Real-Time Detection of Emerging Web Search Queries

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
• construct a current query model representing a first histogram of a first set of counts corresponding to a first set of search queries received at a search engine during a current time interval;
• construct one or more historical query models, each of the historical query models uniquely representing a different one of one or more second histograms of a different one of one or more second sets of counts corresponding to a different one of one or more second sets of search queries received at the search engine during a different one of one or more historical time intervals;
• receive a third search query at the search engine;
• calculate a first generation probability for the third search query with respect to the current query model, the first generation probability representing a likelihood that the third search query is generated from the first set of search queries as represented in the current query model;
• calculate one or more second generation probabilities for the third search query with respect to the historical query models, each of the second generation probabilities being uniquely calculated with respect to a different one of the historical query models and representing a likelihood that the third search query is generated from the corresponding second set of search queries as represented in the corresponding historical query model;
• calculate a ratio based on the first generation probability and the second generation probabilities;
• and
• identify the third search query as corresponding to an emerging event if the ratio satisfies a predetermined threshold requirement.

One or more computer-readable storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computer systems to:

• construct a current query model representing a first histogram of a first set of counts corresponding to a first set of search queries received at a search engine during a current time interval;
• construct one or more historical query models, each of the historical query models uniquely representing a different one of one or more second histograms of a different one of one or more second sets of counts corresponding to a different one of one or more second sets of search queries received at the search engine during a different one of one or more historical time intervals;
• receive a third search query at the search engine;
• calculate a first generation probability for the third search query with respect to the current query model, the first generation probability representing a likelihood that the third search query is generated from the first set of search queries as represented in the current query model;
• calculate one or more second generation probabilities for the third search query with respect to the historical query models, each of the second generation probabilities being uniquely calculated with respect to a different one of the historical query models and representing a likelihood that the third search query is generated from the corresponding second set of search queries as represented in the corresponding historical query model;
• calculate a ratio based on the first generation probability and the second generation probabilities;
• and
• identify the third search query as corresponding to an emerging event if the ratio satisfies a predetermined threshold requirement.