Providing user-influenced search results based on product attributes

• US 9,824,117 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/032,042
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 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 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2433 Query languages

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, by a computer system, at least a portion of a search query from a user that comprises query syntax, the search query for identifying an item offered by one or more item providers, the search query providing first search results;

mapping the received query syntax to an enhanced query syntax associated with an enhanced query language;

determining a definition by a quantitative measurement of interactions of the user with the computer system, the definition for assisting the user in adjusting the search query to incorporate the enhanced query language by indicating instructions for translating the received query syntax;

generating a comment comprising the definition associated with the enhanced query language;

determining a search term in the search query from the user that corresponds with the enhanced query syntax;

altering the comment to include instructions to assist the user in constructing an adjusted search query using the search term with the enhanced query syntax;

causing, by the computer system, the comment to be displayed with the definition based at least in part on the comparison of the received query syntax with the enhanced query syntax, and the enhanced query syntax being usable by the computer system to obtain search results;

receiving the adjusted search query from the user based at least in part on the comment and the definition, the adjusted search query comprising the enhanced query syntax;

obtaining the search results based at least in part on the adjusted search query and absent of a transformation by the computer system of the adjusted search query to obtain the search results, the search results excluding at least a subset of the first search results; and

providing the search results to the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced query syntax restricts the search results.

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

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the search results are generated at least by finding at least one item using metadata associated with the item.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the search results are generated using a data store, and wherein the data store comprises identifiers related to at least one item, and wherein the search results comprise information about the at least one item.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a user, at least a portion of a first search query for identifying items offered by one or more item providers;

obtaining first search results based at least in part upon the first search query;

providing the first search results to the user;

refining the first search results based at least in part upon an interaction with the user to generate an adjusted search query, the interaction with the user comprising at least one of ordering at least one of the items offered by the one or more item providers, scrolling through the first search results of the items offered by the one or more item providers, or providing feedback about at least one of the items offered by the one or more item providers;

determining a definition by a quantitative measurement of the interaction with the user, the definition for assisting the user in adjusting the first search query to incorporate a first syntax of the first search query into a second syntax of the adjusted search query usable to obtain second search results;

generating a comment comprising the definition;

determining a search term in the first search query from the user;

altering the comment to include instructions to assist the user in constructing the adjusted search query using the search term with the second syntax of the first search query;

causing the comment to be provided to the user, the comment to be displayed with the definition;

receiving the adjusted search query from the user based at least in part on the comment and the definition;

obtaining the second search results based at least in part on the adjusted search query and absent of a transformation by the computer system of the adjusted search query to obtain the second search results, the second search results excluding at least a subset of the first search results; and

providing the second search results to the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first search results or the second search results are generated using a data store, and wherein the data store stores at least metadata associated with one or more items.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising causing the comment to be provided to initiate the feedback from the user after receiving an indication that one or more interactions have exceeded a threshold.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first search query is different than the first search query.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the first search query requests at least related items to items returned in the first search results.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising causing the comment to be provided to initiate the feedback from the user that contains at least a portion of a dictionary associated with an enhanced query language.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising causing the comment to be provided to initiate the feedback from the user that is accessible through a link on a network page that displays a graphical user interface, and wherein the first search query is received through a text box on the network page.

13. 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:

defining a query operator based at least in part upon an interaction with a user, the interaction with the user comprising at least one of ordering a first item offered by one or more item providers, scrolling through search results of items offered by the one or more item providers, or providing feedback about the items offered by the one or more item providers;

receiving, from the user, a search query for a second item, the search query including a query syntax that comprises the query operator;

determining a definition by a quantitative measurement of the interaction of the user with the computer system, the definition for assisting the user in adjusting the search query by indicating instructions for translating the received query syntax into an enhanced query syntax usable by the one or more computer systems;

generating a comment comprising the definition;

determining a search term in the search query from the user that corresponds with the enhanced query syntax;

causing the comment to be displayed with the definition;

receiving an adjusted search query from the user based at least in part on the comment and the definition;

obtaining updated search results for the second item based at least in part upon the adjusted search query and absent of a transformation by the computer system of the adjusted search query to obtain the updated search results, the updated search results configured to be aggregated, filtered, or ordered based at least in part on the enhanced query syntax, and the updated search results excluding at least a subset of the search results; and

providing the updated search results.

14. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the search query is compared to metadata associated with items stored in a data store to find one or more items associated with the first item or the second item.

15. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the search query comprises a first term, a second term, and the query operator, wherein the search results comprises first search results associated with the first term and second search results associated with the second term, and wherein the updated search results are filtered from the first search results based on an operation associated with the query operator.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the search results are ordered based on an operation associated with the query operator.

17. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the query operator is a colon, a dash, or a parentheses.

18. 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, from a user, at least a portion of a search query for an item offered by one or more item providers, the search query providing search results;

determine an interaction with the user comprising at least one of ordering at least one of the items offered by the one or more item providers, scrolling through the search results of the items offered by the one or more item providers, or providing feedback about at least one of the items offered by the one or more item providers;

determine a definition by a quantitative measurement of the interaction of the user with the system, the definition for assisting the user in adjusting the search query to incorporate an enhanced query language;

generate a comment comprising the definition associated with the enhanced query language;

determine a search term in the search query from the user;

alter the comment to include instructions to assist the user in constructing an adjusted search query using the search term;

cause the comment to be displayed with the definition;

receive the adjusted search query from the user based at least in part on the comment and the definition;

obtain updated search results based at least in part on the adjusted search query and absent of a transformation by the computer system of the adjusted search query to obtain the updated search results, the updated search results excluding at least a subset of the search results; and

provide the updated search results to the user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the updated search results are ordered at least based on the search term in the search query.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the updated search results are ordered by showing best-selling items higher than other items.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the updated search results are filtered at least based on the search term in the search query.