Increasing user retention and re-engagement in social networking services

• US 9,063,972 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Marra, Gregory M., Haugen, Frances B., Marra, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Taelor
• Application Number:
  US13/551,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for engaging a user in a previously-submitted search query in a social networking system are disclosed. The method includes receiving a search query from a user, receiving search results responsive to the search query, providing search results for display to the user, receiving one or more user interactions associated with the search results, and generating a search interaction score based on the one or more user interactions. The method further includes determining that the search interaction score exceeds a threshold search interaction score, receiving a reminder event relating to the search query, and in response to determining that the search interaction score exceeds the threshold search interaction score and the reminder event, providing a notification to the user relating to the search query.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method executed using one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user,

receiving search results responsive to the search query;

providing search results for display to the user;

receiving one or more user interactions associated with the search results;

generating a search interaction score based on the one or more user interactions;

determining that the search interaction score exceeds a threshold search interaction score;

receiving a reminder event relating to the search query, wherein the reminder event is prompted by an occurrence other than re-submission of the search query by the user; and

in response to determining that the search interaction score exceeds the threshold search interaction score and the reminder event, providing a notification to the user relating to the search query,

wherein the notification invites the user to re-engage the search query and the search results,

wherein the one or more user interactions associated with the search results are selected from a group including a selection of, an endorsement of, a sharing of, and a comment on an entry in the search results, and

wherein the occurrence prompting the reminder event corresponds to one or more subsequent search queries, related to or matching the search query, reaching a threshold level of popularity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction score is reflective of a time period in which the one or more user interactions associated with the search results occurred.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a search interaction score comprises assigning a numerical value to each of the one or more user interactions associated with the search results.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user response to the notification; and

upon receiving the user response to the notification, displaying search results responsive to the search query.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder event relating to the search query is prompted by global search trends.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder event is prompted by a passage of a predetermined time in which the user has not re-submitted the search query.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold search interaction score is a mean interaction score based on the user'"'"'s past search interaction scores.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold search interaction score is unique to the user.

9. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer readable devices that include instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, causes the processors to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a search query from a user,

receiving search results responsive to the search query;

providing search results for display to the user;

receiving one or more user interactions associated with the search results;

generating a search interaction score based on the one or more user interactions;

determining that the search interaction score exceeds a threshold search interaction score;

receiving a reminder event relating to the search query, wherein the reminder event is prompted by an occurrence other than re-submission of the search query by the user; and

in response to determining that the search interaction score exceeds the threshold search interaction score and the reminder event, providing a notification to the user relating to the search query,

wherein the notification invites the user to re-engage the search query and the search results,

wherein the one or more user interactions associated with the search results are selected from a group including a selection of, an endorsement of, a sharing of, and a comment on an entry in the search results, and

wherein the occurrence prompting the reminder event corresponds to one or more subsequent search queries, related to or matching the search query, reaching a threshold level of popularity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interaction score is reflective of a time period in which the one or more user interactions associated with the search results occurred.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein generating a search interaction score comprises assigning a numerical value to each of the one or more user interactions associated with the search results.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a user response to the notification; and

upon receiving the user response to the notification, displaying search results responsive to the search query.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the reminder event relating to the search query is prompted by global search trends.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the reminder event is prompted by a passage of a predetermined time in which the user has not re-submitted the search query.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold search interaction score is a mean interaction score based on the user'"'"'s past search interaction scores.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold search interaction score is unique to the user.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a search query from a user,

receiving search results responsive to the search query;

providing search results for display to the user;

receiving one or more user interactions associated with the search results;

generating a search interaction score based on the one or more user interactions;

determining that the search interaction score exceeds a threshold search interaction score;

receiving a reminder event relating to the search query, wherein the reminder event is prompted by an occurrence other than re-submission of the search query by the user; and

in response to determining that the search interaction score exceeds the threshold search interaction score and the reminder event, providing a notification to the user relating to the search query,

wherein the notification invites the user to re-engage the search query and the search results,

wherein the one or more user interactions associated with the search results are selected from a group including a selection of, an endorsement of, a sharing of, and a comment on an entry in the search results, and

wherein the occurrence prompting the reminder event corresponds to one or more subsequent search queries, related to or matching the search query, reaching a threshold level of popularity.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the interaction score is reflective of a time period in which the one or more user interactions associated with the search results occurred.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein generating a search interaction score comprises assigning a numerical value to each of the one or more user interactions associated with the search results.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a user response to the notification; and

upon receiving the user response to the notification, displaying search results responsive to the search query.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the reminder event relating to the search query is prompted by global search trends.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the reminder event is prompted by a passage of a predetermined time in which the user has not re-submitted the search query.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the threshold search interaction score is a mean interaction score based on the user'"'"'s past search interaction scores.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the threshold search interaction score is unique to the user.