User interface for searching

• US 9,946,771 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shaw, Jeremiah Daniel, Yang, Lawrence Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): May, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US14/502,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20150347532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 707722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9532 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to search techniques. In one example process, the device concurrently displays remote search results and local search results. In another example process, the device provides previews of search results that include actionable user interface objects. In another example process, the device concurrently displays options for initiating a search using various search engines.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the device to:

receive a search input;

obtain one or more local search results based on the search input;

determine whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtain one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently display, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

access information over the Internet via the respective software application;

obtain supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is based on the accessed information;

display the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receive a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, display the respective software application.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria when the search input has a character count that does not exceed a threshold character count.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result of the one or more remote search results, the remote search result having a confidence value higher than a confidence threshold.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions to cause the device to:

receive additional characters added to the search input to form a second search input;

obtain one or more second local search results based on the second search input;

determine whether the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

in accordance with a determination that the second search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtain one or more second remote search results based on the second search input; and

concurrently display, on the display, updated remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more second remote search results and updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises one or more top remote search results up to a threshold number of top remote search results that have a corresponding confidence value that exceeds a confidence threshold.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions to cause the device to:

prior to displaying the remote search result information, determine whether an identified remote search result of the one or more remote search results corresponds to a matching local search result of the one or more local search results, and in accordance with a determination that the identified remote search result corresponds to the matching local search result, exclude the identified remote search result from the remote search result information prior to displaying the remote search result information.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result, and further comprising instructions to cause the device to:

detect a swipe gesture on a touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to a location of a first portion of the first remote search result on the display; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture at the first portion of the first remote search result, replace display of the first portion of the first remote search result with display of a second portion of the first remote search result.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein instructions to cause the device to concurrently display the remote search result information and the local search result information comprise instructions to cause the device to:

display a first remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a first location on the display;

display a plurality of local search results of the one or more local search results at a second location on the display, the second location being below the first location; and

display a second remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a third location on the display, the third location being below the second location.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result and information accessed from a remote source associated with the remote search result, and wherein the displayed local search result information comprises a local search result and information accessed from a local source associated with the local search result.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the concurrently displayed remote search result information and local search result information are visibly displayed together on the display.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to display the respective software application further include instructions to display information about the first remote search result in the respective software application.

11. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

receiving a search input;

obtaining one or more local search results based on the search input;

determining whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, displaying, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtaining one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently displaying, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

accessing information over the Internet via the respective software application;

obtaining supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is based on the accessed information;

displaying the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receiving a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, displaying the respective software application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria when the search input has a character count that does not exceed a threshold character count.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result of the one or more remote search results, the remote search result having a confidence value higher than a confidence threshold.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving additional characters added to the search input to form a second search input;

obtaining one or more second local search results based on the second search input;

determining whether the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

in accordance with a determination that the second search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtaining one or more second remote search results based on the second search input; and

concurrently displaying, on the display, updated remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more second remote search results and updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises one or more top remote search results up to a threshold number of top remote search results that have a corresponding confidence value that exceeds a confidence threshold.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prior to displaying the remote search result information, determine whether an identified remote search result of the one or more remote search results corresponds to a matching local search result of the one or more local search results, and in accordance with a determination that the identified remote search result corresponds to the matching local search result, exclude the identified remote search result from the remote search result information prior to displaying the remote search result information.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result, and further comprising:

detecting a swipe gesture on a touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to a location of a first portion of the first remote search result on the display; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture at the first portion of the first remote search result, replace display of the first portion of the first remote search result with display of a second portion of the first remote search result.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein instructions to cause the device to concurrently display the remote search result information and the local search result information further comprising:

displaying a first remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a first location on the display;

displaying a plurality of local search results of the one or more local search results at a second location on the display, the second location being below the first location; and

displaying a second remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a third location on the display, the third location being below the second location.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result and information accessed from a remote source associated with the remote search result, and wherein the displayed local search result information comprises a local search result and information accessed from a local source associated with the local search result.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the concurrently displayed remote search result information and local search result information are visibly displayed together on the display.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the instructions to display the respective software application further include instructions to display information about the first remote search result in the respective software application.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

memory coupled to the processor and storing one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

receive a search input;

obtain one or more local search results based on the search input;

determine whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtain one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently display, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

access information over the Internet via the respective software application;

obtain supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is based on the accessed information;

display the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receive a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, display the respective software application.

24. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria when the search input has a character count that does not exceed a threshold character count.

25. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result of the one or more remote search results, the remote search result having a confidence value higher than a confidence threshold.

26. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

receiving additional characters added to the search input to form a second search input;

obtaining one or more second local search results based on the second search input;

determining whether the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

in accordance with a determination that the second search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the second search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtaining one or more second remote search results based on the second search input; and

concurrently displaying, on the display, updated remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more second remote search results and updated local search result information that corresponds to the one or more second local search results.

27. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises one or more top remote search results up to a threshold number of top remote search results that have a corresponding confidence value that exceeds a confidence threshold.

28. The electronic device of claim 12, the one or more programs further including instructions to:

prior to displaying the remote search result information, determine whether an identified remote search result of the one or more remote search results corresponds to a matching local search result of the one or more local search results, and in accordance with a determination that the identified remote search result corresponds to the matching local search result, exclude the identified remote search result from the remote search result information prior to displaying the remote search result information.

29. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result, and the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting a swipe gesture on a touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to a location of a first portion of the first remote search result on the display; and

in response to detecting the swipe gesture at the first portion of the first remote search result, replace display of the first portion of the first remote search result with display of a second portion of the first remote search result.

30. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein instructions to cause the device to concurrently display the remote search result information and the local search result information, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

displaying a first remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a first location on the display;

displaying a plurality of local search results of the one or more local search results at a second location on the display, the second location being below the first location; and

displaying a second remote search result of the one or more remote search results at a third location on the display, the third location being below the second location.

31. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a remote search result and information accessed from a remote source associated with the remote search result, and wherein the displayed local search result information comprises a local search result and information accessed from a local source associated with the local search result.

32. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the concurrently displayed remote search result information and local search result information are visibly displayed together on the display.

33. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the instructions to display the respective software application further include instructions to display information about the first remote search result in the respective software application.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the device to:

receive a search input;

obtain one or more local search results based on the search input;

determine whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtain one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently display, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

obtain supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is stored locally on the electronic device;

display the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receive a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, display the respective software application.

35. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

receiving a search input;

obtaining one or more local search results based on the search input;

determining whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, displaying, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtaining one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently displaying, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

obtaining supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is stored locally on the electronic device;

displaying the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receiving a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, displaying the respective software application.

36. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

memory coupled to the processor and storing one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

receive a search input;

obtain one or more local search results based on the search input;

determine whether the search input meets remote-search criteria;

in response to receiving the search input;

in accordance with a determination that the search input does not meet the remote-search criteria, display, on the display, local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results; and

in accordance with a determination that the search input meets the remote-search criteria;

obtain one or more remote search results based on the search input; and

concurrently display, on the display, remote search result information that corresponds to the one or more remote search results and local search result information that corresponds to the one or more local search results, wherein the displayed remote search result information comprises a first remote search result associated with a respective software application on the electronic device;

obtain supplemental information related to the first remote search result from the respective software application, wherein the supplemental information is stored locally on the electronic device;

display the supplemental information as part of the remote search result information;

receive a selection of the first remote search result; and

in response to receiving the selection of the first remote search result, display the respective software application.