Search system using search subdomain and hints to subdomains in search query statements and sponsored results on a subdomain-by-subdomain basis

• US 8,849,796 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Ali, Gatz, Scott A., Kapur, Shyam, Ku, David, Kung, Chuck, Hoang, Phu, Lu, Qi, Pogue, Lynne, Shen, Yuan Kui, Shi, Norman, Tran, Thai, Walther, Eckart, Weiner, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Binh V
• Application Number:
  US13/599,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20120330949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 707/720
• US Class Current: 707/720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a search query string from a first user that is associated with a first location;

wherein the first location is not included in the search query string;

in response to receiving the search query string, selecting a first advertisement, from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the first location;

including the first advertisement in a web page that is sent to the first user;

wherein said selecting said first advertisement, from the plurality of advertisements, is further based, at least in part, on a particular word in the search query string;

wherein the plurality of advertisements includes a second advertisement associated with the particular word and a second location;

wherein the second location is distinct from the first location;

receiving a second search query string, that includes the particular word, and that is from a second user that is associated with the second location;

in response to receiving the second search query string, selecting the second advertisement from the plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the second location; and

including the second advertisement in a second web page that is sent to the second user;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the first location based, at least in part, on one or more user preferences.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a network address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a search query string that includes a particular term that has both a first meaning and a second meaning;

wherein the first meaning is associated with a particular location;

wherein the second meaning is not associated with the particular location;

determining whether the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning based, at least in part, on one or more query logs;

in response to determining that the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning, selecting a first advertisement, from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the particular location; and

displaying the first advertisement at a web page;

wherein the plurality of advertisements includes a second advertisement associated with a second location;

wherein the second location is distinct from the particular location;

receiving a second search query string that includes a second term that has both a third meaning and a fourth meaning;

wherein the third meaning is associated with the second location;

wherein the fourth meaning is not associated with the second location;

determining whether the second term is being used to convey the third meaning based, at least in part, on the one or more query logs;

in response to determining that the second term is being used to convey the third meaning, selecting the second advertisement, from the plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the second location; and

displaying the second advertisement at a second web page;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning further comprises determining that at least one entry in the one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the particular location.

7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:

receiving a search query string from a first user that is associated with a first location;

wherein the first location is not included in the search query string;

in response to receiving the search query string, selecting a first advertisement, from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the first location;

including the first advertisement in a web page that is sent to the first user;

wherein said selecting said first advertisement, from the plurality of advertisements, is further based, at least in part, on a particular word in the search query string;

wherein the plurality of advertisements includes a second advertisement associated with the particular word and a second location;

wherein the second location is distinct from the first location;

receiving a second search query string, that includes the particular word, and that is from a second user that is associated with the second location;

in response to receiving the second search query string, selecting the second advertisement from the plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the second location; and

including the second advertisement in a second web page that is sent to the second user.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising instructions for identifying the first location based, at least in part, on one or more user preferences.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising instructions for identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a network address.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, further comprising instructions for identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:

receiving a search query string that includes a particular term that has both a first meaning and a second meaning;

wherein the first meaning is associated with a particular location;

wherein the second meaning is not associated with the particular location;

determining whether the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning based, at least in part, on one or more query logs;

in response to determining that the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning, selecting a first advertisement, from a plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the particular location; and

displaying the first advertisement at a web page;

wherein the plurality of advertisements includes a second advertisement associated with a second location;

wherein the second location is distinct from the particular location;

receiving a second search query string that includes a second term that has both a third meaning and a fourth meaning;

wherein the third meaning is associated with the second location;

wherein the fourth meaning is not associated with the second location;

determining whether the second term is being used to convey the third meaning based, at least in part, on the one or more query logs;

in response to determining that the second term is being used to convey the third meaning, selecting the second advertisement, from the plurality of advertisements, based at least in part on the second location; and

displaying the second advertisement at a second web page.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein determining whether the particular term is being used to convey the first meaning further comprises determining that at least one entry in the one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the particular location.