Syndicating search queries using web advertising

• US 8,572,112 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Hugh Evan, Moss, Kenneth Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil, Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKINGHAM, KELLYE DEE
• Application Number:
  US12/165,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 707/768
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Displaying potential search-engine queries in a portion (e.g., a portion allocated for a web advertisement or within an inline frame) of a web page along with the content of the web page is described herein. The potential search-engine queries are determine by first analyzing either the underlying content of the web page (or other web pages) or searching various historic user metrics. Once determined, the potential search-engine queries are displayed within the portion of the web page along with the content of the web page. When a user selects one of the displayed potential search-engine queries, a query is sent to a search engine requesting web content relevant to the selected potential search-engine query.

Claims

1. A computer-storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, facilitate a method of providing one or more suggested search-engine queries related to content of a web page that is requested, the method comprising:

retrieving the web page in response to a request from a client computing device to provide the web page, wherein the web page is configured to present an advertisement in an advertisement frame;

identifying a suggested search-engine query to be provided together with the web page, wherein identifying the suggested search-engine query includes identifying one or more hyperlinks included on the web page, analyzing historical user metrics, or a combination thereof;

creating a web-page element that includes a hyperlink that, when selected, communicates the suggested search-engine query to a search-engine server, wherein the suggested search-engine query includes a search term derived from the one or more hyperlinks or the historical user metrics;

inserting the web-page element in the advertisement frame instead of the advertisement to syndicate the request to the search-engine server by way of the advertisement frame; and

providing to the client computing device the web page, which includes both the web-page element having the hyperlink and the content combined together in a same web page, thereby providing the suggested search-engine query comprised of the search term.

2. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining that the web page includes one or more inline frames (iFrames).

3. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining that the web page includes a banner ad or a pop-up advertisement.

4. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining that the web page includes at least one sponsored-search result.

5. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises querying one or more click logs to identify other suggested search-engine queries.

6. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises querying a database storing one or more SmartTags associated with one or more web pages.

7. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises analyzing historical user metrics to identify other suggested search-engine queries.

8. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein historical user metrics include at least one of a plurality of historical user keywords, traffic information, user-profile data, and toolbar information.

9. The computer-storage device of claim 1, wherein other suggested search-engine queries are determined by analyzing one or more weights assigned to one or more SmartTags.

10. A method for providing to a client computing device a suggested search-engine query related to content of a web page, the method comprising:

receiving a request to provide the web page to the client computing device;

determining that the web page includes a frame configured to present ancillary content that is secondary to the content of the web page,

identifying a suggested search-engine query to be provided together with the web page, wherein identifying the suggested search-engine query includes identifying one or more hyperlinks included in the web page, querying a set of historically requested web information to identify a subject matter, or a combination thereof;

creating a web-page element that includes a hyperlink that, when selected, communicates the suggested search-engine query to a search-engine server, wherein the suggested search-engine query comprises a search term derived from the one or more hyperlinks or the subject matter;

transforming the frame to include the web-page element instead of the ancillary content to add to the webpage the request to the search-engine server; and

providing to the client computing device the web page, which includes both the web-page element having the hyperlink and the content combined together in a same webpage, thereby providing the suggested search-engine query comprising the search term.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ancillary content comprises a web advertisement

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises one or more inline frames (iFrames).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of historically requested web information includes user keywords, traffic information, toolbar information, or a combination thereof.

14. A computer-storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, facilitate a method of providing one or more suggested search-engine queries related to content of a web page that is requested, the method comprising:

retrieving the web page in response to a request from a client computing device to provide the web page,

wherein the web page is configured to present an advertisement in an advertisement frame, and

wherein the request is associated with a user having a user profile;

identifying a suggested search-engine query to be provided together with the web page, wherein identifying the suggested search-engine query includes identifying one or more hyperlinks included in the web page, analyzing historical user metrics, or a combination thereof;

creating a web-page element that includes a hyperlink that, when selected, communicates the suggested search-engine query to a search-engine server, wherein the suggested search-engine query comprises a search term derived from the one or more hyperlinks or the historical user metrics;

inserting the web-page element in the advertisement frame instead of the advertisement to syndicate the request to the search-engine server by way of the advertisement frame; and

providing to the client computing device the web page, which includes both the web-page element having the hyperlink and the content combined together in a same web page, thereby providing the suggested search-engine query comprised of the search term.