Content searching and configuration of search results

• US 8,577,881 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kohanim, Greg A., Wiedemann, Jonathan L, Jefson, Christine A., Snelling, David Aaron Ward
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUNG D
• Application Number:
  US13/308,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 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 searches. A search is performed utilizing the search query and the selected keyword to locate content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions;

receiving a search query;

in response to receiving the search query,

performing a plurality of searches, wherein at least one search of the plurality of searches includes the search query and a keyword added to the search query, and

configuring a plurality of results of the plurality of searches for concurrent display via a user interface (UI), the configuring comprising concurrently displaying results obtained from a first of the plurality of searches and results obtained from a second of the plurality of searches, wherein the results obtained from the first of the plurality of searches are grouped separately from the results obtained from the second of the plurality of searches.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuring further comprises:

determining a display format for each result of the plurality of results; and

configuring the plurality of results for output in the user interface based on the determined display format of each result.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the configuring further comprises ordering the plurality of results in at least one of a plurality of groupings based on the determined display format of each result.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising arranging the plurality of results for display via the user interface in a plurality of groupings, wherein at least one grouping of the plurality of groupings is formed from results of the at least one search, the at least one grouping being configured to exclude results which were not obtained from the at least one search in the at least one grouping.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein another grouping is formed from results of another search of the plurality of searches, the another search being different from the at least one search and the another grouping being different from the at least one grouping.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the keyword is derived from heuristic data that describes a plurality of previously performed searches that include at least a portion of the search query.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising performing another search of the plurality of searches using another keyword and the search query, the another keyword corresponding to a content category.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising performing another search of the plurality of searches using another keyword and the search query, the another keyword specifying a particular Internet domain.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of searches are performed through execution of one or more modules by a search system, and the keyword references a domain name that includes the search system.

10. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory, communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

performing a plurality of searches for a search query, at least one search of the plurality of searches comprising a keyword added to the search query;

arranging a plurality of search results obtained from the plurality of searches into a plurality of groups;

determining a richness of a display format for each of the plurality of search results;

configuring the plurality of search results for output in a user interface based on the determined richness of respective display formats, the configuring comprising;

concurrently displaying results obtained from a first of the plurality of searches and results obtained from a second of the plurality of searches, and

separately grouping the results obtained from the first of the plurality of searches from the results obtained from the second of the plurality of searches; and

outputting the plurality of search results for concurrent display in the user interface.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the acts further comprise in response to receiving a selection of a group displayed in the user interface, configuring the user interface to display an additional search result which corresponds to the group.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

each search of the plurality of searches is performed utilizing at least a search query,

at least one search of the plurality of searches is performed utilizing the search query and the keyword, and

at least one group is formed from one or more search results obtained from the at least one search.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the keyword is selected from a plurality of predefined content categories.

14. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the keyword is free of any portion of the search query.

15. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the keyword is selected based on heuristic data which describes another plurality of searches which have been performed utilizing at least a portion of the search query.

16. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the configured user interface excludes one or more search results from another search.

17. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the acts further comprise:

determining a display format for each search result of the plurality of search results; and

configuring each search result for output in the user interface based on the determined display format, configuring each search result comprising ordering the plurality of search results, one to another, based on the determined display format of each search result.

18. A method comprising:

under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions;

performing a plurality of searches for a search query, at least one search of the plurality of searches comprising a keyword added to the search query;

arranging a plurality of search results obtained from the plurality of searches into a plurality of groups;

determining a richness of a display format for each of the plurality of search results;

configuring the plurality of search results for output in a user interface based on the determined richness of respective display formats, the configuring comprising grouping results obtained from a first of the plurality of searches separately from results obtained from a second of the plurality of searches; and

outputting the plurality of search results for concurrent display in the user interface.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising in response to receiving a selection of a group displayed in the user interface, configuring the user interface to display an additional search result which corresponds to the group.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

determining a display format for each search result of the plurality of search results; and

configuring each search result for output in the user interface based on the determined display format, configuring each search result comprising ordering the plurality of search results, one to another, based on the determined display format of each search result.