Method and system to utilize session queries in real time to improve geo precision of sponsored listings
First Claim
1. A method executable by a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising:
- receiving a user query input to a search engine from a user computing device;
determining, with the processor, that the user query input to the search engine does not specify at least one present geographic feature identifying a geographic location associated with the user query;
retrieving, from a database, past geographic features associated with past user queries from the user computing device, wherein the past geographic features identify a geographic location associated with the past user queries;
determining, with the processor, at least one qualified past geographic feature for at least one past user query, wherein the at least one qualified past geographic feature is determined based on a time interval between the user query and the at least one past user query;
augmenting, with the processor, the at least one present geographic feature with the at least one qualified past geographic feature to determine an augmented geographic feature, wherein the augmented geographic feature identifies a geographic location to apply to the user query that does not specify the at least one present geographic feature,further wherein the augmented geographic feature is determined by selecting the most relevant qualified past geographic feature from the past geographic features;
determining, with the processor, at least one sponsored search result using the augmented geographic feature by selecting the sponsored search result using the geographic location identified by the augmented geographic feature;
determining, with the processor, at least one non-sponsored search result using the at least one present geographic feature, such that different geographic features are used to determine the sponsored search results as compared with the non-sponsored search results for the user query; and
delivering, with the processor, the at least one sponsored search result and the at least one non-sponsored search result to be displayed on a web page of the user computing device.
9 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Contextual or cumulative interpretation is applied to individual user queries to improve the accuracy of sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results. Queries are interpreted based on present features derived from a user query in the context of past features derived from qualified past queries such as those previously received during a user query session. Based on contextual interpretation, present features may be augmented using past features. A search is performed using augmented features instead of present features. Contextual interpretation of queries improves search system understanding of the context in which queries are submitted, which is particularly helpful when interpolating query intent to develop features not expressed in a query. Contextual interpretation permits queries to be interpreted and treated more uniformly and more intelligently. As a result, users and advertisers benefit from more precise sponsored and/or non-sponsored search results. As one example, contextual interpretation can improve the geo-precision of sponsored search results.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method executable by a computer having a processor and memory, the method comprising:
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receiving a user query input to a search engine from a user computing device; determining, with the processor, that the user query input to the search engine does not specify at least one present geographic feature identifying a geographic location associated with the user query; retrieving, from a database, past geographic features associated with past user queries from the user computing device, wherein the past geographic features identify a geographic location associated with the past user queries; determining, with the processor, at least one qualified past geographic feature for at least one past user query, wherein the at least one qualified past geographic feature is determined based on a time interval between the user query and the at least one past user query; augmenting, with the processor, the at least one present geographic feature with the at least one qualified past geographic feature to determine an augmented geographic feature, wherein the augmented geographic feature identifies a geographic location to apply to the user query that does not specify the at least one present geographic feature, further wherein the augmented geographic feature is determined by selecting the most relevant qualified past geographic feature from the past geographic features; determining, with the processor, at least one sponsored search result using the augmented geographic feature by selecting the sponsored search result using the geographic location identified by the augmented geographic feature; determining, with the processor, at least one non-sponsored search result using the at least one present geographic feature, such that different geographic features are used to determine the sponsored search results as compared with the non-sponsored search results for the user query; and delivering, with the processor, the at least one sponsored search result and the at least one non-sponsored search result to be displayed on a web page of the user computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A search system, comprising:
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a processor and a memory; a session-based query processing module executable by the processor and that interprets a user query based on the user query and previous queries accumulated during a session with a computing device of the user, wherein the session-based query processing module is configured to; receive the user query from the user computing device; determine that user query from the user computing device does not specify at least one present geographic feature; determine at least one present geographic feature for the user query; retrieve, from a database, past geographic features associated with past user queries from a related user computing device; determine at least one past geographic feature for at least one past user query received during the same session as the user query; augment the user query with the at least one past geographic feature; determine a set of non-sponsored search results using the at present geographic feature; and determine a set of sponsored search results using the augmented user query and the at least one past geographic feature, such that different geographic features are used to determine the non-sponsored search results and the sponsored search results; and deliver the set of non-sponsored search results and the set of sponsored search results to be displayed on a web page of the user computing device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer having a processor and memory, perform session-based query processing that interprets a user query based on the user query and previous queries accumulated during a session with a computing device of the user by:
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determining, with the processor, at least one present geographic feature for the user query; determining, with the processor, at least one past geographic feature for at least one past user query received during the session; augmenting, with the processor, the at least one present geographic feature with the at least one past geographic feature to determine an augmented geographic feature, wherein the augmented geographic feature is determined by selecting the most relevant past geographic feature determined during the session; applying, with the processor, the augmented geographic feature to the user query to generate an interpreted user query that includes the augmented geographic feature; determining, with the processor, a set of non-sponsored search results based on the at least one present geographic feature; determining, with the processor, a set of sponsored search results based on the interpreted user query, such that different geographic features are used to determine the non-sponsored search results and the sponsored search results; and delivering, with the processor, the set of non-sponsored search results and the set of sponsored search results to be displayed on a web page of the user computing device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification