Search term suggestion method based on analysis of correlated data in three dimensions
OwnerWilliam Derek Finley, Christopher William Doylend +1inventors
InventorsWilliam Derek Finley, Christopher William Doylend, Gordon Freedman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enhanced search engine compares a received search query with a history of previous search queries. When equivalent search queries are found the search engine provides a set of sub-categories to the user to further refine their search. Optionally a sub-category corresponds to a specific result. These sub-categories and results are optionally displayed along with conventional search results.
Claims17
A method of searching for content that is stored on a computer system, comprising:
- a) providing an initial search query;
- b) displaying a representation of a search space in dependence upon the initial search query, the search space comprising a plurality of data labels indicative of sub-categories that are related to the initial search query, and being selected based on an analysis of the progression of prior searches having in common a same initial search query;
- c) selecting at least one of the data labels of the search space, so as to as to generate a next search space of reduced complexity;
- and,
- d) displaying a representation of the next search space.
A method of searching for content that is stored in a memory of a computer system, comprising:
- receiving an initial search query that is provided by a searcher;
- retrieving from the memory a set of data relating to results previously generated in dependence upon a same initial search query;
- retrieving other data from the memory, the other data relating to a progression of prior searches having in common the same initial search query;
- analyzing the set of data and the other data to determine a plurality of sub-categories that are related to the initial search query, the sub-categories for providing the searcher with options to refine the search query;
- displaying a representation of the search space for the initial search query, the search space comprising a plurality of data labels, each one of the plurality data labels indicative of one of the determined plurality of sub-categories;
- and, in response to the searcher selecting one of the data labels distributed on the surface of the three-dimensional solid shape, restricting the search space for the initial search query to those results within the sub-category associated with the selected data label.
A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of searching for content that is stored on a computer system, the method comprising:
- receiving an initial search query that is provided by a searcher;
- retrieving from a memory a set of data relating to results previously generated in dependence upon a same initial search query;
- retrieving other data from the memory, the other data relating to a progression of prior searches having in common the same initial search query;
- analyzing the set of data and the other data to determine a plurality of sub-categories that are related to the initial search query, the sub-categories for providing the searcher with options to refine the search query;
- displaying a representation of the search space for the initial search query, the search space comprising a plurality of data labels, each one of the plurality data labels indicative of one of the determined plurality of sub-categories;
- and, in response to the searcher selecting one of the data labels distributed on the surface of the three-dimensional solid shape, restricting the search space for the initial search query to those results within the sub-category associated with the selected data label.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.