Web query classification
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- receiving a query phrase;
parsing the query phrase into at least a first constituent part and a second constituent part;
determining, with at least one processor, a first category associated with the received query phrase by performing a first classification process that uses the first constituent part, definitional information associated with the first constituent part, and the second constituent part;
determining, with the at least one processor, a second category associated with the received query phrase by performing a second classification process that uses the first constituent part and the second constituent part, the second classification process being different than the first classification process;
accessing, with the at least one processor, a pattern that is associated with at least one of the first category or the second category;
determining whether the first category matches the second category;
in response to a determination that the first category does not match the second category, selecting at least one category from among at least the first category and the second category based at least in part on the pattern, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on an estimated strength of the first classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the first category and an estimated strength of the second classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the second category;
associating the received query phrase with the selected category; and
processing the query phrase based on the selected category.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A query phrase may be automatically classified to one or more topics of interest (e.g., categories) to assist in routing the query phrase to one or more appropriate backend databases. A selectional preference query classification technique may be used to classify the query phrase based on a comparison between the query phrase and patterns of query phrases. Additionally, or alternatively, a combination of query classification techniques may be used to classify the query phrase. Topical classification of a query phrase also may be used to assist a search system in delivering auxiliary information to a user who entered the query phrase. Advertisements, for instance, may be tailored based on classification rather than query keywords.
55 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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receiving a query phrase; parsing the query phrase into at least a first constituent part and a second constituent part; determining, with at least one processor, a first category associated with the received query phrase by performing a first classification process that uses the first constituent part, definitional information associated with the first constituent part, and the second constituent part; determining, with the at least one processor, a second category associated with the received query phrase by performing a second classification process that uses the first constituent part and the second constituent part, the second classification process being different than the first classification process; accessing, with the at least one processor, a pattern that is associated with at least one of the first category or the second category; determining whether the first category matches the second category; in response to a determination that the first category does not match the second category, selecting at least one category from among at least the first category and the second category based at least in part on the pattern, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on an estimated strength of the first classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the first category and an estimated strength of the second classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the second category; associating the received query phrase with the selected category; and processing the query phrase based on the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; parse a received query phrase into at least a first constituent part and a second constituent part; determine a first category associated with the received query phrase by performing a first classification process that uses the first constituent part, definitional information associated with the first constituent part, and the second constituent part; determine a second category associated with the received query phrase by performing a second classification process that uses the first constituent part and the second constituent part, the second classification process being different than the first classification process; access a pattern that is associated with at least one of the first category or the second category; determine whether the first category matches the second category; in response to a determination that the first category does not match the second category, select at least one category from among at least the first category and the second category based at least in part on the pattern, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on an estimated strength of the first classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the first category and an estimated strength of the second classification process in determining that the received query phrase is associated with the second category; associate the received query phrase with the selected category; and process the query phrase based on the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification