Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries
DCFirst Claim
1. A user-interface method for searching a relatively large set of content items in response to unresolved keystroke entry by a user from a keypad with overloaded keys in which a given key is in fixed association with a plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols and the entry has relatively few keystrokes so that a subset of targeted content item results is quickly presented, the method comprising:
- using an ordering criteria to rank and associate subsets of content items with corresponding strings of one or more unresolved keystrokes for overloaded keys so that the subsets of content items are directly mapped to the corresponding strings of unresolved keystrokes;
subsequent to ranking and associating the content items with strings of unresolvedkeystrokes, receiving a first unresolved keystroke from a user, wherein one of the plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols in fixed association with the first unresolved keystroke is a symbol the user is using to search for desired content items;
selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items;
subsequent to receiving the first unresolved keystroke, receiving subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and forming a string of unresolved keystrokes including the first unresolved keystroke and the subsequent unresolved keystrokes in the order received;
anselecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes received based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items;
wherein at least one of selecting the subset of content items associated with the first unresolved keystroke and selecting the subset of content items associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes is performed using a data structure or a term intersection process or a combination thereof, the data structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the first storage structure including a plurality of subsets of content items, each subset being associated with a corresponding string of unresolved keystrokes, wherein using the data structure to select a subset of content items includes returning the subset of content items of the first storage structure that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes entered by the user and retrieving additional content items from the second storage structure if the desired content items are not present in the first storage structure.
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Abstract
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query is a prefix substring of each of at least two words relating to the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more descriptors matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system outputs identification of the one or more items of the identified group to be displayed on the device operated by the user.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A user-interface method for searching a relatively large set of content items in response to unresolved keystroke entry by a user from a keypad with overloaded keys in which a given key is in fixed association with a plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols and the entry has relatively few keystrokes so that a subset of targeted content item results is quickly presented, the method comprising:
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using an ordering criteria to rank and associate subsets of content items with corresponding strings of one or more unresolved keystrokes for overloaded keys so that the subsets of content items are directly mapped to the corresponding strings of unresolved keystrokes; subsequent to ranking and associating the content items with strings of unresolved keystrokes, receiving a first unresolved keystroke from a user, wherein one of the plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols in fixed association with the first unresolved keystroke is a symbol the user is using to search for desired content items; selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; subsequent to receiving the first unresolved keystroke, receiving subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and forming a string of unresolved keystrokes including the first unresolved keystroke and the subsequent unresolved keystrokes in the order received;
anselecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes received based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; wherein at least one of selecting the subset of content items associated with the first unresolved keystroke and selecting the subset of content items associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes is performed using a data structure or a term intersection process or a combination thereof, the data structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the first storage structure including a plurality of subsets of content items, each subset being associated with a corresponding string of unresolved keystrokes, wherein using the data structure to select a subset of content items includes returning the subset of content items of the first storage structure that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes entered by the user and retrieving additional content items from the second storage structure if the desired content items are not present in the first storage structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for searching a relatively large set of content items in response to unresolved keystroke entry by a user from a keypad with overloaded keys in which a given key is in fixed association with a plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols and the entry has relatively few keystrokes so that a subset of targeted content item results is quickly presented, the system comprising:
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a collection of subsets of content items associated with corresponding strings of one or more unresolved keystrokes for overloaded keys, the subsets of content items being ranked and associated with the content items based on an ordering criteria so that the subsets of content items are directly mapped to the corresponding strings of unresolved keystrokes; and a computer memory comprising instructions for causing a computer system to; receive a first unresolved keystroke from a user, wherein one of the plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols in fixed association with the first unresolved keystroke is a symbol the user is using to search for desired content items select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; subsequent to receiving the first unresolved keystroke, receive subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and form a string of unresolved keystrokes including the first unresolved keystroke and the subsequent unresolved keystrokes in the order received; and select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes received based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; wherein at least one of selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke and selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes selects the subset of content items using a data structure or a term intersection process or a combination thereof, the data structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the first storage structure including a plurality of subsets of content items, each subset being associated with a corresponding string of unresolved keystrokes, wherein using the data structure to select a subset of content items includes returning the subset of content items of the first storage structure that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes entered by the user and retrieving additional content items from the second storage structure if the desired content items are not present in the first storage structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification