Model-based searching

• US 8,626,784 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Beaudreau, Scott J., Connell, Derrick L., MacDonald, Brian, Otto, Brian Scott, Dierkes, James P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US12/485,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 707/759
• US Class Current: 707/759
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Computer-readable media and methods for model-based searching to provide search results of relevance to a search topic are provided. A model describing a search framework for generating a plurality of search queries is provided. A number of search topics are identified and attributes are assigned to each search topic. Attribute data elements and values are provided to describe each to the assigned attributes for each search topic. The attributes inform the search framework in order to compile a plurality of search queries for the search topic. A search term is received from a user and a corresponding search topic is identified. The plurality of search queries are executed to obtain search results for the corresponding search topic. The search queries may be pre-executed and the search results cached in a computer memory for later retrieval. The search results are organized based on the model and are presented to the user.

Claims

1. Computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for model- based searching to provide semantically relevant search results, the method comprising:

providing a model that describes a search framework that is useable with each of a plurality of predefined search topics, the search framework including a plurality of model-based search queries that are executable by a computing device via one or more search engines, the plurality of model-based search queries being predefined and including one or more fields in which to insert one or more search terms and one or more search-term attributes, the one or more search terms being included in a list of search terms that comprises at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes for a search topic, and the at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes being descriptive of the search topic;

via the computing device, compiling the plurality of model-based search queries for the search topic by inserting the one or more search terms and the one or more search-term attributes into the one or more fields in each of the plurality of model-based search queries to generate a search string for each of the plurality of model-based search queries;

via the computing device, executing the plurality of model-based search queries using the search strings to obtain a plurality of search results;

caching at least a portion of the plurality of search results in a computer memory;

receiving from a user, a search query containing the one or more search terms;

via the computing device, retrieving the portion of the plurality of search results that are cached in the computer memory;

receiving an additional search-term attribute that describes the search topic from a third party;

compiling one or more additional model-based search queries by inserting the additional search-term attribute into one or more of the fields of one or more of model-based search queries of the plurality of model-based search queries; and

executing the one or more additional model-based search queries to obtain an additional search result;

organizing the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result based on the model, the model being useable with a plurality of categories, wherein the plurality of categories are based on the model; and

presenting the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result that are organized based on the model to the user.

2. The computer-storage media of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more user-context data items from the user that describe one or more of the user'"'"'s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

executing one or more user-context search queries via the one or more search engines to obtain one or more user-context-search results for the search topic based on the one or more user-context data items, the one or more search terms, and the one or more search-term attributes.

3. The computer-storage media of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more user-context data items that describe one or more of a user'"'"' s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

identifying the model based at least partially on the one or more user-context data items, the one or more user-context data items indicating a search result type, and the model being configured to obtain the portion of the plurality of search results of the search result type indicated by the user-context data items.

4. The computer-storage media of claim 1, wherein the model is generated or updated by at least one of an administrator, a user, or one or more algorithms.

5. A method for model-based searching to provide semantically relevant search results, the method comprising:

providing a model that describes a search framework that is useable with each of a plurality of predefined search topics, the search framework including a plurality of model-based search queries that are executable by a computing device via one or more search engines, the plurality of model-based search queries being predefined and including one or more fields in which to insert one or more search terms and one or more search-term attributes, the one or more search terms being included in a list of search terms that comprises at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes for a search topic, and the at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes being descriptive of the search topic;

compiling the plurality of model-based search queries for the search topic by inserting the one or more search terms and the one or more search-term attributes into the one or more fields in each of the plurality of model-based search queries to generate a search string for each of the plurality of model-based search queries;

executing the plurality of model-based search queries using the search strings to obtain a plurality of search results;

caching at least a portion of the plurality of search results in a computer memory;

receiving from a user, a search query containing the one or more search terms;

retrieving the portion of the plurality of search results that are cached in the computer memory;

receiving an additional search-term attribute that describes the search topic from a third party;

compiling one or more additional model-based search queries by inserting the additional search-term attribute into one or more of the fields of one or more model-based search queries of the plurality of model-based search queries; and

executing the one or more additional model-based search queries to obtain an additional search result;

organizing the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result based on the model, the model being useable with a plurality of categories, wherein the plurality of categories are based on the model; and

presenting the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result that are organized based on the model to the user.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving one or more user-context data items that describe one or more of a user'"'"'s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

executing one or more user-context search queries via the one or more search engines to obtain one or more user-context search results for the search topic based on the one or more user-context data items, the one or more search terms, and the one or more search-term attributes.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the model is generated or updated by at least one of an administrator, a user, or one or more algorithms.

6. The method of 5, further comprising:

receiving one or more user-context data items that describe one or more of a user'"'"' s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

identifying the model based at least partially on the one or more user-context data items, the one or more user-context data items indicating a search result type, and the model being configured to obtain the portion of the plurality of search results of the search results type indicated by the user-context data items.

9. A system for performing a method for model-based searching to provide semantically relevant search results, the system comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory that retains computer-executable instructions, wherein the processor executes a method comprising;

providing a model that describes a search framework that is useable with each of a plurality of predefined search topics, the search framework including a plurality of model-based search queries that are executable by a computing device via one or more search engines, the plurality of model-based search queries being predefined and including one or more fields in which to insert one or more search terms and one or more search-term attributes, the one or more search terms being included in a list of search terms that comprise at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes for a search topic, and the at least one search-term attribute of the one or more search-term attributes being descriptive of the search topic;

compiling the plurality of model-based search queries for the search topic by inserting the one or more search terms and the one or more search-term attributes into the one or more fields in each of the plurality of model-based search queries to generate a search string for each of the plurality of model-based search queries;

executing the plurality of model-based search queries using the search strings to obtain a plurality of search results;

caching at least a portion of the plurality of search results in a computer memory;

receiving from a user at a computing device, a search query containing the one or more search terms;

retrieving the portion of the plurality of search results that are cached in the computer memory;

receiving an additional search-term attribute that describes the search topic from a third party;

compiling one or more additional model-based search queries by inserting the additional search-term attribute into one or more of the fields of one or more model-based search queries of the plurality of model-based search queries; and

executing the one or more additional model-based search queries to obtain an additional search result;

organizing the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result based on the model, the model being useable with a plurality of categories, wherein the plurality of categories are based on the model; and

presenting the portion of the plurality of search results and the additional search result that are organized based on the model to the user.

10. The system of claim 9, the method further comprises:

receiving one or more user-context data items that describe one or more of a user'"'"' s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

identifying the model based at least partially on the one or more user-context data items, the one or more user-context data items indicating a search result type, and the model being configured to obtain the portion of the plurality of search results of the search result type indicated by the user-context data items.

11. The system of claim 9, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more user-context data items that describe one or more of a user'"'"' s preferences, demographics, search history, and browser history; and

executing one or more user-context-search queries via the one or more search engines to obtain one or more user-context search results for the search topic based on the one or more use-context data items, the one or more search terms, and the one or more search-term attributes.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the model is generated or updated by at least one of an administrator, a user, or one or more algorithms.