Interpreting search queries

• US 8,478,773 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryukhov, Yegor N., Schogol, Vladislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US13/006,988
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 707/769, 707/759, 707/723, 707/736, 707/748, 707/999.005, 707/765, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 707/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3349 Reuse of stored results of previous queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for interpreting search queries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query. The method also selects a disambiguated interpretation of the search query based on analysis of stored search queries and analysis of stored responses of users having a similar characteristic as the user that initiated the search query. The method also provides a set of the search results. The set is selected based on the disambiguated interpretation of the search query.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

identifying a plurality of search results responsive to the search query;

determining that the search query is ambiguous by determining that the geographic distance between locations associated with at least two of the search results is greater than a predetermined distance;

selecting a disambiguated interpretation of the search query based on analysis of a log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query and that have been received from a plurality of other users; and

providing a set of search results, wherein the set is selected based on the disambiguated interpretation of the search query.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein determining that the search query is ambiguous further comprises determining that at least two of the search results responsive to the search query are associated with different categories.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising determining that the stored search queries are similar to the search query by determining that the stored search queries include at least a portion of the search query.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 further comprising determining that the stored search queries have a greater number of search terms than the search query or contain geographic information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query includes identification of at least one of a refined search query received in response to a previously presented search result responsive to the search query, or a user interaction with the previously presented search result.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the user interaction with the previously presented search result includes at least one of a user click or a mouse over.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the log of stored search queries are determined to be similar to the search query based on similar characteristics that include a geographic location from which the search query originated.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein analysis of the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query includes:

identifying a set of stored search queries that are associated with a geographic location from which the search query originated; and

analyzing histogram data associated with the set of stored queries.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query includes

determining user satisfaction associated with search results previous presented in response to the stored search queries.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the search query includes a query for a search result in a particular location.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of search results includes search results that are responsive to the disambiguated interpretation of the search query.

12. A system, comprising:

a database storing a log of stored search queries; and

one or more computers having a search query interpreter coupled to the database and configured to receive a search query from a user, identify a plurality of search results responsive to the search query, determine that the search query is ambiguous by determining that the geographic distance between locations associated with at least two of the search results is greater than a predetermined distance, select a disambiguated interpretation of the search query based on analysis of the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query and that have been received from a plurality of other users, and provide a set of search results, wherein the set is selected based on the disambiguated interpretation of the search query.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the search query interpreter is further configured to determine that the search query is ambiguous by determining that at least two of the search results responsive to the search query are associated with different categories.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the search query interpreter is further configured to determine that the stored search queries are similar to the search query by determining that the stored search queries include at least a portion of the search query.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the search query interpreter is further configured to determine that the stored search queries have a greater number of search terms than the search query or contain geographic information.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the analysis of the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query includes identification of at least one of a refined search query received in response to a previously presented search result responsive to the search query, or a user interaction with the previously presented search result.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the search query interpreter is further configured to determine that the log of stored search queries are similar to the search query based on a geographic location from which the search query originated.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the search query interpreter is configured to analyze the log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query by:

identifying a set of stored search queries that are associated with a geographic location from which the search query originated; and

analyzing histogram data associated with the set of stored queries by analyzing histogram data associated with user responses to previously received queries that are related to the search query.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause a computer to:

receive a search query from a user;

identify a plurality of search results responsive to the search query;

determine that the search query is ambiguous by determining that the distance between locations associated with at least two of the search results is greater than a predetermined geographic distance;

select a disambiguated interpretation of the search query based on analysis of a log of stored search queries that are similar to the search query and that have been received from a plurality of other users; and

provide a set of search results, wherein the set is selected based on the disambiguated interpretation of the search query.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the instruction to determine that the search query is ambiguous further comprise instructions to determine that at least two of the search results responsive to the search query are associated with different categories.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the computer program further includes instructions that when executed cause the computer to:

analyze the log of stored search queries by identifying a set of stored search queries that are associated with a geographic location from which the search query originated; and

analyze histogram data associated with the set of stored queries.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the computer program further includes instructions that when executed cause the computer to:

analyze the stored search queries by;

identifying a set of stored search queries that are associated with a geographic location from which the search query originated; and

analyzing histogram data associated with the set of stored queries analyzing histogram data associated with user responses to previously received queries that are related to the search query.