Intent based search results associated with a modular search object framework

• US 9,535,945 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Andress, Scott Richard, Poon, Andrew, Barkema, Carrie Christina Merry, Coelho, Rafael Vasconcellos, Korn, Alicia, Grass, Vanessa Ilona, de Barros Chapiewski, Guilherme, Lee, Ivan Young, Plasmeier, Michael Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US14/266,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/722
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A modular search object framework provides modular search results including entity search results reflecting the intent of a searcher. Also, an interface (such as a graphical user interface provided by the framework), aids in organizing results (such as links, titles, and description) according to the intent of the user as manifest in the search query and interactions with the interface. Circuitry of the framework also predicts user intent from historical information corresponding to the searcher (or to a group with which the searcher is associated).

Claims

1. A system comprising:

network communications circuitry, configured to;

receive a search query from a client device, over a network;

communicate an entity search result to the client device over the network;

search engine circuitry communicatively coupled to the network communications circuitry, the search engine circuitry comprising a processor, the processor configured to;

execute the search query on an entity search database, wherein the entity search database comprises a plurality of entity circuitries, wherein individual ones of the entity circuitries comprises a single root object for a single person entity, a single place entity, or a single thing entity that is different from other individual ones of the entity circuitries;

identify an entity indicator in the search query, according to the execution of the search query on the entity search database;

identify the entity search result, according to the entity indicator;

identify an additional query part besides the entity indicator in the search query, according to the execution of the search query on the entity search database;

execute a non-entity query using the additional query part on a non-entity search database with respect to the entity search result, wherein the non-entity search database comprises multiple root objects for a single person entity, a single place entity, or a single thing entity;

identify one or more non-entity search results, according to the execution of the non-entity query;

alter a display of the entity search result to include the one or more non-entity search results; and

emphasize the one or more non-entity search results in the entity search result.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to predict one or more search results a user likely intended to receive.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to interpret the search query as a question, and wherein the one or more non-entity search results are one or more answers to the question.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the one or more non-entity search results exist in the entity search result.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network communications circuitry is further configured to communicate the one or more non-entity search results to the client device over the network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to add a visual representation of the one or more non-entity search results in a predetermined position in a first graphical user interface (GUI) to appear after a user selects the entity search result on the client device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined position is a variable position relative to other viewable information in the first GUI.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined position is fixed.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined position is above all text of the first GUI besides a displayed title of the first GUI.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to include a visual representation of the one or more non-entity search results in a most forefront part of a first GUI to appear after a user selects the entity search result on the client device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to make the most forefront part appear closer to the user viewing the first GUI than other parts.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to make the most forefront part overlap at least one other part of the first GUI and overlap a background part and not overlapped by any part of the first GUI.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to make the most forefront part sharper than at least a majority of other parts of the first GUI.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

make a visual representation of the one or more additional search results contrasting with background elements of a first GUI greater than contrasting of at least a majority of other visual objects of the first GUI with the background elements; and

make the first GUI appear after a user selects the entity search result on the client device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to enlarge a visual representation of the one or more additional search results relative to all other visual objects of a first GUI to appear after a user selects the entity search result on the client device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to reduce sizes of at least a majority of visual objects in a first GUI to appear after a user selects the entity search result on the client device, the at least a majority of visual objects excluding a visual representation of the one or more additional search results and a background object of the first GUI.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to output audio of the one or more additional search results after a user selects the entity search result on the client device while a first GUI to appear after the user selects the entity search result on the client device is outputted.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by network communications circuitry over a network, a search query from a client device, over a network;

executing, by search engine circuitry comprising a processor, the search engine circuitry coupled to the network communications circuitry, the search query on an entity search database, wherein the entity search database comprises a plurality of entity circuitries, wherein individual ones of the entity circuitries comprises a single root object for a single person entity, a single place entity, or a single thing entity that is different from the other individual ones of the entity circuitries;

identifying, by the circuitry, an entity indicator in the search query, according to the execution of the search query on the entity search database;

identifying, by the circuitry, an entity search result, according to the entity indicator;

communicating, by network communications circuitry coupled to the search engine circuitry, the entity search result to the client device over the network;

identifying, by the circuitry, an additional query part besides the entity indicator in the search query, according to the execution of the search query on the entity search database;

executing, by the circuitry, a non-entity query using the additional query part on a non-entity search database, wherein the non-entity search database comprises of multiple root objects for a single person entity, a single place entity, or a single thing entity;

identifying, by the circuitry, one or more non-entity search results, according to the execution of the non-entity query;

altering, by the circuitry, a display of the entity search result to include the one or more non-entity search results; and

emphasizing, by the circuitry, the one or more non-entity search results.