Providing user-influenced search results based on user-defined query language translation

• US 9,753,976 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adogla, Eden Grail, Bisht, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrison, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Ken
• Application Number:
  US14/032,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 707 22, 707706, 707E17014, 707723, 707E17044, 707E17108, 707710, 707732, 707749, 707E17089, 707703, 707737, 707740, 707741, 707769, 707E17002, 707E17005, 707E17028, 707E17045, 707E17059, 707E17083, 707E17084, 707E17107, 707610, 707634, 707639, 707705, 707708, 707709, 707727, 707728, 707731, 707734, 707736, 707748, 707758, 707803, 709206, 709201, 709203, 709204, 709209, 709219, 709224, 709231, 705 1469, 705 732, 705 736, 705 1425, 705 1439, 705 1444, 705 1453, 705 1466, 705 16, 705 2, 705 21, 705 267, 705 3, 705 64, 705 731, 705 739, 705 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/243 Natural language query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24534 Query rewriting; Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3332 Query translation

Abstract

Techniques for providing user-influenced search results may be provided. The system can introduce an enhanced query language that allows users to reprogram a computer system responsible for providing search results. In an embodiment, the enhanced query language is generated by the system and exposed to users. In another embodiment, a query language is generated by the user and translated by the system to an enhanced query language.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, from a network page, one or more search queries from a user related to an item, at least a portion of the query language associated with a user profile of the user and stored in a profile data store;

providing, by a computer system, one or more search results based at least in part on the one or more search queries and the query language;

receiving an indication that one or more interactions of the user with the one or more search results have exceeded a threshold;

providing information to the user responsive to the one or more interactions;

receiving feedback from the user in response to the information, the feedback defining terms in the one or more search queries related to the one or more search results;

receiving profile information associated with the terms and the user profile from the profile data store, the profile information identifying a group profile for a group of users that comprises rules for refining the search results for the group of users, and the user profile comprising the rules of the group profile;

refining, by a computer system, the query language for generating search results using the feedback and the rules to generate an enhanced query language;

providing sample results prior to providing enhanced search results, the sample results provided based at least in part on the enhanced query language;

updating the user profile with the feedback and the rules;

obtaining the enhanced search results from a search results data store utilizing the enhanced query language; and

providing the enhanced search results to the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced search results find at least one item using metadata associated with the item.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced search query includes a search term and a query syntax, and wherein the enhanced search results include items related to the search term.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more interactions have exceeded the threshold when the user conducts at least three searches without ordering the item and the search queries are related to the item.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the search results data store includes identifiers related to the item, and wherein the enhanced search results include information about the item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising updating user data that associates the enhanced query language with the user, the user data including at least a portion of a dictionary that associates the enhanced query language with a query syntax.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user profile comprising the rules of the group profile comprises the user profile inheriting the rules of the group profile.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving one or more search queries from a user related to an item, the one or more search queries written in a query language associated with a user profile of the user and stored in a profile data store;

determining, by a computer system, feedback associated with an interaction by the user with search results for the one or more search queries;

receiving profile information associated with the user profile of the user from the profile data store, the profile information identifying a group profile for a group of users that comprises rules for refining the search results for the group of users, and the user profile comprising the rules of the group profile;

refining, by the computer system, an enhanced query language using the feedback and the rules;

providing sample results prior to providing enhanced search results, the sample search results provided based at least in part on the enhanced query language;

updating the user profile with the feedback and the rules;

obtaining the enhanced search results utilizing the enhanced query language; and

providing the enhanced search results.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein a search results data store that provides the enhanced search results stores at least metadata associated with one or more items provided on a network page.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the feedback is based at least in part on a purchase history of the user associated with items provided in the search results.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the enhanced search results are different results than results associated with the one or more search queries from the user.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the different results exclude specific subsets of the search results to include fewer items in the enhanced search results.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the different results modify specific subsets of the search results to include related items in the enhanced search results.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein user data includes at least a portion of a dictionary that defines what terms mean to the user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein a comment is accessible through a link on a network page that displays a graphical user interface, and wherein the one or more search queries are received through a text box on the network page.

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

receiving a search query from a user, the search query comprising a search term for an item;

providing first search results in response to the search query;

receiving feedback on the first search results;

storing information about the feedback as user data, the user data associated with a user profile of the user and stored in a profile database;

receiving profile information associated with the user profile that identifies a group profile for a group of users that comprises rules for refining the search results for the group of users, and the user profile comprising the rules of the group profile;

updating the user profile with the feedback and the rules;

utilizing the user data and the rules to obtain second search results;

providing sample results prior to providing the second search results; and

providing the second search results.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 15, wherein the search query is compared to item metadata stored in a data store that provides the second search results to find one or more items associated with the item.

17. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 15, wherein the search term is a first term, wherein the search query includes a second term and the first term, wherein the search results include first search results associated with the first term and second search results associated with the second term, and wherein the second search results are filtered from the first search results.

18. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 15, wherein the user data includes a query syntax, and wherein the search results are ordered based at least in part on an operation associated with the query syntax.

19. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 15, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the user data is previously associated with a second user and shared by the second user with the first user.

20. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 15, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the user data is previously associated with a second user that is generated by the one or more computer systems and automatically associated with the first user.

21. A system comprising:

at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to collectively at least;

receive at least a portion of a search query for an item associated with a user profile of a user and stored in a profile data store;

provide result information to a user responsive to the search query;

receive feedback from the user in response to the result information;

receive profile information associated with the user profile of the user, the profile information identifying a group profile for a group of users that comprises rules for refining the search results for the group of users, and the user profile comprising the rules of the group profile;

generate an enhanced search query using the feedback and the user profile;

update the user profile with the feedback;

obtain the search results using the enhanced search query;

provide sample results prior to providing the search results; and

provide the search results to a user device operated by the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the search results are ordered based at least in part on the feedback.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the search results are ordered by showing best-selling items higher than other items.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the search results are filtered based at least in part on the feedback.