Providing knowledge panels with search results

• US 9,268,820 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Jeromy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spieler, William
• Application Number:
  US13/566,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/345 Summarisation for human users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing knowledge panels with search results. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining search results that are responsive to a received query. A factual entity referenced by the query is identified. Content is identified for display in a knowledge panel for the factual entity. The content includes at least one content item obtained from a first resource and at least one second content item obtained from a second resource different than the first resource. Data is provided that causes the identified search results and the knowledge panel to be presented on a search results page. The knowledge panel presents the identified content in a knowledge panel area that is along side at least a portion of the search results.

Claims

1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

identifying one or more queries that were received with a reference to a given factual entity, wherein the one or more queries identified for the given factual entity are different from one or more queries identified for one or more other factual entities;

identifying one or more resources related to the given query;

obtaining search results that are responsive to a received query;

determining that the given factual entity is referenced by the received query;

identifying a type of entity for the given factual entity;

identifying, from a set of different knowledge panel templates, a knowledge panel template specified for the type of entity, the identified knowledge panel template including placeholders for content relevant to the type of entity;

selecting, from the one or more resources related to the given factual entity, content for display in a knowledge panel for the given factual entity, the selected content including a first content item obtained from a first resource and a second content item obtained from a second resource different than the first resource, each given content item of the selected content being selected based on a number of the one or more received queries that reference both (i) the given factual entity and (ii) information presented by the given content item;

generating the knowledge panel for the given factual entity by populating the placeholders of the identified knowledge panel template with the selected content; and

providing data that causes the identified search results and the knowledge panel to be presented on a search results page, the knowledge panel presenting the selected content in a knowledge panel area alongside at least a portion of the search results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected content includes at least two of an image for the given factual entity, a title for the given factual entity, or a fact regarding the given factual entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the knowledge panel area consumes a larger area of the search results page than each of the search results.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises selecting the content for the knowledge panel based on a ranking of content for the given factual entity, the ranking being based on user search events related to the content and the given factual entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the knowledge panel comprises an interactive user interface object, the method further comprising:

receiving information specifying an interaction with the interactive user interface object; and

providing data that causes additional content to be presented within the knowledge panel without navigating away from the search results page and while maintain presentation of the knowledge panel and the identified search results, the additional content being selected based on the interaction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the received query is associated with multiple distinct meanings; and

identifying content related to each of the distinct meanings,

wherein the knowledge panel includes content for two or more of the distinct meanings, the content for at least one of the distinct meanings including a content item that includes a link that, when selected, initiates a search for search results related to the at least one distinct meaning.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises identifying types of content items specified by the identified knowledge panel template.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the given factual entity comprises a person, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image of the person, a description of the person, and at least one fact about the person.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the given factual entity comprises a place, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image depicting a map associated with the place, a description of the place, and at least one fact about the place.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each knowledge panel template of the set of different knowledge panel templates specifies at least one common type of content that is located within each knowledge panel template at a common location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified knowledge panel template specified for a given type of entity includes a placeholder for a first type of content item and each other knowledge panel template of the set of different knowledge panel templates does not include a placeholder for the first type of content item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises:

identifying content items for each placeholder of the identified knowledge panel template based on a type of content specified for the placeholder and a type of content for each content item;

ranking, for each placeholder, each content item identified for the placeholder relative to each other content item identified for the given content item, each content item being ranked based on a number of the one or more received queries that reference both (i) the given factual entity and (ii) information presented by the content item; and

selecting, for inclusion in the knowledge panel, one or more of the content items for each placeholder based on the ranking for each placeholder.

13. A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

identifying one or more queries that were received with a reference to a given factual entity, wherein the one or more queries identified for the given factual entity are different from one or more queries identified for one or more other factual entities;

identifying one or more resources related to the given query;

obtaining search results that are responsive to a received query;

determining that the given factual entity is referenced by the received query;

identifying a type of entity for the given factual entity;

identifying, from a set of different knowledge panel templates, a knowledge panel template specified for the type of entity, the identified knowledge panel template including placeholders for content relevant to the type of entity;

