Identifying non-search actions based on a search query

• US 9,460,209 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Stacey, Robert, Kol, Tomer, Hyams, Iftach, Cheng, Tak Keung, Hansson, Othar, Lider, Brett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/150,330
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 707/758, 707/708
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for invoking a non-search action based on a search query. A server system receives a search query from a remote computing device. The server system determines whether the search query includes reserved text that indicates an intent by a user that provided the search query to the remote computing device to perform a non-search messaging action instead of or in addition to obtaining search results. The server system provides to the computing device, in response to determining that the search query includes the reserved text, code for causing the remote computing device to display a draft communication that includes at least the search query without the reserved text, and for allowing the user to edit the draft communication before transmitting the draft communication for receipt by recipient users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, through a first service, a query, wherein the query comprises a reserved term associated with a particular second service;

in response to receiving the query, interpreting the query as being directed to an action for the particular second service;

identifying the particular second service; and

providing a portion of the query to the particular second service to obtain a message for an application associated with the particular second service, the message comprising the portion of the query.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the query excludes the reserved term.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first service is a search service.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the particular second service is a non-search service.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising sending the message to one or more users, wherein contact information for the one or more users is stored in a contact list on the computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular second service is an e-mail service, further comprising:

identifying, by the computing device, one or more users; and

adding one or more e-mail addresses associated with the one or more users to the message, wherein the message is an e-mail communication.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the identifying comprises analyzing the received query for one or more users.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the identifying comprises analyzing a contact list on the computing device or one or more users.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular second service is a note service, further comprising:

storing, by the computing device in a note application, the message as a saved note with one or more other saved notes.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular second service is a note service, further comprising:

receiving a user input to store the message in a note application.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular second service is a calendar service, and wherein the message comprises a calendar entry for a calendar application.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending the calendar entry to one or more users, wherein contact information for the one or more users is stored in a contact list on the computing device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the particular second service is a restaurant reservation service, and wherein the message comprises a request associated with a restaurant reservation application.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising converting the query from speech to text.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location associated with the computing device,

wherein the message comprises the determined location.

16. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

receiving, through a first service, a query, wherein the query comprises a reserved term associated with a particular second service;

in response to receiving the query, interpreting the query as being directed to an action for the particular second service;

identifying the particular second service; and

providing a portion of the query to the particular second service to obtain a message for an application associated with the particular second service, the message comprising the portion of the query.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the portion of the query excludes the reserved term.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the first service is a search service.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the particular second service is a non-search service.

20. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to the processor and configurable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, through a first service, a query, wherein the query comprises a reserved term associated with a particular second service;

in response to receiving the query, interpreting the query as being directed to an action for the particular second service;

identifying the particular second service; and

providing a portion of the query to the particular second service to obtain a message for an application associated with the particular second service, the message comprising the portion of the query.