Search systems and methods using in-line contextual queries
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of contextual searching, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of, at a server:
- receiving, at the server, from a client, a first query, wherein the first query is a set of one or more query terms received from a search form field at the client;
generating, at the server, a first search result based at least on the first query and a first context vector associated with the first query;
wherein the first context vector comprises context data indicating a set of one or more context terms that were not from the search form field;
wherein the set of one or more context terms is representative of first content displayed by a first application executing on the client when the first query was submitted;
wherein the first context vector is separate from and not identical to the first query;
transmitting, from the server, the first search result to the client; and
transmitting, from the server, to the client, for display with the first search result, additional data, wherein the additional data comprises at least one of;
an indication of which terms, used to produce the first search results, were obtained from the first context vector rather than the search form field ;
ordata indicating one or more queries selected, independent of the first query, based on the first context vector;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of contextual searching, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of, at a server:
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receiving, at the server, from a client, a first query, wherein the first query is a set of one or more query terms received from a search form field at the client; generating, at the server, a first search result based at least on the first query and a first context vector associated with the first query; wherein the first context vector comprises context data indicating a set of one or more context terms that were not from the search form field; wherein the set of one or more context terms is representative of first content displayed by a first application executing on the client when the first query was submitted; wherein the first context vector is separate from and not identical to the first query; transmitting, from the server, the first search result to the client; and transmitting, from the server, to the client, for display with the first search result, additional data, wherein the additional data comprises at least one of; an indication of which terms, used to produce the first search results, were obtained from the first context vector rather than the search form field ;
ordata indicating one or more queries selected, independent of the first query, based on the first context vector; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, 21, 22)
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13. A method for contextual searching, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a server, from a client, first data for a first field of a search form and second data that is not from the first field of the search form; wherein the first data is a query comprising one or more query terms entered in the first field of the search form, wherein the first field is a search form field configured to accept search terms from a user; wherein the second data indicates or includes first content and an indication that the first content was displayed by a first application at the client when the first query was submitted; wherein the first content is separate from and not identical to the query; generating, at the server, a context vector based on the first content; wherein the context vector comprises context data indicating a set of one or more context terms; wherein the set of one or more context terms is representative of the first content; wherein the context vector is not identical to the query; generating, at the server, a search result based at least on the query and the context vector; and transmitting the search result to the client; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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23. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of, at a server:
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receiving, at the server, from a client, a first query, wherein the first query is a set of one or more query terms received from a search form field at the client; generating, at the server, a first search result based at least on the first query and a first context vector associated with the first query; wherein the first context vector comprises context data indicating a set of one or more context terms that were not from the search form field; wherein the set of one or more context terms is representative of first content displayed by a first application executing on the client when the first query was submitted; wherein the first context vector is separate from and not identical to the first query; transmitting, from the server, the first search result to the client; and transmitting, from the server, to the client, for display with the first search result, additional data, wherein the additional data comprises at least one of; an indication of which terms, used to produce the first search results, were obtained from the first context vector rather than the search form field ;
ordata indicating one or more queries selected, independent of the first query, based on the first context vector. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:
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receiving, at a server, from a client, first data for a first field of a search form and second data that is not from the first field of the search form; wherein the first data is a query comprising one or more query terms entered in the first field of the search form, wherein the first field is a search form field configured to accept search terms from a user; wherein the second data indicates or includes first content and an indication that the first content was displayed by a first application at the client when the first query was submitted; wherein the first content is separate from and not identical to the query; generating, at the server, a context vector based on the first content; wherein the context vector comprises context data indicating a set of one or more context terms; wherein the set of one or more context terms is representative of the first content; wherein the context vector is not identical to the query; generating, at the server, a search result based at least on the query and the context vector; and transmitting the search result to the client. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification