Inference of query relationships

• US 8,086,620 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Parikh, Nishith, Sundaresan, Neelakantan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khoshnoodi, Fariborz
• Application Number:
  US12/202,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/707, 707/741, 707/742, 707/748, 707/749, 707/753, 707/754, 707/780, 707/765, 707/767
• US Class Current: 707/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3349 Reuse of stored results of previous queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Various example embodiments are provided for inferring relationships between queries. In an example, queries are related based on the identification of common terms between the queries. Another example is to relate queries based on the identification that the queries are associated with a single search session.

Claims

1. A method of inferring a relationship between a first query comprising a plurality of first terms and a second query comprising a plurality of second terms, the method comprising:

identifying at least one common term between the plurality of first terms and the plurality of second terms;

relating the first query to the second query based on the identifying of the at least one common term;

identifying at least one dissimilar term between the plurality of first terms and the plurality of second terms;

assigning a weight to the relationship between the first query and the second query based on the identifying of the at least one dissimilar term;

identifying a first number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the first query; and

identifying a second number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the second query,

wherein the weight is based on a difference between the first number and the second number and wherein the difference is based on a direction traversed between the first query and the second query, and wherein the first query and the second query are submitted to locate an item for purchase.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the at least one common term is based on a textual similarity match.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a number of the at least one dissimilar term, wherein the weight is based on the number of the at least one dissimilar term.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising building an inverted index from the first query and the second query.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one common term and the at least one dissimilar term are identified from the inverted index.

6. A machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

comparing a plurality of first terms included in a first query with a plurality of second terms included in a second query;

identifying at least one common term between the first query and the second query based on the operation of comparing the plurality of first terms with the plurality of second terms;

relating the first query to the second query based on the identifying of the at least one common term;

identifying at least one dissimilar term between the first query and the second query based on the operation of comparing the plurality of first terms with the plurality of second terms;

assigning a weight to a relationship between the first query and the second query based on the operation of identifying the at least one dissimilar term,

identifying a first number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the first query;

identifying a second number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the second query;

subtracting the first number from the second number to define a difference, the weight is based on the difference; and

building an inverted index from the first query and the second query,

wherein the first query and the second query are submitted to locate an item for purchase.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the operation of identifying the at least one common term is based on a textual similarity match.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the at least one common term and the at least one dissimilar term are identified from the inverted index.

9. A processing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory in communication with the at least one processor, the memory is configured to store a relationship identification module that is executable by the at least one processor, the relationship identification module having instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause operations to be performed, comprising;

identifying at least one common term between a plurality of first terms included in a first query and a plurality of second terms included in a second query;

relating the first query to the second query based on the operation of identifying the at least one common term;

identifying at least one dissimilar term between the plurality of first terms and the plurality of second terms; and

assigning a weight to a relationship between the first query and the second query based on the operation of identifying the at least one dissimilar term;

identifying a first number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the first query;

identifying a second number of the at least one dissimilar term that is included in the second query, the weight is based on a difference between the first number and the second number; and

subtracting the first number from the second number to define the difference, the subtracting is based on a direction traversed from the first query to the second query,

wherein the first query and the second query are submitted to locate an item for purchase.

10. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the operation of identifying the at least one common term is based on a textual similarity match.

11. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause further operations to be performed, comprising identifying a number of the at least one dissimilar term, wherein the weight is based on the number of the at least one dissimilar term.

12. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause further operations to be performed, comprising subtracting the second number from the first number to define the difference, the subtracting is based on a direction traversed from the second query to the first query.

13. A machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

identifying that a first query and a second query are inputted consecutively within a first single search session by a first user;

relating the first query to the second query based on the identifying that the first query and the second query are inputted within the first single search session;

accessing a third query and a fourth query that are inputted consecutively within a second single search session by a second user, the third query is related to the fourth query;

identifying a match between the second query and the third query;

relating the first query to the fourth query based on the identifying of the match between the second query and the third query;

identifying a number of a plurality of other search sessions associated with other users that include the first query and the second query, the number indicating popularities of the first query and the second query in the plurality of other search sessions; and

assigning a weight to a relationship between the first query and the second query based on the popularities of the first query and the second query in the plurality of other search sessions,

wherein the first query and the second query are related based on a purchase of an item within the first single search session.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when performed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising storing the first query and the second query in a data structure comprised of other plurality of queries provided by other users, wherein the number of the plurality of other search sessions that include the first query and the second query is identified from the data structure.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the identifying of the match is based on a textual similarity match of the second query with the third query.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first single search session is defined by a series of queries inputted within a predefined time period.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first query and the second query are related based on the first query and the second query is included in at least one of the plurality of other search sessions.

18. A method of inferring a relationship between queries, the method comprising:

identifying that a first query and a second query are inputted consecutively within a first single search session by a first user;

relating the first query to the second query based on the identifying that the first query and the second query are inputted within the first single search session;

accessing a third query and a fourth query that are inputted consecutively within a second single search session by a second user, the third query is related to the fourth query;

identifying a match between the second query and the third query;

relating the first query to the fourth query based on the identifying of the match between the second query and the third query;

identifying a number of a plurality of other search sessions associated with other users that include the first query and the second query, the number indicating popularities of the first query and the second query in the plurality of other search sessions; and

assigning a weight to a relationship between the first query and the second query based on the popularities of the first query and the second query in the plurality of other search sessions,

wherein the first query and the second query are related based on a purchase of an item within the first single search session.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing the first query and the second query in a data structure comprised of other plurality of queries provided by other users, wherein the number of the plurality of other search sessions that include the first query and the second query is identified from the data structure.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifying of the match is based on a textual similarity match of the second query with the third query.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first single search session is defined by a series of queries inputted within a predefined time period.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first query and the second query are related based on the first query and the second query is included in at least one of the plurality of other search sessions.