Search query processing to provide category-ranked presentation of search results

#The present invention relates to the field of search engines. More specifically, the invention relates to techniques for facilitating viewing search results that span multiple item categories, and for locating web pages that include offerings for products and other types of items.

#In the field of electronic commerce, it is common for online merchants to sell products within many different product-related categories. For example, Amazon.com, Inc., the assignee of the present application, sells products within the categories of books, music, video & DVD, toys & games, electronics, home improvements and auctions. The predefined categories and associated products are typically presented to users in the form of a browse tree. In addition, many merchants provide a search engine for conducting searches for products.

#One problem commonly encountered by online merchants is the inability to effectively present groups of related products that span the predefined categories. Due to the large number of products and categories, and the organization of the web site, many relationships between products may be difficult for the user to ascertain. For example, suppose a user of a merchant's web site is a fan of the American humorist and author Mark Twain. The user may choose to look for books written by Mark Twain through a browse tree in the book section of an on-line commerce web site. Browsing in this manner is likely to reveal a large number of books authored by, or written about, Mark Twain. The user, however, may be unaware that the web site also sells products other than books that may be of interest to fans of Mark Twain. For example, a videos section of the same web site may contain video biographies of Mark Twain and video adaptations of many of his classic books, while a music section may include compact discs with songs inspired by his writings. Similarly, an auctions section of the same site may contain products offered for sale by third parties that may be of interest to the user, such as Mark Twain memorabilia. Although use of the web site's search engine may reveal some of these additional products, the user typically must review a long list of search results in order to identify the products or categories of interest.

#These and other features and advantages of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of certain preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a system in which users access web site information via the Internet, and illustrates the basic web site components used to implement a search engine that operates in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a sample search tool interface page of the web site.

#One feature of the present invention involves a method for identifying and displaying product information derived from multiple product categories to a user in response to a query submitted to a search engine by the user. Another feature of the invention involves methods for users to search for web pages from which particular products can be purchased. In the preferred embodiment, these two features are embodied within a common search engine system; as will be apparent, these and other features of the invention can be used independently of one another and may therefore be considered as distinct inventions. For convenience of description, however, the term “invention” is used herein to refer collectively to the various inventive features disclosed.

#A preferred embodiment and implementation of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The description will reference various details of the invention in the context of AMAZON.COM's web site. These details are set forth in order to illustrate, and not to limit, the invention. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

#A. Overview of Web Site and Search Engine