System and method for providing a user interface with search query broadening

• US 20050027691A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tong, Simon, Brin, Sergey, Gomes, Benedict
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A system and method for providing a user interface with search query broadening is described. A query defining a search executable on potentially retrievable information is accepted. The query is parsed. A broadened query is provided. At least one of the broadened query and results of a search executed on the broadened query is presented.

Claims

1. A system for providing a user interface with search query broadening, comprising:

an input module accepting a query defining a search executable on potentially retrievable information and parsing the query;

a query broadening module providing a broadened query; and

a presentation module presenting at least one of the broadened query and results of a search executed on the broadened query.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein providing the broadened query comprises determining a meaning for at least a portion of the query.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein providing the broadened query comprises determining a related concept based on the meaning.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluation module providing at least one broadened search characteristic to the broadened query.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluation module performing at least one of modifying, replacing, supplementing, removing, or restating the at least one search characteristic.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selection module selecting at least one broadening search characteristic from a set of words having a synonymous, alternate spelling, common root, or similar semantic meaning.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selection module selecting at least one broadening search characteristic from a set of words having a related conceptual meaning.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operator provided with at least one broadening search characteristic to request query broadening.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a delimiter provided with the operator to signal ordinary meaning with respect to the operator.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the query comprises a plurality of search characteristics, further comprising:

a grouping module logically grouping at least two of the search characteristics into a compound search characteristic, wherein the query broadening module provides at least one broadening search characteristic for the compound search characteristic.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hyperlink module presenting at least one search characteristic in the broadened query as a hyperlink, wherein the query broadening module forms the broadened query comprising the at least one search characteristic responsive to a selection of the hyperlink.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a display module displaying the broadened query as a static list responsive to a highlighting of the hyperlink.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the hyperlink module presents an option triggering selection of each such search characteristic in the broadened query as a hyperlink.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the presentation module presents at least one search characteristic in the broadened query as at least one of a static list, a menu of selectable search characteristics, a set of checkboxes, and a list of selectable search characteristics.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the presentation module presents an option triggering selection of each such search characteristic in the broadened query.

16. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a query engine executing the broadened query.

17. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a graphical user interface interfacing the input module, the query broadening module, and the presentation module.

18. A method for providing a user interface with search query broadening, comprising:

accepting a query defining a search executable on potentially retrievable information and parsing the query;

providing a broadened query; and

presenting at least one of the broadened query and results of a search executed on the broadened query.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing the broadened query comprises determining a meaning for at least a portion of the query.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing the broadened query comprises determining a related concept based on the meaning.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing at least one broadened search characteristic to the broadened query.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

performing at least one of modifying, replacing, supplementing, removing, or restating the at least one search characteristic.

23. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

selecting at least one broadening search characteristic from a set of words having a synonymous, alternate spelling, common root, or similar semantic meaning.

24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

selecting at least one broadening search characteristic from a set of words having a related conceptual meaning.

25. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing an operator with at least one broadening search characteristic to request query broadening.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

providing a delimiter with the operator to signal ordinary meaning with respect to the operator.

27. A method according to claim 18, wherein the query comprises a plurality of search characteristics, further comprising:

logically grouping at least two of the search characteristics into a compound search characteristic; and

providing at least one broadening search characteristic for the compound search characteristic.

28. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

presenting at least one search characteristic in the broadened query as a hyperlink; and

forming the broadened query comprising the at least one search characteristic responsive to a selection of the hyperlink.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

displaying the broadened query as a static list responsive to a highlighting of the hyperlink.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

presenting an option triggering selection of each such search characteristic in the broadened query as a hyperlink.

31. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

presenting at least one search characteristic in the broadened query as at least one of a static list, a menu of selectable search characteristics, a set of checkboxes, and a list of selectable search characteristics.

32. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

presenting an option triggering selection of each such search characteristic in the broadened query.

33. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

executing the broadened query.

34. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface interfacing the input module, the query broadening module, and the presentation module.

35. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 18.

36. An apparatus for providing a user interface with search query broadening, comprising:

code for accepting a query defining a search executable on potentially retrievable information and code for parsing the query;

code for providing a broadened query; and

code for presenting at least one of the broadened query and results of a search executed on the broadened query.