Referent based search suggestions

• US 8,930,393 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Nordstrom, Paul, Whitelaw, Casey Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/646,633
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• 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

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for providing suggestions for a search based on previously viewed content are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving information on previously viewed content, and receiving a request to enter a query into a search field subsequent to receiving the information on the previously viewed content. The method also includes identifying, based on the content, at least one entity referred to in the content, and providing an identifier of the at least one entity for display with the search field. Systems and machine-readable storage media are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing suggestions for a search based on previously viewed content, the method comprising:

receiving information on previously viewed content;

receiving a request to enter a query into a search field subsequent to receiving the information on the previously viewed content;

identifying, based on a user interaction with the content, at least one entity referred to in the content;

identifying, based on the user interaction with the content, at least one action associated with the entity; and

providing identifiers of the at least one entity and the at least one action for display with the search field.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one entity and the at least one action are provided for display in a listing format.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the listing includes an action associated with each entity identified in the listing.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the at least one entity and the at least one action are provided for display along with a previously entered query by the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request to enter the query into the search field comprises directing a cursor into the search field or typing a partial query comprising at least one letter into the search field.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein a search for the at least one entity is submitted in response to receiving the partial query in the search field.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein at least one result from the search is provided for display after the search is submitted in response to receiving the partial query in the search field.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the previously viewed content comprises an identification of a web page, the identification comprising an address of the web page, pointer to the web page, or a copy of the web page.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one entity is identified based on a frequency of an identifier of the at least one entity in the content.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the content includes at least one previous selection of the entity from the content.

10. A system for providing suggestions for a search based on previously viewed content, the system comprising:

a memory comprising an identification of a previously viewed user content, the identification comprising an address of the previously viewed user content, pointer to the previously viewed user content, or a copy of the previously viewed user content; and

a processor configured to;

receive a request to enter a query into a search field;

identify, based on a user interaction with the content, at least one entity referred to in the content;

identify, based on the user interaction with the content, at least one action associated with the entity; and

provide identifiers of the at least one entity and the at least one action for display with the search field.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the user interaction with the content includes at least one previous selection of the entity from the content.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one entity and the at least one action are provided for display in a listing format.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the listing includes an action associated with each entity identified in the listing.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to provide, for display, the at least one entity and the at least one action along with a previously entered query by the user.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the request to enter the query into the search field comprises directing a cursor into the search field or typing a partial query comprising at least one letter into the search field.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to submit a search for the at least one entity in response to receiving the partial query in the search field.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to provide, for display, at least one result from the search after the search is submitted in response to receiving the partial query in the search field.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one entity is identified based on a frequency of an identifier of the at least one entity in the content.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for providing suggestions for a search based on previously viewed content, the method comprising:

receiving information on at least one previously viewed web page of a user;

receiving a request of the user to enter a query into a search field subsequent to receiving the information on the at least one previously viewed web page;

identifying, based on a user interaction with the content, at least one entity referred to in the at least one previously viewed web page;

identifying, based on the user interaction with the content, at least one action associated with the entity; and

providing identifiers of the at least one entity and the at least one action for display with the search field.