Context-sensitive reference works

• US 9,679,047 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rachabathuni, Sailesh, Kiraly, Kenneth P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/749,073
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 707603
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification

Abstract

An architecture and techniques for outputting requested information from reference works (e.g., dictionaries, thesauruses, almanacs, atlases, encyclopedias, gazetteers) in a context-sensitive manner. For instance, when a user reads an electronic book (eBook) and requests a definition for a word found within the eBook, the techniques may display a definition for the word that has been selected based on the context of the request. In one example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to an identified genre of the eBook in which the word appears. In another example, the techniques may display a definition that corresponds to known information about the user, such as a preference of the user or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with specific executable instructions,

determining a genre of an electronic book based at least in part on a prior categorization of the electronic book, the prior categorization having previously classified the contents of the electronic book;

receiving, on an electronic book reader device displaying the electronic book, a request for a definition of a word found within contents of the electronic book;

selecting, based at least in part on the determined genre of the electronic book, a dictionary entry from multiple different dictionary entries each providing a definition of the word;

locating the definition of the word from the selected dictionary entry;

displaying the definition of the word from the selected dictionary entry on the electronic book reader device at least partly in response to the receiving of the request

receiving feedback regarding the determined genre or the selected dictionary entry; and

determining a different genre of the electronic book based at least in part on the received feedback.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determined genre of the electronic book comprises a genre related to science, science fiction, medicine, business, law, or a foreign language.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selected dictionary entry is a science dictionary entry, a science-fiction dictionary entry, a medical dictionary entry, a business dictionary entry, a legal dictionary entry, a native-language dictionary entry, or a non-native-language dictionary entry.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple different dictionary entries providing a definition for the word reside in a single dictionary, in different respective dictionaries, or in a combination thereof.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of the genre is further based at least in part on analyzing the contents of the electronic book, and wherein the analyzing of the contents of the electronic book comprises:

identifying key words within the electronic book; and

comparing the identified key words to sets of key words associated with different respective genres.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the genre is further determined based at least in part on previously received user feedback regarding the genre of the electronic book.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the genre is further determined based at least in part on an identity of a user associated with the electronic book reader device that displays the electronic book.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of the genre of the electronic book comprises determining the genre of the electronic book as a whole or determining the genre of a portion that is less than the entire electronic book.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displaying comprises displaying the selected dictionary entry and at least one other of the multiple different dictionary entries for the word, the selected dictionary entry being displayed more prominently than the at least one other dictionary entry.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining at least two genres of the electronic book, and wherein the selected dictionary entry is based at least in part on each of the at least two determined genres.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determined genre comprises a genre of a first portion of the electronic book, and further comprising:

determining a different genre of a second, different portion of the electronic book;

receiving, on the electronic book reader device displaying the electronic book, a request for a definition of a word found within the second portion of the electronic book;

selecting, based at least in part on the determined genre of the second portion of the electronic book, a dictionary entry from multiple different dictionary entries each providing a definition of the word found within the second portion;

locating the definition of the word found within the second portion from the selected dictionary entry; and

displaying the definition of the word found within the second portion from the selected dictionary entry on the electronic book reader device at least partly in response to the receiving of the request.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying further comprises concurrently displaying the definition of the word from the selected dictionary entry with the contents of the electronic book containing the requested word.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

identifying a genre of a content item being output by an electronic device based at least in part on an identity of a user associated with the electronic device, wherein the identity of the user is determined based at least in part on at least one of;

a location of the electronic device;

or

demographic information of the user;

receiving a request for information associated with a portion of the content item;

selecting, based at least in part on the identified genre of the content item, a reference work entry from multiple different reference work entries each providing information pertinent to the request; and

outputting the requested information from the selected reference work entry.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the content item comprises audio, video, or text.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein each reference work entry resides within a dictionary, a thesaurus, an almanac, an atlas, an encyclopedia, or a gazetteer.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the requested information comprises a definition of a word, a synonym for a word, an antonym for a word, more information for a particular topic, or a map for a particular location.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the identifying of the genre further comprises analyzing contents of the content item to identify the genre, referencing a prior categorization of the content item to identify the genre, or asking for user input regarding the genre of the content item.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

classifying at least a portion of an electronic book as belonging to a genre of multiple different genres, wherein the classifying comprises referencing prior feedback regarding previous user responses to queries about the genre of the at least a portion of the electronic book or of the electronic book as a whole; and

determining, based at least in part on the classified genre, at least one category of dictionary entry to use when receiving a request for a definition of a word found within the electronic book.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, wherein the classifying further comprises analyzing contents of the at least a portion of the electronic book.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 19, wherein the analyzing of the contents comprises:

identifying key words residing within the at least a portion of the electronic book; and

comparing the identified key words to key words associated with each of the multiple different genres.

21. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, wherein the classifying further comprises referencing a prior categorization of the at least a portion of the electronic book or of the electronic book as a whole.

22. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, wherein the genre of the at least a portion of the electronic book comprises a genre related to science, science fiction, medicine, business, law, or a foreign language.

23. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, wherein the determined at least one category of dictionary entry is a science dictionary entry, a science-fiction dictionary entry, a medical dictionary entry, a business dictionary entry, a legal dictionary entry, a native-language dictionary entry, or a non-native-language dictionary entry.