US 11,886,474 B2 · Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has one or more associated descriptors. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query is a prefix substring of each of at least two words relating to the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more descriptors matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system outputs identification of the one or more items of the identified group to be displayed on the device operated by the user.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for indexing items for reduced input searching comprising:

retrieving a string of alphanumeric symbols corresponding to a content item, wherein the string of alphanumeric symbols comprises a first word and a second word;
selecting a first prefix of the first word and a second prefix of the second word;
identifying, based on a character map for an overloaded keypad, a first string of keystrokes mapping to the first prefix and a second string of keystrokes mapping to the second prefix;
generating an index string of keystrokes by concatenating the first string of keystrokes with a delimiting keystroke and with the second string of keystrokes;
associating the content item with the index string of keystrokes;
receiving a search string of keystrokes from the overloaded keypad;
and
in response to determining that the search string of keystrokes matches the index string of keystrokes, generating for display the content item.

5 more elements

A system for indexing items for reduced input searching comprising:

an overloaded keypad;
and
control circuitry configured to:
retrieve a string of alphanumeric symbols corresponding to a content item, wherein the string of alphanumeric symbols comprises a first word and a second word;
select a first prefix of the first word and a second prefix of the second word;
identify, based on a character map for the overloaded keypad, a first string of keystrokes mapping to the first prefix and a second string of keystrokes mapping to the second prefix;
generate an index string of keystrokes by concatenating the first string of keystrokes with a delimiting keystroke and with the second string of keystrokes;
associate the content item with the index string of keystrokes;
receive a search string of keystrokes from the overloaded keypad;
and
in response to determining that the search string of keystrokes matches the index string of keystrokes, generate for display the content item.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/775,803Filed 29 Jan 2020 · continuation

Priority

26 Aug 2005

Published

US 2020/0272649 A127 Aug 2020

Granted

30 Jan 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 16/334
Query processing: query execution
G06F 3/0484
Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or…
G06F 16/84
Of semi-structured data, e.g. markup language structured data such as SGML, XML or HTML: mapping; Conversion
G06F 16/9038
Querying: presentation of query results

Family

Application60/711,866Us provisional application · filed 26 Aug 2005

Application60/716,101Us provisional application · filed 12 Sep 2005

Application11/235,928Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2005

Application12/869,991Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Aug 2010

US 7,788,266 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Aug 2010

Application13/854,690Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Apr 2013

US 8,433,696 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Apr 2013

Application14/852,191Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Sep 2015

US 9,177,081 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Nov 2015

Application16/162,990Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Oct 2018

Application16/432,430Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Jun 2019

US 2020/0272649 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Aug 2020

US 2007/0061321 A1Published application

US 2010/0325106 A1Published application

US 2013/0254188 A1Published application

US 2016/0070783 A1Published application

US 11,886,474 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries

Life of this patent

Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20