selecting, from the one or more resources related to the given factual entity, content for display in a knowledge panel for the given factual entity, the selected content including a first content item obtained from a first resource and a second content item obtained from a second resource different than the first resource, each given content item of the selected content being selected based on a number of the one or more received queries that reference both (i) the given factual entity and (ii) information presented by the given content item;

generating the knowledge panel for the given factual entity by populating the placeholders of the identified knowledge panel template with the selected content; and

providing data that causes the identified search results and the knowledge panel to be presented on a search results page, the knowledge panel presenting the selected content in a knowledge panel area alongside at least a portion of the search results.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the selected content includes at least two of an image for the given factual entity, a title for the given factual entity, or a fact regarding the given factual entity.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the knowledge panel area consumes a larger area of the search results page than each of the search results.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises selecting the content for the knowledge panel based on a ranking of content for the given factual entity, the ranking being based on user search events related to the content and the given factual entity.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

the knowledge panel comprises an interactive user interface object; and

the instructions, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the data processing apparatus to perform further operations comprising;

receiving information specifying an interaction with the interactive user interface object; and

providing data that causes additional content to be presented within the knowledge panel without navigating away from the search results page and while maintain presentation of the knowledge panel and the identified search results, the additional content being selected based on the interaction.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the data processing apparatus to perform further operations comprising:

determining that the received query is associated with multiple distinct meanings; and

identifying content related to each of the distinct meanings, wherein the knowledge panel includes content for two or more of the distinct meanings, the content for at least one of the distinct meanings including a content item that includes a link that, when selected, initiates a search for search results related to the at least one distinct meaning.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises identifying types of content items specified by the identified knowledge panel template.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the given factual entity comprises a person, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image of the person, a description of the person, and at least one fact about the person.

21. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the given factual entity comprises a place, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image depicting a map associated with the place, a description of the place, and at least one fact about the place.

22. A system comprising:

a data store for storing content items; and

one or more processors configured to interact with the data store, the one or more processors being further configured to perform operations comprising;

identifying one or more queries that were received with a reference to a given factual entity, wherein the one or more queries identified for the given factual entity are different from one or more queries identified for one or more other factual entities;

identifying one or more resources related to the given query;

obtaining search results that are responsive to a received query;

determining that the given factual entity is referenced by the received query;

identifying a type of entity for the given factual entity;

identifying, from a set of different knowledge panel templates, a knowledge panel template specified for the type of entity, the identified knowledge panel template including placeholders for content relevant to the type of entity;

selecting, from the one or more resources related to the given factual entity, content for display in a knowledge panel for the given factual entity, the selected content including a first content item obtained from a first resource and a second content item obtained from a second resource different than the first resource, each given content item of the selected content being selected based on a number of the one or more received queries that reference both (i) the given factual entity and (ii) information presented by the given content item;

generating the knowledge panel for the given factual entity by populating the placeholders of the identified knowledge panel template with the selected content; and

providing data that causes the identified search results and the knowledge panel to be presented on a search results page, the knowledge panel presenting the selected content in a knowledge panel area alongside at least a portion of the search results.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the selected content includes at least two of an image for the given factual entity, a title for the given factual entity, or a fact regarding the given factual entity.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the knowledge panel area consumes a larger area of the search results page than each of the search results.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises selecting the content for the knowledge panel based on a ranking of content for the given factual entity, the ranking being based on user search events related to the content and the given factual entity.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the knowledge panel comprises an interactive user interface object; and

the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving information specifying an interaction with the interactive user interface object; and

providing data that causes additional content to be presented within the knowledge panel without navigating away from the search results page and while maintain presentation of the knowledge panel and the identified search results, the additional content being selected based on the interaction.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining that the received query is associated with multiple distinct meanings; and

identifying content related to each of the distinct meanings, wherein the knowledge panel includes content for two or more of the distinct meanings, the content for at least one of the distinct meanings including a content item that includes a link that, when selected, initiates a search for search results related to the at least one distinct meaning.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein selecting content for display in the knowledge panel for the given factual entity comprises identifying types of content items specified by the identified knowledge panel template.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the given factual entity comprises a person, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image of the person, a description of the person, and at least one fact about the person.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the given factual entity comprises a place, and wherein the identified knowledge panel template includes a placeholder for each of an image depicting a map associated with the place, a description of the place, and at least one fact about the place.