US 2009/0157642 A1Published application

Search system using search subdomain and hints to subdomains in search query statements and sponsored results on a subdomain-by-subdomain basis

AssigneeYahoo! Inc.

InventorsAli Diab, Scott A. Gatz, Shyam Kapur, David Ku, Chuck Kung, Phu Hoang, Qi Lu, Lynne Pogue, Yuan Kui Shen, Norman Shi, Thai Tran, Eckart Walther, Jeff Weiner

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A computer-executed method of providing search results in response to a search request wherein the search request includes at least a search query string, comprising:

parsing the search query string into tokens;
determining which tokens, if any, are hint tokens;
if the search query string includes at least one hint token, then performing a hint directed action on the search request, wherein the hint-directed action comprises one or more of:
a) submitting a remainder search string to a search engine wherein a remainder search string is a string corresponding to the search query string less the at least one hint token,
b) directing the search request to a search system indicated by one or more of the hint tokens, or
c) adding a parameter to the search request, as indicated by one or more hint tokens, that causes the search request to be directed to a particular domain;
and
if the search query string does not include at least one hint token, then submitting the search request to a search engine without performing any hint-directed action.

5 more elements

A computer-executed method comprising:

receiving, from a requesting entity, a search query comprising one or more query words, wherein the one or more query words include a particular keyword;
determining whether the particular keyword is a first hint keyword;
if the particular keyword is the first hint keyword, then searching a first set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words, wherein the first set of one or more databases is selected based on the first hint keyword;
if the particular keyword is not the first hint keyword, then searching a second set of one or more databases for at least one query word of the one or more query words;
retrieving information regarding a first set of one or more documents resulting from the step of searching either the first set of one or more databases or the second set of one or more databases;
and
returning, to the requesting entity, the information regarding the first set of one or more documents.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/354,751Filed 15 Jan 2009
Priority: 4 Apr 2003
Published: 18 Jun 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

G06F 16/9537
Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines: spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
G06F 16/248
Querying: presentation of query results
G06F 16/252
Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems: between a Database Management System and a front-end application
G06F 16/9032
Querying: query formulation

Family

Application60/460,658Us provisional application · filed 4 Apr 2003
Application10/819,082Continuation · filed 5 Apr 2004
Application12/354,751Continuation
US 2005/0228780 A1Published application
US 7,499,914 B2Related patent
US 8,271,480 B2Related patent
US 2009/0157642 A1This patent

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