Search ranking based on natural language query patterns
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- obtaining, by a search engine, a set of query patterns that are associated with searching for a particular fact, the set of query patterns including a first subset of one or more query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format, and a second subset of one or more query patterns that are not expressed in a natural language format;
determining, by the search engine, (i) a first quantity of query patterns that occur in the set of query patterns that are associated with searching for the particular fact, and (ii) a second quantity of query patterns that occur in the first subset of query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format;
determining, by the search engine, a likelihood that a particular query is a fact-seeking query based at least on comparing the first quantity and the second quantity, wherein a fact-seeking query is a query for which a factual answer is presented adjacent to one or more search results, in an answer area of a search results page that is generated in response to the query; and
using, by the search engine, the likelihood as a signal for ranking search results.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining whether to provide a factual answer to a user'"'"'s query. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a set of query patterns associated with a particular fact. A subset of natural language query patterns can be identified from the set of query patterns. A likelihood that a query corresponding to at least one of the query patterns from the set of query patterns is a fact-seeking query can be determined based at least in part on comparing a first query count associated with the subset of natural language query patterns with a second query count associated with the set of query patterns. The likelihood can be provided as a signal for ranking search results.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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obtaining, by a search engine, a set of query patterns that are associated with searching for a particular fact, the set of query patterns including a first subset of one or more query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format, and a second subset of one or more query patterns that are not expressed in a natural language format; determining, by the search engine, (i) a first quantity of query patterns that occur in the set of query patterns that are associated with searching for the particular fact, and (ii) a second quantity of query patterns that occur in the first subset of query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format; determining, by the search engine, a likelihood that a particular query is a fact-seeking query based at least on comparing the first quantity and the second quantity, wherein a fact-seeking query is a query for which a factual answer is presented adjacent to one or more search results, in an answer area of a search results page that is generated in response to the query; and using, by the search engine, the likelihood as a signal for ranking search results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, at a search engine and from a client device, a query; determining, by the search engine, a particular fact associated with the received query; based on the particular fact, obtaining a likelihood that the received query is a fact-seeking query, wherein the likelihood is based at least on comparing (i) a first quantity of query patterns that occur in a set of query patterns that are associated with searching for the particular fact with (ii) a second quantity of query patterns that occur in a first subset of the set of query patterns, the first subset of the set of query patterns including one or more query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format; based on determining that the likelihood satisfies a threshold, adding, by the search engine, a factual answer to a set of search results for the query; and providing, by the search engine and to the client device, the set of search results in response to the query. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a data processing apparatus; and a memory storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus, the memory storage apparatus storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus and that upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising; obtaining, by a search engine, a set of query patterns that are associated with searching for a particular fact, the set of query patterns including a first subset of one or more query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format, and a second subset of one or more query patterns that are not expressed in a natural language format; determining, by the search engine, (i) a first quantity of query patterns that occur in the set of query patterns that are associated with searching for the particular fact, and (ii) a second quantity of query patterns that occur in the first subset of query patterns that are expressed in a natural language format; determining, by the search engine, a likelihood that a particular query is a fact-seeking query based at least on comparing the first quantity and the second quantity, wherein a fact-seeking query is a query for which a factual answer is presented adjacent to one or more search results, in an answer area of a search results page that is generated in response to the query; and using, by the search engine, the likelihood as a signal for ranking search results. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification