Implementing an expanded search and providing expanded search results

• US 8,145,660 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nagahashi, Kenji, Marvit, David L., Balakrishnan, Rajalakshmi, Matsumoto, Hitoshi, Reinhardt, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US12/243,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 707/765
• US Class Current: 707/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Implementing an expanded search and providing expanded search results comprises receiving a search query generated by a user. A type of expansion to apply to the search query is determined. Expanded search queries are automatically generated according to the determined expansion type without intervention from the user. A search is executed on each one of the expanded search queries to retrieve search results, and the search results are provided for presentation to the user in modules. A module comprises search results for one of the expanded search queries.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a search query generated by a user;

determining, by the one or more processors, a type of expansion to apply to the search query;

automatically generating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of different expanded search queries according to the determined expansion type without intervention from the user;

executing, by the one or more processors, a separate search on each one of the plurality of different expanded search queries to retrieve search results; and

providing, by the one or more processors, the search results of the separate searches on each of the plurality of different expanded search queries for presentation to the user in a plurality of different modules, wherein each module comprises search results for one of the expanded search queries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing a search on each one of the expanded search queries to retrieve search results comprises utilizing search engine software to retrieve the search results from a server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing a search on each one of the expanded search queries comprises simultaneously executing the search on each one of the expanded search queries.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the expanded search queries for presentation to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the search results are provided to the user asynchronously.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically displaying the search results on a graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the search results to the client for audible presentation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising audibly presenting the search results.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of expansion is a selected one of a subcategory and a sense.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a refinement to apply to the search query; and

wherein generating expanded search queries comprises generating expanded search queries according to the determined expansion type and the determined refinement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the refinement is a selected one of a media type, a source, and an advertisement.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a first knowledge base to determine particular expansions of the determined expansion type.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising accessing a second knowledge base to determine particular expansions of the determined expansion type.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of expansion is a subcategory and each of the expanded search queries comprises:

the search query; and

a subcategory of the search query.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with logic, the logic when executed operable to:

receive a search query generated by a user;

determine a type of expansion to apply to the search query;

automatically generate a plurality of different expanded search queries according to the determined expansion type without intervention from the user;

execute a separate search on each one of the plurality of different expanded search queries to retrieve search results; and

provide the search results of the separate searches on each of the plurality of different expanded search queries for presentation to the user in a plurality of different modules, wherein each module comprises search results for one of the expanded search queries.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein executing a search on each one of the expanded search queries to retrieve search results comprises utilizing search engine software to retrieve the search results from a server.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein executing a search on each one of the expanded search queries comprises simultaneously executing the search on each one of the expanded search queries.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further operable to graphically display the search results on a graphical user interface.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further operable to communicate the search results to the client for audible presentation.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the type of expansion is a selected one of a subcategory and a sense.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further operable to:

determine a refinement to apply to the search query; and

wherein generating expanded search queries comprises generating expanded search queries according to the determined expansion type and the determined refinement.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further operable to access a first knowledge base to determine particular expansions of the determined expansion type.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the type of expansion is a subcategory and each of the expanded search queries comprises:

the search query; and

a subcategory of the search query.