Friendly search and socially augmented search query assistance layer

• US 8,055,673 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thrall, Anthony D., O'Sullivan, Joseph, Churchill, Elizabeth F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Leslie
• Application Number:
  US12/133,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 707/708, 707/771, 707732-734, 707/758, 707/769, 707/999.01, 707/999.107, 707/767, 707/733, 706 45- 47
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Community search query technology operable to provide users with the means to collaborate on search queries and share their query results with other users in a community is disclosed. The community search query technology provides a collaborative search engine that utilizes community feedback and personal profiles. The community search query technology also includes personal task, information management, project creation, listing queries by activity categories, setting deadlines for ongoing search needs, setting up search queues, and annotation of search sessions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

search query receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a search query from a user;

search subject receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a search subject and a timeline from the user;

friend list selection receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a selection of a search friend from a friend list associated with the user;

search query communication logic executed by the processor for communicating information of the search query, the search subject and the timeline to the search friend;

recommendation receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a search recommendation response from the search friend;

meta-learning logic executed by the processor for learning meta-data based on the search recommendation response from the search friend, the meta-learning logic using the meta-data to improve future searches performed by a meta-search algorithm;

internet search logic executed by the processor for performing an internet search based on the search recommendation response to create a search result; and

search result providing logic executed by the processor for providing the search result to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the search friend comprises a group of friends.

3. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a search query from a user;

receiving, by the computing device, a search subject and a timeline from the user;

receiving, by the computing device, a selection of a search friend from the user;

providing, by the computing device, the search query, the search subject and the timeline to the selected search friend;

receiving, by the computing device, a search recommendation response from the selected search friend;

learning, by the computing device, meta-data based on the search recommendation response from the search friend, the meta-data being used to improve future searches performed by a meta-search algorithm;

performing, by the computing device, an internet search based on the search recommendation response to create a search result; and

providing, by the computing device, the search result to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

modifying, using the computing device, a search algorithm based on the search response.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

using, by the computing device, the search algorithm for a search.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending, by the computing device, a feedback from the user to the search friend.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing, by the computing device, advertising related to the search query.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon computer readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

receiving a search subject and a timeline from the user;

receiving a selection of a search friend from the user;

providing the search query, the search subject and the timeline to the selected of the search friend;

receiving a search recommendation response from the selected search friend;

learning meta-data based on the search recommendation response from the search friend, the meta-data being used to improve future searches performed by a meta-search algorithm;

performing an internet search based on the search recommendation response to create a search result;

providing the search result to the user.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

modifying a search algorithm based on the search recommendation.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

using the search algorithm for a search.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

learning meta-data based on the recommendation from the search friend.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a feedback response from the user to the search friend.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

providing advertising to the user related to the search query.