Prompt for query clarification

• US 8,484,190 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Igarashi, Hisakazu, Bird, Charles G., Moedinger, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Baoquoc N
• Application Number:
  US12/338,374
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 707/707, 707/758, 707/760, 707/459, 707/765
• US Class Current: 707/707
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9532 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/69 using geographic information, e.g. room number

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for query clarification. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in computer-implemented methods that include the actions of receiving in a search interface a user input associated with a search query; determining whether the associated search query is a trigger query, the trigger query being a query identified for clarification; when the search query is a trigger query, prompting the user for additional information to form a clarified search query, the clarified search query including the additional information, the prompting occurring prior to submission of the search query to a search system; and submitting the clarified search query to the search system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a search interface, a first search query from a user;

determining, based on a probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query, wherein the probability model is based on a probability of users of the collection of users selecting local search results in response to the first search query;

in response to determining that the first search query is a trigger query, prompting the user for additional input, the prompting occurring prior to submission of the first search query to the search system;

refining the first search query using the additional user input; and

submitting the refined first search query to the search system.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes comparing the first search query with a collection of trigger queries.

3. The method of claim 1, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query.

4. The method of claim 3, where predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query includes determining that the predicted trigger query has a confidence score associated with the prediction that exceeds a threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

removing the prompt for additional input if the confidence score is below the threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a menu with one or more items of suggested additional information.

7. The method of claim 1, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a suggestion of additional information.

8. The method of claim 1, where prompting the user includes suggesting one or more locations associated with the user.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the search interface, a second search query that is different from the first search query;

determining, based on the probability model, that the second search query is not a trigger query; and

submitting the second search query to the search system.

9. A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a search interface, a first search query from a user;

determining, based on a probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query, wherein the probability model is based on a probability of users of the collection of users selecting local search results in response to the first search query;

in response to determining that the first search query is a trigger query, prompting the user for additional input, the prompting occurring prior to submission of the first search query to the search system;

refining the first search query using the additional user input; and

submitting the refined first search query to the search system.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes comparing the first search query with a collection of trigger queries.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, where predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query includes determining that the predicted trigger query has a confidence score associated with the prediction that exceeds a threshold.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further operable to perform operations comprising:

removing the prompt for additional input if the confidence score is below the threshold.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a menu with one or more items of suggested additional information.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a suggestion of additional information.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, where prompting the user includes suggesting one or more locations associated with the user.

26. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to perform comprising:

receiving, at the search interface, a second search query that is different from the first search query;

determining, based on the probability model, that the second search query is not a trigger query; and

submitting the second search query to the search system.

17. A system comprising:

a processor and a memory operable to interact to perform operations including;

receiving, at a search interface, a first search query from a user;

determining, based on a probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query, wherein the probability model is based on a probability of users of the collection of users selecting local search results in response to the first search query;

in response to determining that the first search query is a trigger query, prompting the user for additional input, the prompting occurring prior to submission of the first search query to the search system;

refining the first search query using the additional user input; and

submitting the refined first search query to the search system.

18. The system of claim 17, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes comparing the first search query with a collection of trigger queries.

19. The system of claim 17, where determining, based on the probability model of previous behavior of a collection of users, that the first search query is a trigger query includes predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query.

20. The system of claim 19, where predicting the trigger query using a portion of the first search query includes determining that the predicted trigger query has a confidence score associated with the prediction that exceeds a threshold.

21. The system of claim 20, further operable to perform operations comprising:

removing the prompt for additional input if the confidence score is below the threshold.

22. The system of claim 17, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a menu with one or more items of suggested additional information.

23. The system of claim 17, where prompting the user for additional input includes modifying the search interface to include a suggestion of additional information.

24. The system of claim 17, where prompting the user includes suggesting one or more locations associated with the user.

27. The system of claim 17, further operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at the search interface, a second search query that is different from the first search query;

determining, based on the probability model, that the second search query is not a trigger query; and

submitting the second search query to the search system.