Content searching and configuration of search results

• US 8,150,846 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jefson, Christine A., Snelling, David Aaron Ward, Kohanim, Greg A, Wiedemann, Jonathan L
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUNG D
• Application Number:
  US11/060,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Content searching and configuration of search results are described. In an implementation, a method includes in response to a search query, selecting a keyword based on heuristic data which describes a plurality of previously performed searched. A search is performed utilizing the search query and the selected keyword to locate content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response to a received search query, selecting a plurality of keyword query extensions based on heuristic data which describes a plurality of previously performed searches;

generating a plurality of search queries, each generated search query comprising the received search query and a particular one of the plurality of keyword query extensions;

performing a plurality of searches utilizing the plurality of generated search queries to locate content; and

in response to the received search query, returning results from each of the plurality of searches performed utilizing the plurality of generated search queries, wherein returning results from each of the plurality of searches performed utilizing the plurality of generated search queries comprises;

concurrently displaying results obtained from a first of the plurality of generated search queries and results obtained from a second of the plurality of generated search queries, wherein the results obtained from the first of the plurality of generated search queries are grouped separately from the results obtained from the second of the plurality of generated search queries.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the heuristic data is formed from user logs which describe a plurality of previous search queries; and

each of the plurality of previous search queries used to select the plurality of keyword query extensions match at least a portion of the search query.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user-selection of a particular search result obtained from the first of the plurality of generated search queries and displayed in a user interface (UI); and

reconfiguring the UI to display an additional search result which was obtained from the first of the plurality of generated search queries, but not previously displayed in the UI.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein returning the results from each of the plurality of searches performed utilizing the generate search queries further comprises:

determining a richness of a display format for each of the results returned from each of the plurality of searches, relative one to another; and

ordering the results returned from each of the plurality of searches, one to another, for output to a user interface based at least in part on the determined relative richness.