Content searching techniques

• US 9,607,105 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dass, Ramya, Thangarathnam, Manikandan
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hung
• Application Number:
  US13/075,867
• Time in Patent Office: 2,190 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90344 by using string matching techniques

Abstract

Methods and systems of searching for text across platforms are usable to guide users to additional content for consumption. Search queries are based on text found within digital content and results are provided to indicate content from multiple different content items that contain the same or similar text. Cross-platform searches provide extensive breadth when a consumer is searching for similar information among a myriad of different sources. Additionally, search filtering may help provide more relevant results and search result weighting may provide prioritized lists of relevant content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with specific executable instructions;

receiving a content item associated with a content source, the content item including one or more approved portions that have been approved by a publisher for providing as a search result;

identifying the one or more approved portions of an electronic book;

extracting the one or more approved portions from the content item received from the content source to form extracted textual content;

creating a digital sample for the content item, wherein the digital sample includes the extracted textual content from the content item, a type associated with the content item and a content item identifier that identifies the content item;

receiving a search query from a client computing device;

searching for the search query within the digital sample;

identifying search results within the digital sample associated with the search query based at least in part on the searching;

mapping the search results to a portion of the content item received from the content source, wherein the mapping the search results to the portion of the content item comprises;

receiving a results identifier associated with the search results, and an associated text string;

mapping the results identifier to the content item identifier;

determining a location of the associated text string from within the content item based at least in part on the results identifier; and

converting the associated text string to a format for presentation on the client computing device; and

providing the portion of the content items to the client computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the search query from the client computing device further comprises receiving, from the client computing device, a preference for search results within a particular section of the content item, and assigning a weight to the particular section based at least in part on the preference.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising prioritizing the search results based at least in part on the weight assigned to the particular section.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the associated text string to the format for presentation on the client computing device further comprises converting the associated text string to at least one of hypertext markup language (HTML) text format or an eBook format.

5. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving an electronic book associated with a publisher;

identifying one or more approved portions of the electronic book that have been approved by the publisher for providing as a search result;

extracting the one or more approved portions of the electronic book to form extracted text;

creating a digital sample for the electronic book, wherein the digital sample includes the extracted text and an electronic-book identifier that identifies the electronic book;

receiving a search query from a user device;

identifying a search result associated with the search query;

associating the search result with the digital sample of the electronic book, wherein the associating comprises;

determining, from the search result, a results identifier and an associated text string;

associating the results identifier with the electronic-book identifier;

determining a location of the associated text string from the electronic book based at least in part on the results identifier; and

converting the associated text string to a format for presentation on the user device; and

providing the digital sample that includes the extracted text to the user device.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the publisher comprises at least one of a periodical provider, an author, or a publishing house.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the digital sample comprises hypertext markup language (HTML) text.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the providing of the digital sample comprises providing the one or more approved portions that are approved by the publisher while refraining from providing additional text that has been extracted but has not been identified as being approved for providing as a search result from a publisher.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the receiving the search query from the user device comprises receiving the search query from an electronic book reader device.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the receiving the search query comprises receiving a selection of text from the electronic book being displayed on the electronic book reader device.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory accessible by the one or more processors;

a content receiving module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to receive a content item associated with a content source, the content item including one or more approved portions that have been approved by a publisher for providing as a search result;

a text extraction module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to identifying one or more approved portions of an electronic book that have been approved by the publisher for providing as a search result, extract the one or more approved portions from the content item received from the content source to form extracted textual content, and create a digital sample for the content item, wherein the digital sample includes the extracted textual content from the content item, an indication of a type of the content item and a content item identifier that identifies the content item;

a text selection module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to receive an indication that indicates that a user has selected text displayed via a display device of a computing device;

a search component, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to search for the selected text within the digital sample;

a result mapping module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to receive search results obtained by the search component that includes a results identifier associated with the search results, and an associated text string, map the results identifier to the content item identifier, determine a location of the associated text string from within the content item based at least in part on the results identifier, and convert the associated text string to a format for presentation; and

a service module stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to provide the associated text string to the computing device.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a results filtering module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to receive filtering criteria indicating a type of the content item in which to search for the selected text.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the search component is further executable to obtain search results based at least in part on the searching for the selected text.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a weight assignment module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to assign a weight the search results obtained by the search component based at least in part on a location within the content item at which the selected text is found; and

a results weighing module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to prioritize the search results obtained by the search component based at least in part on the weight assigned to each search result.

15. The system of claim of 11, wherein the type of the content item to search within comprises at least one of an electronic book, a periodical, a blog, a personal document.

16. The system of claim of 11, wherein the publisher comprises at least one of a periodical provider, an author, or a publishing house.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving a content item, the content item including one or more approved portions that have been approved by a publisher for providing as a search result;

identifying the one or more approved portions that have been approved by the publisher for providing as a search result;

extracting the one or more approved portions from the content item to form extracted textual content;

creating a digital sample for the content item, wherein the digital sample includes the extracted textual content from the content item, an indication of a type of the content item, and a content item identifier that identifies the content item;

receiving a selection of text;

searching for the selection of text within the digital sample;

determining that the selection of text exists within the digital sample and is associated with a results identifier;

mapping the digital sample to a portion of the content item, wherein the mapping the digital sample to the portion of the content item comprises;

mapping the results identifier to the content item identifier;

determining a location of an associated text string from within the content item based at least in part on the results identifier; and

converting the associated text string to a format for presentation on a client computing device; and

providing the associated text string to the client computing device.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the type of the content item to search within comprises at least one of an electronic book, a periodical, a blog, or a personal document.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the converting the associated text string to the format for presentation on the client computing device comprises converting the associated text string to at least one of hypertext markup language (HTML) text format or an eBook format.