Systems and methods for enhancing search query results

• US 7,747,611 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sommerer, Ralph, Mays, Eddie L. III, Brewer, Brett D., Watson, Eric, Milic-Frayling, Natasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rayyan; Susan F
• Application Number:
  US10/802,909
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/722
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

The present invention leverages search query result page thumbnails and/or search query result link content evaluations to provide user-dependent enhanced search query results. This provides a simplified means to inform a user of the relevancy of search query results based on the user'"'"'s preferences, environment, and/or profile, etc. The present invention allows a user to more adequately determine the value of the search query result via search query result indicators within the thumbnail and/or in the proximity of a displayed result link. In one instance of the present invention, a thumbnail of a query result link is automatically displayed when the link is selected. This provides a means to view an entire search result page, eliminating the necessity of scrolling through each page to find relevant search terms. In another instance of the present invention, indicators are utilized to inform a user of the content of a search result link.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates search query results, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having-stored therein, computer-executable instructions to implement the system, including;

a client-side receiving component that accepts at least one query result from at least one search service; and

a client-side processing component that provides user-dependent query-result information derived from the query result accepted by the client-side receiving component and provides the user-dependent query result information via at least one visual indicator, wherein the at least one visual indicator comprising at least one of highlighting, color, intensity of color, geometric shape, or quantity of geometric shapes, and wherein the user-dependent query-result information includes one or more of the following;

(a) an indication of percentage of a total quantity of image content within at least one linked document in the query result compared to a total quantity of all content within the at least one linked document in the query result, wherein the at least one linked document is eliminated from the query result when the percentage of the total quantity of the image content within the at least one linked document does not surpass a threshold, or

(b) an indication of percentage of a total quantity of text content within the at least one linked document in the query result as compared to a total quantity of all content within the at least one linked document in the query result, wherein the at least one linked document is eliminated from the query result when the percentage of the total quantity of the text content within the at least one linked document does not surpass a threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, the user-dependent query result information comprising query result information derived from a user model.

3. The system of claim 2, the user model comprising a model that utilizes, at least in part, information related to at least one of a user context, a user profile, or a user query result rule.

4. The system of claim 1, the client-side processing component provides the user-dependent query result information via at least one aural indicator.

5. The system of claim 1, the client-side processing component derives the user-dependent query result information via evaluation of at least one link provided by the query result.

6. The system of claim 5, the evaluation of at least one link comprising a determination as to whether the link corresponds to at least one of a document with text or a document with links.

7. The system of claim 1, the user-dependent query result information further includes an indication of percentage of the quantity of links within the at least one linked document in the query result as compared to a total quantity of all content within the at least one linked document in the query result.