System and method for automatic generation of suggested inline search terms

• US 20060259479A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dai, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9532 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A system and related techniques detect the initiation of a user'"'"'s search input and monitor that input character-by-character, to generate suggested search terms on the fly. Arbitration logic may monitor the user'"'"'s keyboard of other entry of search or query terms at a Web search site or other search engine or resource, and examine that input along with stored query history or usage data on a real-time basis to predict or infer search terms which the user is attempting to transmit. Spelling corrections may likewise be made. According to embodiments, the arbitration logic and/or query history or usage data may be hosted in the user'"'"'s machine, in the search service itself or in other resources. As the arbitration logic generates suggested search terms in inline fashion, those search suggestions may be presented to the user in real-time, for example by way of a wordwheel, drop-down or other dialog or interface. The user may for example choose to select one of the set of search suggestions before completing the typing or other inputting of their search data, and in embodiments may edit those suggestions in real-time as well. According to embodiments in a further regard, the user may provide configuration inputs to the automatic inline search suggestion feature, for example to turn that capability on or off on a per-session, per-search, permanent or other basis.

Claims

1. A system for automatically generating a set of suggested search terms, comprising:

an input interface to receive search input; and

arbitration logic, the arbitration logic communicating with the input interface to parse the search input to generate a set of suggested search terms before search results are returned.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the search input is parsed on a character-by-character basis.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the set of suggested search terms are presented via a selectable format.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the selectable format comprises at least one of a dropdown format, a wordwheel format and a popup format.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the set of suggested search terms are presented in relevance rank order.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the arbitration logic accesses at least one of query history data and aggregate usage data to generate the set of suggested search terms.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the set of suggested search terms are editable.

8. A method for automatically generating a set of suggested search terms, comprising:

receiving search input; and

parsing the search input to generate a set of suggested search terms before search results are returned.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising parsing the search input on a character-by-character basis.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising presenting the set of suggested search terms via a selectable format.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the selectable format comprises at least one of a dropdown format, a wordwheel format and a popup format.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the set of suggested search terms are presented in relevance rank order.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising accessing at least one of query history data and aggregate usage data to generate the set of suggested search terms.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the set of suggested search terms are editable.

20. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises accessing at least one of query history data and aggregate usage data to generate the set of suggested search terms.

15. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms, the set of automatically generated suggested search terms being generated by a method comprising:

receiving search input; and

parsing the search input to generate a set of suggested search terms before search results are returned.

16. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms according to claim 15, further comprising parsing the search input on a character-by-character basis.

17. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises presenting the set of suggested search terms via a selectable format.

18. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms according to claim 17, wherein the selectable format comprises at least one of a dropdown format, a wordwheel format and a popup format.

19. A set of automatically generated suggested search terms according to claim 15, wherein the set of suggested search terms are presented in relevance rank order.