Methods and systems for dynamically suggesting answers to questions submitted to a portal of an online service
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a host system, user input from a user system that is remote from the host system, the user input including one or more input terms;
searching, by the host system, a storage area communicatively connected to the host system for one or more search strings recorded from prior searches that are related to the user input, the search strings each having one or more search terms;
identifying, by the host system, a subset of the recorded search strings that are related to the user input, as a result of the searching;
determining, by the host system, a score for each of the search strings in the subset, the score being a value that indicates an expected likelihood that the user is interested in the search string, wherein the score for each of the search strings is based on a plurality of factors including;
how many of the search terms in the search string are included in the user input, andhow relevant a set of search results for the search string is; and
ranking, by the host system, the search strings in the subset, in accordance with the determined scores; and
sending, from the host system to the user system, the search strings in the subset to be listed in order of the ranking as suggestions to the user for use in requesting a search.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for dynamically suggesting answers to questions submitted to a portal of an online service. These mechanisms and methods for dynamically suggesting answers to questions submitted to a portal of an online service can enable embodiments to provide help document suggestions with limited user input. The ability of embodiments to provide help document search term suggestions with limited user input can enable users to quickly and efficiently find useful help documents.
162 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving, at a host system, user input from a user system that is remote from the host system, the user input including one or more input terms; searching, by the host system, a storage area communicatively connected to the host system for one or more search strings recorded from prior searches that are related to the user input, the search strings each having one or more search terms; identifying, by the host system, a subset of the recorded search strings that are related to the user input, as a result of the searching; determining, by the host system, a score for each of the search strings in the subset, the score being a value that indicates an expected likelihood that the user is interested in the search string, wherein the score for each of the search strings is based on a plurality of factors including; how many of the search terms in the search string are included in the user input, and how relevant a set of search results for the search string is; and ranking, by the host system, the search strings in the subset, in accordance with the determined scores; and sending, from the host system to the user system, the search strings in the subset to be listed in order of the ranking as suggestions to the user for use in requesting a search. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for causing one or more processors to implement a method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving, at a host system, user input from a user system that is remote from the host system, the user input including one or more input terms; searching, by the host system, a storage area communicatively connected to the host system for one or more search strings recorded from prior searches that are related to the user input, the search strings each having one or more search terms; identifying, by the host system, a subset of the recorded search strings that are related to the user input, as a result of the searching; determining, by the host system, a score for each of the search strings in the subset, the score being a value that indicates an expected likelihood that the user is interested in the search string, wherein the score for each of the search strings is based on a plurality of factors including; how many of the search terms in the search string are included in the user input, and how relevant a set of search results for the search string is; and ranking, by the host system, the search strings in the subset, in accordance with the determined scores; and sending, from the host system to the user system, the search strings in the subset to be listed in order of the ranking as suggestions to the user for use in requesting a search.
-
-
22. A system comprising:
a host system having a processor for; receiving user input from a user system that is remote from the host system, the user input including one or more input terms; searching a storage area communicatively connected to the host system for one or more search strings recorded from prior searches that are related to the user input, the search strings each having one or more search terms; identifying a subset of the recorded search strings that are related to the user input, as a result of the searching; determining a score for each of the search strings in the subset, the score being a value that indicates an expected likelihood that the user is interested in the search string, wherein the score for each of the search strings is based on a plurality of factors including; how many of the search terms in the search string are included in the user input, and how relevant a set of search results for the search string is; and ranking the search strings in the subset, in accordance with the determined scores; and sending, to the user system, the search strings in the subset to be listed in order of the ranking as suggestions to the user for use in requesting a search.
Specification