Search system using search subdomain and hints to subdomains in search query statements and sponsored results on a subdomain-by-subdomain basis

• US 9,323,848 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Ali, Gatz, Scott A., Kapur, Shyam, Ku, David, Kung, Chuck, Hoang, Phu, Lu, Qi, Pogue, Lynne, Shen, Yuan Kui, Shi, Norman, Tran, Thai, Walther, Eckart, Weiner, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Binh V
• Application Number:
  US14/588,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20150112959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 707/720
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a search query string from a first user;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the search query string;

determining whether any keyword, of the plurality of keywords, qualifies as a location keyword based on the keyword satisfying certain criteria;

wherein determining whether any keyword qualifies as a location keyword includes determining that the search query string includes a location keyword;

determining that the location keyword is associated with a first location;

in response to determining that the location keyword is associated with the first location, identifying one or more location-specific results;

wherein the one or more location-specific results are associated with the first location; and

providing the one or more location-specific results as a response to the search query string;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second search query string;

determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and

adding the location keyword to the second search query string.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the first location;

in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and

providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term;

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term;

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on a table of terms with meanings that are location-specific;

wherein the table of terms includes a particular entry that associates the particular term with the second location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information, from the first user, requesting generic search results;

in response to receiving said information;

identifying non-location-specific search results;

wherein identifying the non-location-specific search results is not specific to a particular location; and

providing the non-location-specific search results as a response to the search query string.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the one or more location-specific results from a subdomain that is indexed according to location.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second search query string;

wherein the search query string includes the location keyword;

determining that the location keyword is at least included in an entry of a list of location-exception terms;

in response to determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms, identifying one or more non-location-specific results;

wherein the one or more non-location-specific results are not specific to any particular location; and

providing the one or more non-location-specific results as a response to the second search query string.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the second search query string comprises a second term; and

determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms comprises identifying the second term in the entry of the list of location-exception terms.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:

receiving a search query string from a first user;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the search query string;

determining whether any keyword, of the plurality of keywords, qualifies as a location keyword based on the keyword satisfying certain criteria;

wherein determining whether any keyword qualifies as a location keyword includes determining that the search query string includes a location keyword;

determining that the location keyword is associated with a first location;

in response to determining that the location keyword is associated with the first location, identifying one or more location-specific results;

wherein the one or more location-specific results are associated with the first location; and

providing the one or more location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a second search query string;

determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and

adding the location keyword to the second search query string.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the first location;

in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and

providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term;

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term,

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on a table of terms with meanings that are location-specific;

wherein the table of terms includes a particular entry that associates the particular term with the second location.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving information, from the first user, requesting generic search results;

in response to receiving said information;

identifying non-location-specific search results;

wherein identifying the non-location-specific search results is not specific to a particular location; and

providing the non-location-specific search results as a response to the search query string.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

identifying the one or more location-specific results from a subdomain that is indexed according to location.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, the instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving a second search query string;

wherein the search query string includes the location keyword;

determining that the location keyword is at least included in an entry of a list of location-exception terms;

in response to determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms, identifying one or more non-location-specific results;

wherein the one or more non-location-specific results are not specific to any particular location; and

providing the one or more non-location-specific results as a response to the second search query string.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein:

the second search query string comprises a second term; and

determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms comprises identifying the second term in the entry of the list of location-exception terms.