System and method to provide query linguistic service

• US 9,727,638 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruvini, Jean-David, Mauge, Karin, Petranov, Radoslav Valentinov, Statelova, Antoniya T., Sundaresan, Neelakantan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hasan, Syed
• Application Number:
  US14/611,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20150149499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms

Abstract

In various example embodiments, a system and method to provide query linguistic service is provided. An initial query term set is received. Phrase recognition is performed on the initial query term set to determine recognized phrases. Using the determined recognized phrases, one or more synonyms for each of the recognized phrases are determined. Results matching the initial query term set and any selected synonyms from the determined one or more synonyms are determined.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an initial query term set;

performing phrase recognition on the initial query term set to determine recognized phrases;

determining a synonym for one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words merged together as a phrase; and

determining, using one or more processors, results that match the initial query term set and the synonym, the synonym being matched based on selection of a search option from one or more search options selected from a group of search options consisting of;

a first search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order,

a second search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched, and

a third search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an item category based on the initial query term set;

and wherein the determining of the synonym for the at least one recognized phrase determines the synonym based on the item category.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the initial query term set comprises receiving the initial query term set from a user device;

and further comprising;

transmitting the results to the user device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words;

determining additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order; and

adding the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words;

determining additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order; and

adding the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the synonym to be presented in a user interface along with a corresponding first selector and a corresponding second selector, the first selector being operable to select the synonym, the second selector operable to select a search option for the synonym, the second selector including a search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym merged together as the phrase are matched;

receiving, from the user interface, a selection of the synonym, the selection indicating the search option; and

wherein

the determining of the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym, the synonym being matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym merged together as the phrase are matched, is based on the search option.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing a number of the results to determine terms most frequently encountered in the number of the results;

receiving a refinement input based on the terms most frequently encountered; and

refining the results based on the refinement input.

8. A system comprising:

a processor of a machine;

a query tool module to receive an initial query term set;

a synonym lookup module configured to perform phrase recognition on the initial query term set to determine a recognized phrase and to determine a synonym for the recognized phrase, the synonym comprising a plurality of words merged together as a phrase; and

a listing finder module configured to determine, using the processor, results that match the initial query term set and the synonym, the synonym being matched based on selection of a search option from one or more search options selected from a group of search options consisting of;

a first search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order,

a second search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched, and

a third search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a category identification module configured to:

determine an item category based on the initial query term set; and

wherein the determining of the synonym for the at least one recognized phrase by the synonym lookup module determines the synonym based on the item category.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving of the initial query term set comprises receiving the initial query term set from a user device;

and further comprising;

a messaging engine configured to provide the results to the user device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the synonym lookup module is further configured to determine a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words; and

the listing finder module is further configured to;

determine additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order; and

add the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the synonym lookup module is further configured to determine a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words; and

the listing finder module is further configured to;

determine additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order; and

add the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the query tool module is further configured to;

cause the synonym to be presented in a user interface along with a corresponding first selector and a corresponding second selector, the first selector being operable to select the synonym, the second selector operable to select a search option for the synonym, the second selector including a search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched;

receive, from the user interface, a selection of the synonym, the selection indicating the search option; and

wherein

the determining of the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym by the listing finder module, the synonym being matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched, is based on the search option.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the listing finder module is further configured to:

analyze a number of the results to determine terms most frequently encountered in the number of the results;

receive a refinement input based on the terms most frequently encountered; and

refine the results based on the refinement input.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium in communication with at least one processor, the machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, in response to execution by the at least one processor, cause a system to perform operations comprising:

receiving an initial query term set;

performing phrase recognition on the initial query term set to determine recognized phrases;

determining a synonym for at least one of the recognized phrases based on a user selected item category, the synonym comprising a plurality of words merged together as a phrase; and

determining, using one or more processors, results within the user selected item category that match the initial query term set and the synonym, the synonym being matched based on selection of a search option from one or more search options selected from a group of search options consisting of;

a first search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order,

a second search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched, and

a third search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining an item category based on the initial query term set;

and wherein the determining of the synonym for the at least one recognized phrase determines the synonym based on the item category.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the receiving of the initial query term set comprises receiving the initial query term set from a user device;

and wherein the operations further comprise;

transmitting the results to the user device.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words;

determining additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched without regard to order; and

adding the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a synonym for a second one of the recognized phrases, the synonym comprising a plurality of words;

determining additional results that match the synonym for the second one of the recognized phrases, the additional results being matches whenever the plurality of words of the synonym are matched in order; and

adding the additional results to the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing the synonym to be presented in a user interface along with a corresponding first selector and a corresponding second selector, the first selector being operable to select the synonym, the second selector operable to select a search option for the synonym, the second selector including a search option operable to cause the synonym to be matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched;

receiving, from the user interface, a selection of the synonym, the selection indicating the search option; and

wherein

the determining of the results that match the initial query term set and the synonym, the synonym being matched whenever at least one of the plurality of words of the synonym is matched, is based on the search option.