Incremental query refinement

• US 8,655,905 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brewer, Brett D., Hurst-Hiller, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rayyan, Susan F
• Application Number:
  US13/368,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20120136886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions

Abstract

A method of incrementally refining queries and updating query result lists without requiring a user to provide an explicit indicator of query submission. In the method, one or more query related character patterns are defined. Entry of query defining characters by a user is monitored to detect entry of a defined query related character pattern. The user is provided with one or more suggested query refinement options and an updated query result list each time a defined query related character pattern is detected. The query related character patterns may be a character pattern that indicates a word has been input by the user.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computing device, the method comprising substantially simultaneously providing, in response to receiving one or more characters that form at least a portion of a query string without an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both a query result list and a query refinement options list, where the received one or more characters match a pattern that is defined based on a characteristic of a connection.

2. The method of claim 1 where the query result list is configured to include results from a local source, an intranet source, or an Internet source.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling a frequency at which the providing both the query result list and the query refinement options list is performed, wherein the frequency is determined based at least in part on the characters.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on a connection speed.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on adaptations unique to each of a plurality of users.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on a word that does not substantively add to the query string.

7. The method of claim 1 where the substantially simultaneously providing is in real-time as a user enters the received one or more characters.

8. At least one computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising substantially simultaneously providing, in response to receiving one or more characters that form at least a portion of a query string being provided without an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both a query result list and a query refinement options list, where the received one or more characters match a pattern that is defined based on a characteristic of a connection.

9. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the query result list is configured to include results from a local source, an intranet source, or an Internet source.

10. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises controlling a frequency at which the providing both the query result list and the query refinement options list is performed, wherein the frequency is determined based at least in part on the characters.

11. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on a connection speed.

12. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on adaptations unique to each of a plurality of users.

13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the frequency is further determined based at least in part on a word that does not substantively add to the query string.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the substantially simultaneously providing is in real-time as a user enters the received one or more characters.

15. A system comprising a computing device and at least one program module together configured for substantially simultaneously providing, in response to receiving one or more characters that form at least a portion of a query string being provided without an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both a query result list and a query refinement options list, where the received one or more characters match a pattern that is defined based on a characteristic of a connection.

16. The system of claim 15 where the query result list is configured to include results from a local source, an intranet source, or an Internet source.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising the computer further configured for controlling a frequency at which the providing both the query result list and the query refinement options list is performed, where the frequency is determined based at least in part on the characters.

18. The system of claim 17 where the frequency is further determined based at least in part on adaptations unique to each of a plurality of users.

19. The system of claim 17 where the frequency is further determined based at least in part on a word that does not substantively add to the query string.

20. The system of claim 15 where the substantially simultaneously providing is in real-time as a user enters the received one or more characters.