherein the hint-directed action comprises one or more of; a) submitting a remainder search string to a search engine wherein a remainder search string is a string corresponding to the search query string less the at least one hint token, b) directing the search request to a search system indicated by one or more of the hint tokens, or c) adding a parameter parameters to the search request, as indicated by one or more hint tokens, that causes the search request to be directed to a particular domain; wherein determining which tokens are hint tokens further comprises one or more of the following; (a) comparing the tokens against a list of tokens that are not hint tokens; (b) comparing a type of each of the tokens against a list of types of tokens that are not hint token types; (c) detecting a pattern in a particular token of the tokens, wherein the pattern is identified by a business rule to be indicative of a hint token; and (d) detecting a pattern of usage based on a query log, wherein the pattern of usage identifies a particular token of the tokens as a hint token, wherein the query log comprises a record of a previous search request and an indicator of a particular document in which an entity has expressed an interest, and wherein the particular document is from a set of results based on the previous search request; wherein determining which tokens are hint tokens comprises; finding matches for one or more of the tokens in a query log, wherein the query log maintains a history of prior queries; identifying tokens as hint tokens based on matches in the query log; and if the search query string does not include at least one hint token, then submitting the search request to a search engine without performing any hint-directed action. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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26. A computer-executed method comprising:
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receiving, from a requesting entity, a search query comprising one or more query words; selecting a hint keyword related to the search query, said selecting comprising one or more of the following; (a) determining that the one or more query words imply a locality and selecting the hint keyword to indicate the locality; (b) selecting the hint keyword based on trends in searches similar to the search query; (c) selecting the hint keyword based on a preference specified by the requesting entity; and (d) selecting the hint keyword based on a location specified by the requesting entity; wherein determining whether a particular query word is the hint keyword further comprises one or more of the following; (a) comparing the particular query word against a list of words that are not hint keywords; (b) comparing a type of the particular query word against a list of types of words that are not hint keyword types; (c) detecting a pattern in the particular query word, wherein the pattern is identified by a business rule to be indicative of a hint keyword; and (d) detecting a pattern of usage based on a query log, wherein the pattern of usage identifies a particular query word as the hint keyword, wherein the query log comprises a record of a previous search query and an indicator of a particular document in which the requesting entity has expressed an interest, and wherein the particular document is from a set of results based on the previous search query; wherein determining whether the particular query word is the hint keyword further comprises; finding a match for the particular query word in a query log, wherein the query log maintains a history of prior queries; identifying the particular query word to be the hint keyword based on matches in the query log; searching a set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words, wherein the set of one or more databases is selected based on the hint keyword; retrieving a set of one or more documents resulting from the step of searching; and returning information regarding the set of one or more documents to the requesting entity.
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Specification