Lexicon-based content correlation and navigation

• US 20080147597A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Keith S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that use lexicons in content searching and browsing. Lexicons for a particular subject matter are identified. Groups of content are correlated together based upon the lexicons for the particular subject matter. Upon request, a particular portion of content, such as a web page, is displayed. The lexicon(s) for the particular content are retrieved and the key words of the lexicon(s) contained in the particular content are displayed in some manner. For example, the key words of the lexicon(s) that are present in the particular content can be visually indicated. As another example, the correlations to other content can be displayed upon selecting a particular key word of a lexicon that is present in the particular content.

Claims

1. A method for using lexicons with web browsing comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a user to access a particular web page of at least one subject matter;

calling a lexicon procedure to retrieve at least one lexicon for the subject matter present in the particular web page;

receiving a response from the lexicon procedure that includes at least one key word associated with the at least one lexicon present in the particular web page; and

displaying the particular web page using the at least one key word in some manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular web page is displayed with the at least one key word associated with the lexicon is visually indicated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lexicon procedure is called automatically when the user requests access to the particular web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lexicon procedure is called when the user selects an option to identify the at least one key word of the lexicon for the particular web page.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the option to identify the at least one key word of the lexicon is present on a browser toolbar.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the user selects one of the at least one key words of the lexicon displayed on the particular web page, correlated content is displayed for the selected key word.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the correlated content is displayed as one or more hyperlinks to other web pages.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

identify a lexicon for a particular subject matter;

correlate a plurality of content together based at least in part upon the lexicon for the particular subject matter; and

upon request, display a selected portion of content, with the selected portion of content including correlations to other content in the plurality of content.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the correlations to other content are displayed as one or more hyperlinks.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the correlations to other content are displayed when an input device moves over a particular word that is a key word of the lexicon for the particular subject matter.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the correlations to other content are displayed in a pop-up menu.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least one word contained in the displayed content that is a key word of the lexicon for the particular subject matter is visually indicated.

14. A method for using lexicons in a search request comprising the steps of:

providing a search engine;

storing at least one key word of one or more lexicons for each of a plurality of content that were indexed; and

using at least a portion of the one or more lexicons as part of a response to a search request of a user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

prior to responding to the search request, using the one or more lexicons to correlate the content that were indexed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the portion of the one or more lexicons are used as part of the response to the search request by displaying at least a portion of the correlated content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the displayed portion of the correlated content includes hyperlinks to other web sites.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

prior to storing the one or more lexicons, analyzing the plurality of content to identify at least one key word of the one or more lexicons present.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of the one or more lexicons are used as part of the response to the search request by visually indicating at least one key word of the one or more lexicons that are present.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 14.