Incremental query refinement

• US 9,245,052 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Brewer, Brett D., Hurst-Hiller, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rayyan, Susan F
• Application Number:
  US14/149,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 at least one computing device that includes at least one processor and memory, the method comprising:

substantially simultaneously providing, by the at least one computing device in response to receiving one or more characters that form at least a portion of a query string that does not include an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both query results and query refinement options, where the one or more received characters match at least one pattern that indicates one or more characters followed by a space character.

2. The method of claim 1 where the at least one pattern further indicates the received one or more characters followed by a time delay before any additional characters are received.

3. The method of claim 1 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on a connection characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on user input.

5. The method of claim 1 where the providing the query refinement options is in response to the receiving but prior to detecting the match.

6. The method of claim 1 where the providing is based at least in part on “

stop”

words.

7. The method of claim 1 where the providing is based at least in part on a load.

8. At least one computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, based on execution by at least one processor of the at least one computing device that includes memory, configure the at least one computing device to perform actions comprising:

substantially simultaneously providing, in response to receiving one or more characters from a user that form at least a portion of a query string that does not include an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both query results and query refinement options, where the one or more received characters match at least one pattern that indicates one or more characters followed by a space character.

9. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the at least one pattern further indicates the received one or more characters followed by a time delay before any additional characters are received.

10. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on a connection characteristic.

11. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on user input.

12. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the providing the query refinement options is in response to the receiving but prior to detecting the match.

13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the providing is based at least in part on “

stop”

words.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 8 where the providing is based at least in part on a load.

15. A system comprising:

at least one computing device;

a processor included in the at least one computing device;

memory coupled to the processor;

an input device; and

a video adapter via which the at least one computing device is configured to substantially simultaneously provide, in response to receiving, via the input device, one or more characters that form at least a portion of a query string that does not include an explicit submission of the portion of the query string, both query results and query refinement options, where the one or more received characters match at least one pattern that indicates one or more characters followed by a space character.

16. The system of claim 15 where both the query results and the query refinement options are provided based at least in part on a load.

17. The system of claim 15 where the at least one pattern further indicates the received one or more characters followed by a time delay before any additional characters are received.

18. The system of claim 15 where the query refinement options are provided in response to the receiving but prior to detecting the match.

19. The system of claim 15 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on a connection characteristic.

20. The system of claim 15 where the at least one pattern is based at least in part on user input.