Enhanced search suggestion for personal information services

• US 9,514,470 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Topatan, Kutlay, Godil, Irum Iqbal, Stoller, Andrew G., Nalliah, Selvaraj, McLaughlin, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spieler, William
• Application Number:
  US13/895,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90344 by using string matching techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for implementing enhanced search suggestion technology. In at least one implementation, a personal information application includes a search suggestion element in which both search suggestions and contacts suggestions may be presented. The personal information application includes a search element in a user interface to a personal information service in which a search query may be entered. Search suggestions and contact suggestions can be identified based at least in part on the search query and presented via a suggestion element in the user interface. An indication of interest made with respect to a contact suggestion results in the presentation of contact details for an associated contact. The presentation of at least the search suggestions persists while the contact details of the associated contact are presented.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable storage media having at least a portion of a personal information application stored thereon for facilitating searches of personal information items that, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least:

identify a search query for searching a plurality of personal information items and entered through a search element in a user interface to a personal information service;

identify, based at least in part on the search query, at least a search suggestion for searching the plurality of personal information items and a contact suggestion;

identify, based at least in part on the search query, an event suggestion by initiating examination of at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an indication of an event and initiating a search of a plurality of events for at least one scheduled event that satisfies event criteria comprising the indication of the event, wherein the event suggestion comprises the one scheduled event;

initiate presentation of at least the event suggestion, the search suggestion and the contact suggestion through a suggestion element in the user interface; and

in response to a selection of the contact suggestion, initiating presentation of associated contact details while persisting the presentation of at least the search suggestion through the suggestion element in the user interface.

2. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 wherein to identify the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query, the personal information application directs the processing system to initiate a search of a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria comprising the search query.

3. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 wherein to identify the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query, the personal information application directs the processing system to at least:

initiate examination of at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an identity of at least one person;

initiate a search of a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria comprising the identity of the one person, wherein the contact suggestion is associated with the one contact.

4. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the search element comprises a search box and wherein the suggestion element comprises a suggestion box rendered in association with the search box.

5. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the plurality of personal information items comprises a plurality of emails.

6. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the personal information application further directs the processing system to present at least one of a phone call and a messaging control through the contact suggestion.

7. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 6 wherein the personal information application further directs the processing system to in response to a selection of at least one of the phone call and the messaging control, initiate communication with the contact suggestion.

8. A method for facilitating the searching of personal information items comprising:

identifying a search query for searching a plurality of personal information items entered through a search element in a user interface to a personal information service;

identifying, based at least in part on the search query, a search suggestion for searching the plurality of personal information items and a contact suggestion;

identifying, based at least in part on the search query, an event suggestion by examining at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an indication of an event and searching a plurality of events for at least one scheduled event that satisfies event criteria comprising the indication of the event, wherein the event suggestion comprises at least the one scheduled event;

presenting at least the event suggestion, the search suggestion and the contact suggestion through a suggestion element in the user interface; and

in response to a selection of the contact suggestion, presenting associated contact details while persisting the presentation of at least the search suggestion through the suggestion element in the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the contact criteria further comprises the search query.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the search element comprises a search box and wherein the suggestion element comprises a suggestion box and wherein the plurality of information items comprises a plurality of emails.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query comprises initiating a search of a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the contact suggestion comprises the at least one contact.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein identifying the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query comprises:

examining at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an identity of at least one person; and

searching a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria comprising the identity of at least the one person, wherein the contact suggestion comprises at least the one contact.

14. A computing apparatus comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media; and

a personal information application embodied at least in part in program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media and comprising;

a search element in a user interface to a personal information service through which to enter a search query for searching a plurality of personal information items and in response thereto, identify, based at least in part on the search query, an event suggestion by initiating examination of at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an indication of an event and initiating a search of a plurality of events for at least one scheduled event that satisfies event criteria comprising the indication of the event, wherein the event suggestion comprises the one scheduled event;

a suggestion element in the user interface through which to present at least the event suggestion, a search suggestion and a contact suggestion associated with the search query and through which to receive a selection of the contact suggestion; and

a contact in the user interface through which to, in response to the selection of the contact suggestion, present associated contact details while at least the search suggestion persists in the suggestion element.

15. The computing apparatus of claim 14 wherein the program instructions, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least:

identify, based at least in part on the search query, the search suggestion for searching the plurality of personal information items;

identify, based at least in part on the search query, the contact suggestion; and

initiate presentation of at least the search suggestion and the contact suggestion through a suggestion element in the user interface.

16. The computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein to identify the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query, the program instructions direct the processing system to initiate a search of a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria comprising the search query, wherein the contact suggestion comprises the at least one contact.

17. The computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein to identify the contact suggestion based at least in part on the search query, the program instructions direct the processing system to:

initiate examination of at least one personal information item included in search results associated with the search query for an identity of at least one person; and

initiate a search of a plurality of contacts for at least one contact that satisfies contact criteria comprising the identity of at least the one person, wherein the contact suggestion comprises at least the one contact.

18. The computing apparatus of claim 15 further comprising the processing system configured to execute the program instructions, wherein the search element comprises a search box, wherein the suggestion element comprises a suggestion box, and wherein the plurality of information items comprises a plurality of emails.

19. The computing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the program instructions, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least present at least one of a phone call and a messaging control through the contact suggestion.

20. The computing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the program instructions, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least in response to a selection of at least one of the phone call and the messaging control, initiate communication with the contact.