Methods and systems to refine search information

• US 9,672,259 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Barber, Paden, Chard, Jonathan David, MacLaurin, Matthew Bret, Foss, Patrick, Gabaix-Hial, Jean-Charles, Higgins, Krystal Rose, MacDonald, Margaret, Eppolito, Mark, Merce, Mica, Nugent, Tyler Yong, Reeves, Ryan, Roberts, Bradley, Tenniswood, James, Van Tol, Ladd, Achuthan, Ashita
• Primary Examiner(s): Glass, Shay S
• Application Number:
  US14/139,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20140358733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2662
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Methods and systems to refine search results were described. The system communicates a first user interface to a mobile device that includes search results that include data items. The system receives a first request from the mobile device that includes an indication of at least one swiping motion that is applied across a touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device. The mobile device is associated with a previously selected refinement and corresponding value. The system filters the search results. The refined search results include a second plurality of data items based on the previously selected refinement and the corresponding value. The system generates a second user interface that includes the refined search results. The system communicates the second user interface, over the network, to the mobile device. The second user interface includes the refined search results that include the second plurality of data items to display on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one processor and executable instructions accessible on a computer-readable medium that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first request from a mobile device, the first request being received before a second request, the first request including at least one constraint including a selected refinement and corresponding value that are stored in a database entry in association with a client machine identifier including a mobile phone identifier that identifies the mobile phone;

communicating a first user interface, over a network, the first user interface being communicated responsive to receipt of a query, the first user interface being communicated to a mobile device, the first user interface including search results, the search results including a first plurality of data items to display on the mobile device;

receiving the second request from the mobile device, the second request including an indication of at least one swiping motion that is applied across a touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device, the mobile device being associated with a mobile device identifier to access and retrieve the previously selected refinement and corresponding value from the database entry, the refinement and corresponding value being retrieved responsive to receiving the second request;

filtering the search results responsive to the receipt of the indication of at least one swiping motion to generate refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items, the filtering being based on the refinement and the corresponding values;

generating a second user interface including the refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items that are included in the first plurality of data items;

communicating the second user interface, over the network, to the mobile device, the second user interface including the refined search results including the second plurality of data items to display on the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one swiping motion is a single swiping motion that is applied across the touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one swiping motion is a double swiping motion that is applied across the touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a search panel that includes the first plurality of data items, wherein the search panel further includes a search box to receive constraints that are used to identify the first plurality of data items.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second user interface includes a search panel that include the second plurality of data items, and wherein the search panel further includes a search box to receive constraints.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second user interface further includes a parent panel to receive a selection that identifies a first refinement, wherein the second user interface further includes a child panel to receive a selection that identifies a first value that corresponds to the first refinement.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the parent panel includes a plurality of refinements that include the first refinement, wherein the first refinement is a condition of an item being offered for sale on a network-based marketplace.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the child panel includes a plurality of values that correspond to the first refinement, wherein the plurality of values respectively describe different conditions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations are further comprising:

identifying the first plurality of data items in a database based on the at least one constraint; and

generating the first user interface including the first plurality of data items.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a first request from a mobile device, the first request being received before a second request, the first request including at least one constraint including a selected refinement and corresponding value that are stored in a database entry in association with a client machine identifier including a mobile phone identifier that identifies the mobile phone;

communicating a first user interface, over a network, the first user interface being communicated responsive to receipt of a query, the first user interface being communicated to a mobile device, the first user interface including search results, the search results including a first plurality of data items to display on the mobile device;

receiving the second request from the mobile device, the second request including an indication of at least one swiping motion being applied across a touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device, the mobile device being associated with a mobile device identifier to access and retrieve the previously selected refinement and corresponding value from the database entry, the refinement and corresponding value being retrieved responsive to receiving the second request;

filtering the search results responsive to receiving the indication of at least one swiping motion to generate refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items, the filtering being based on the refinement and the corresponding value;

generating a second user interface including the refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items including in the first plurality of data items; and

communicating the second user interface, over the network, to the mobile device, the second user interface including the refined search results including the second plurality of data items to display on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one swiping motion is a single swiping motion being applied across the touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one swiping motion is a double swiping motion being applied across the touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first user interface includes a search panel that includes the first plurality of data items, wherein the search panel further includes a search box for receiving constraints that are used to identify the first plurality of data items.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second user interface includes a search panel that include the second plurality of data items, and wherein the search panel further includes a search box for receiving constraints.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second user interface further includes a parent panel for receiving a selection that identifies a first refinement, wherein the second user interface further includes a child panel for receiving a selection that identifies a first value that corresponds to the first refinement.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the parent panel includes a plurality of refinements that include the first refinement, wherein the first refinement is a condition of an item being offered for sale on a network-based marketplace.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of refinements include a second refinement, wherein the second refinement is a category of an item being offered for sale on a network-based marketplace.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the child panel includes a plurality of values that correspond to the first refinement, wherein the plurality of values respectively describe different conditions.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating search results, the generating search results including identifying the first plurality of data items in a database based on the at least one constraint; and

generating the first user interface including the first plurality of data items.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first request from a mobile device, the first request being received before a second request, the first request including at least one constraint including a selected refinement and corresponding value that are stored in a database entry in association with a client machine identifier including a mobile phone identifier that identifies the mobile phone;

communicating a first user interface, over a network, the first user interface being communicated responsive to receipt of a query, the first user interface being communicated to a mobile device, the first user interface including search results, the search results including a first plurality of data items to display on the mobile device;

receiving the second request from the mobile device, the second request including an indication of at least one swiping motion that is being applied across a touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device, the mobile device being associated with a mobile device identifier to access and retrieve the previously selected refinement and corresponding value from the database entry, the refinement and corresponding value being retrieved responsive to receiving the second request;

filtering the search results responsive to receiving the indication of the at least one swiping motion to generate refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items, the filtering being based on the refinement and the corresponding value;

generating a second user interface, the second user interfaces including the refined search results, the refined search results including a second plurality of data items that are included in the first plurality of data items; and

communicating the second user interface, over the network, to the mobile device, the second user interface including the refined search results including the second plurality of data items to display on the mobile device.