Providing results to parameterless search queries

• US 8,478,519 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Sumit, Gundotra, Vic, Nicolaou, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Arthur Jeanglaude, Gertrude
• Application Number:
  US12/871,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/414, 701/417, 701/425, 701/424, 701/426, 340/995.17, 340/995.24
• US Class Current: 701/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a parameterless search request, which was provided to a mobile computing device, for information that is relevant to a user of the mobile computing device. The method also includes, in response to the received parameterless search request, identifying with a digital computer system one or more results that are determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon a current context of the mobile computing device. The method further includes providing the results for display to a user of the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of a mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, determining, for the mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

identifying one or more result categories that are likely to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, the one or more result categories defining one or more categories of information from which results for the parameterless search request are identified;

identifying with a digital computer system one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the one or more identified results are associated with the identified one or more result categories; and

providing the one or more results for display to the user of the mobile computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parameterless search request comprises an indication that the user shook the mobile computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current context includes a current geographic location of the mobile computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the identified one or more results include information regarding one or more entities located within a threshold distance of the current geographic location of the mobile computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current context further includes a current rate of speed at which the mobile computing device is travelling.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein, when the current rate of speed is determined to exceed a threshold rate of speed, the identified one or more results include information regarding current traffic conditions for a route along which the mobile computing device is travelling.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current context includes a current time of day, a current date, and calendar appointments for the user.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein, when one or more of the calendar appointments for the user that are determined to occur within a threshold period of time of the current time of day and the current date, the identified one or more results include information regarding the one or more of the calendar appointments.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current context includes the user'"'"'s recent activity on the mobile computing device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein, when information associated with at least a portion of the user'"'"'s recent activity is determined to have been updated since the user'"'"'s associated activity, the identified one or more results includes at least a portion of the updated information.

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

retrieving first data that indicates whether the user found result categories previously identified in response to previously received parameterless search requests to be relevant;

selecting a portion of the retrieved first data associated with previous contexts for the mobile computing device that are determined to have a threshold degree of similarity to the current context for the mobile computing device; and

wherein the one or more result categories are identified based upon the selected portion of the retrieved first data.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more result categories are selected from the group consisting of:

a travel category, a geographic proximity category, an environment category, a recent updated information category, and a personal information category.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving second data that indicates whether the user found results previously identified in response to previously received parameterless search requests to be relevant;

selecting a portion of the retrieved second data associated with previous contexts for the mobile computing device that are determined to have a threshold degree of similarity to the current context for the mobile computing device; and

wherein the one or more result are identified based upon the selected portion of the retrieved second data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a subsystem of the mobile computing device to use for providing the selected information to the user based upon, at least in part, a manner in which the input was received by the mobile computing device;

and

wherein the selected information is provided using the selected subsystem of the mobile computing device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital computer system is remote from the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital computer system comprises the mobile computing device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more future activities are determined based, at least in part, on i) a current location of the mobile computing device, ii) one or more previous activities of the user, and iii) one or more future events that are described in content from one or more accounts that are associated with the user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the one or more accounts include one or more of:

an email account that is associated with the user, an electronic calendar that is associated with the user, and a text messaging account that is associated with the user.

19. An electronic system for providing results that are relevant to a user, the system comprising:

a mobile computing device;

an input subsystem of the mobile computing device that is configured to receive a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of the mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

a context determination unit on the mobile computing device that is programmed to determine, for the mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

a category identification unit of the mobile computing device that is configured to, in response to the parameterless search request being received by the input subsystem, identify one or more result categories that are likely to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, the one or more result categories defining one or more categories of information from which results for the parameterless search request are identified;

a result identification unit of the mobile computing device that is configured to, in response to the parameterless search request being received by the input subsystem, identify one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the one or more identified results are associated with the identified one or more result categories; and

an output subsystem of the mobile computing device that is configured to provide the one or more results to the user of the mobile computing device.

20. A mobile computing device comprising:

one or more computer processors;

an input subsystem to receive a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of the mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

a context determination unit that is installed on the mobile computing device that is programmed to determine, for the mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

a category identification unit that is installed on the mobile computing device that is programmed to, in response to the parameterless search request being received by the input subsystem, identify one or more result categories that are likely to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, the one or more result categories defining one or more categories of information from which results for the parameterless search request are identified;

code that is that is installed on the mobile computing device that is programmed to identify, in response to a parameterless search request received by the input subsystem, one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the one or more identified results are associated with the identified one or more result categories; and

an output subsystem to provide the one or more results to the user of the mobile computing device.

21. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of the mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, identifying with a digital computer system one or more results that are determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon a current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the current context further includes a current rate of speed at which the mobile computing device is travelling; and

providing the results for display by the mobile computing device.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein, when the current rate of speed is determined to exceed a threshold rate of speed, the identified one or more results include information regarding current traffic conditions for a route along which the mobile computing device is travelling.

23. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of a mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, determining, for a mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

identifying with a digital computer system one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the current context includes a current time of day, a current date, and calendar appointments for the user; and

providing the one or more results for display by the mobile computing device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein, when one or more of the calendar appointments for the user that are determined to occur within a threshold period of time of the current time of day and the current date, the identified one or more results include information regarding the one or more of the calendar appointments.

25. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of a mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, determining, for a mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

identifying with a digital computer system one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device, wherein the current context includes the user'"'"'s recent activity on the mobile computing device; and

providing the one or more results for display by the mobile computing device.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein, when information associated with at least a portion of the user'"'"'s recent activity is determined to have been updated since the user'"'"'s associated activity, the identified one or more results includes at least a portion of the updated information.

27. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of a mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, determining, for a mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

retrieving data that indicates whether the user found to be relevant, results previously identified in response to previously received parameterless search requests;

selecting a portion of the retrieved data associated with previous contexts for the mobile computing device that are determined to have a threshold degree of similarity to the current context for the mobile computing device;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, identifying with a digital computer system one or more results that are determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device and the selected portion of the retrieved data; and

providing the one or more results for display by the mobile computing device.

28. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a parameterless search request for information that is currently relevant to a user of a mobile computing device, the parameterless search request being received based on user input that indicates a request for the information that is currently relevant to the user without the user specifying parameters for identifying the information;

in response to receiving the parameterless search request, determining, for a mobile computing device, a current context that includes information identifying one or more future activities of the user determined to have at least a threshold likelihood of occurring at one or more future times;

identifying with a digital computer system one or more results determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon the current context of the mobile computing device;

selecting a subsystem of the mobile computing device to use for providing the selected information to the user based upon, at least in part, a manner in which the input was received by the mobile computing device; and

providing the one or more results using the selected subsystem for display by the mobile computing device.