Method of and system for displaying a plurality of user-selectable refinements to a search query
First Claim
1. A method of displaying by a client application running on at least one digital electronic device in communication with a search engine a plurality of user-selectable refinements to a first search query including at least one first search term, the method comprising:
- (a) sending by the client application to the search engine the first search query;
(b) receiving by the client application from the search engine first search results in respect of the first search query and first suggested search query refinements having been dynamically determined by the search engine based at least in part on an analysis of groups of related search queries being related to the first search query, the analysis of groups including;
determining the related search queries as being meaningful based on past user behaviours by filtering the related search queries to only those identified as having provided search results which provided a user with information sought by the user;
grouping the meaningful related search queries into the groups based on past behaviors of users with search results that are provided in response to the meaningful related search queries, wherein the past behaviors of users include common Internet resources having been visited by the users after they were provided with the search results in response to the meaningful related search queries; and
determining a first suggested search query refinement for each group based on a comparison of the first search query and the meaningful related search queries of a respective group, each of the first suggested search query refinements corresponding to a refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one additional search term derived from one of the meaningful related search queries, the one of the meaningful related search queries having been determined as being the most popular in its respective group, the at least one additional search term having being determined as being the most unique as compared with previously identified suggested search query refinements;
(c) displaying by the client application at least one first search result and, apart from a search bar, the first suggested search query refinements, the first suggested search query refinements being selectable by a user via at least one first graphical object;
(d) receiving by the client application from a user via the at least one first graphical object a first selection of one of the first suggested search query refinements, the first selection corresponding to a first refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one first additional search term;
(e) receiving by the client application from the search engine first refined search results in respect of the first refined search query; and
(f) displaying by the client application at least one first refined search result and a visual representation of a refinement relationship between the first search query and the first refined search query.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method of displaying by a client application in communication with a search engine a plurality of user-selectable refinements to a search query including a search term, comprising: sending the search query; receiving search results and suggested search query refinements determined based at least in part on an analysis of groups of related search queries, each suggested search query refinement corresponding to a refined search query including the search term and an additional search term; displaying search results and, apart from a search bar, refinements, refinements being selectable by a user via a graphical object; receiving a selection of one of the refinements, the selection corresponding to a refined search query including the search term and an additional search term; receiving refined search results; and displaying refined search results and a visual representation of a refinement relationship between the search query and the refined search query. Related systems are also disclosed.
16 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of displaying by a client application running on at least one digital electronic device in communication with a search engine a plurality of user-selectable refinements to a first search query including at least one first search term, the method comprising:
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(a) sending by the client application to the search engine the first search query; (b) receiving by the client application from the search engine first search results in respect of the first search query and first suggested search query refinements having been dynamically determined by the search engine based at least in part on an analysis of groups of related search queries being related to the first search query, the analysis of groups including; determining the related search queries as being meaningful based on past user behaviours by filtering the related search queries to only those identified as having provided search results which provided a user with information sought by the user; grouping the meaningful related search queries into the groups based on past behaviors of users with search results that are provided in response to the meaningful related search queries, wherein the past behaviors of users include common Internet resources having been visited by the users after they were provided with the search results in response to the meaningful related search queries; and determining a first suggested search query refinement for each group based on a comparison of the first search query and the meaningful related search queries of a respective group, each of the first suggested search query refinements corresponding to a refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one additional search term derived from one of the meaningful related search queries, the one of the meaningful related search queries having been determined as being the most popular in its respective group, the at least one additional search term having being determined as being the most unique as compared with previously identified suggested search query refinements; (c) displaying by the client application at least one first search result and, apart from a search bar, the first suggested search query refinements, the first suggested search query refinements being selectable by a user via at least one first graphical object; (d) receiving by the client application from a user via the at least one first graphical object a first selection of one of the first suggested search query refinements, the first selection corresponding to a first refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one first additional search term; (e) receiving by the client application from the search engine first refined search results in respect of the first refined search query; and (f) displaying by the client application at least one first refined search result and a visual representation of a refinement relationship between the first search query and the first refined search query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of providing to a client application running on at least one digital electronic device in communication with a search engine a plurality of user-selectable refinements to a first search query including at least one first search term, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving by the search engine from the client application the first search query; (b) effecting by the search engine a first search in respect of the first search query yielding first search results; (c) determining dynamically first suggested search query refinements based at least in part on an analysis of groups of related search queries being related to the first search query, the analysis of groups including; determining the related search queries as being meaningful based on past user behaviours by filtering the related search queries to only those identified as having provided search results which provided a user with information sought by the user; grouping the meaningful related search queries into the groups based on past behaviors of users with search results that are provided in response to the meaningful related search queries, wherein the past behaviors of users include common Internet resources having been visited by the users after they were provided with the search results in response to the meaningful related search queries; and
determining a first suggested search query refinement for each group based on a comparison of the first search query and the meaningful related search queries of a respective group, each of the first suggested search query refinements corresponding to a refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one additional search term derived from one of the meaningful related search queries, the one of the meaningful related search queries having been determined as being the most popular in its respective group, the at least one additional search term having being determined as being the most unique as compared with previously identified suggested search query refinements;(d) sending by the search engine to the client application the first search results, the first suggested search query refinements, and instructions for displaying (1) at least one first search result and (2) apart from a search bar, the first suggested search query refinements, the first suggested search query refinements being selectable by a user via at least one first graphical object; (e) effecting by the search engine a first refined search in respect of a first refined search query including the at least one first search term and at least one first additional search term, the first refined search yielding first refined search results; And (f) sending by the search engine to the client application the first refined search results and instructions for displaying at least one first refined search result and a visual representation of a refinement relationship between the first search query and the first refined search query. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification