Methods and systems for providing a response to a query

• US 7,984,048 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Curtis, Andy, Gerasoulis, Apostolos, Levin, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US12/148,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 707/716, 707/723, 707/742, 707/706, 707/728, 709/218, 715/236, 715/272
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing a response to a query. Multiple users'"'"' search engine activity in regard to a query is correlated. A response is provided based upon this correlated search engine activity information. For one embodiment of the invention, in the context of search engine result optimization, the user activity and/or user information of multiple users, during a search session, is correlated with queries to effect an evolving association between queries and the organization and presentation of documents. Systems in accordance with such embodiments employ the ability to store users'"'"' activity over the entire search session, thus making possible the correlation of a number of different types of user activity and user information. The use of correlated user input allows such systems to provide relevant search results without the limitations imposed by the key-word-based systems of the prior art.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an initial search request from a first user;

presenting an initial search result to the first user, the initial search result based upon the initial search request;

receiving a modified search request from the first user;

presenting a modified search result to the first user, the modified search result based upon the modified search request and correlating the initial search request with the modified search request comprises assigning a score to the association wherein the score is assigned based on one or more of the time between the initial search request and the modified search request, the number of intervening queries between the initial search request and the modified search request, the number of intervening picks between the initial search request and the modified search request, the age or order of the association, whether or not the initial search request or modified search request generated picks and the pair-wise order of the initial search request and the modified search request;

receiving the initial search request from a second user; and

presenting the modified search result to the second user in response to the initial search request wherein presenting the modified search result to the second user comprises presenting a link corresponding to the initial search request.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a log of search engine activity information of the first user, the log including the initial search request and the modified search request;

correlating the initial search request with the modified search request, wherein correlating comprises associating the initial search request with the modified search request.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein maintaining the log comprises maintaining a log consisting of query-to-query activity information.

4. A machine-readable storage medium that provides executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an initial search request from a first user;

presenting an initial search result to the first user, the initial search result based upon the initial search request;

receiving a modified search request from the first user;

maintaining a log of search engine activity information of the first user, the log including the initial search request and the modified search request;

correlating the initial search request with the modified search request, wherein correlating comprises associating the initial search request with the modified search request;

presenting a modified search result to the first user, the modified search result based upon the modified search request wherein correlating the initial search request with the modified search request comprises assigning a score to the association, wherein the score is assigned based on one or more of the time between the initial search request and the modified search request, the number of intervening queries between the initial search request and the modified search request, the number of intervening picks between the initial search request and the modified search request, the age or order of the association, whether or not the initial search request or modified search request generated picks and the pair-wise order of the initial search request and the modified search request;

receiving the initial search request from a second user; and

presenting the modified search result to the second user in response to the initial search request wherein presenting the modified search result to the second user comprises presenting a link corresponding to the initial search request.

5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein maintaining the log comprises maintaining a log consisting of query-to-query activity information.