Transfer of learning for query classification

A computer implemented method, comprising:

• under control of one or more computing devices configured with executable instructions,
• extracting seed query patterns for a source domain from a search engine log;
• labeling each of the seed query patterns with an associated task classification and an associated task probability that represent a probability that a corresponding seed query pattern belongs to the associated task classification;
• and
• generating additional query patterns for the source domain based at least on the seed query patterns to form an expanded set of query patterns, each of the additional query patterns having a corresponding task classification and a corresponding task probability;
• and
• transferring one or more resultant query patterns from the expanded set of query patterns to a new domain.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory that includes a plurality of computer-executable modules, the plurality of computer-executable components comprising:
• a domain preparation module that prepares a new domain to receive refined query patterns associated with one or more source domains by populating the new domain with preliminary query patterns extracted from a search engine log;
• a source domain module that produces the refined query patterns associated with each of the one or more source domains for transfer to the new domain;
• and
• a learning transfer module that transfers one or more of the refined query patterns from the one or more source domains to the new domain.