Search Results Using Intonation Nuances

A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computing system comprising at least a processor executing the instructions retrieved from the medium, carry out a method for responding to an audio query from a computer user, the method comprising:

• receiving an audio query from a computer user;
• obtaining a textual representation of the audio query and vocalization nuances associated with the audio query;
• identifying a plurality of search results corresponding to the textual representation of the audio query based, in part, on the identified vocalization nuance;
• generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results;
• and
• returning the search results presentation to the computer user in response to receiving the audio query.

A computer system for responding to an audio query, the system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes instructions stored in the memory as part of or in conjunction with additional components to respond to receiving an audio query from a computer user, the additional components comprising:

• a network communication component configured to enable communications between the computer system and other computing devices over a network;
• an audio-text translator configured to translate an audio query to a textual representation of the audio query;
• a vocalization detector configured to identify vocalization nuances of the audio query;
• a search results identification component configured to identify a plurality of search results in response to receiving the audio query from a content data store and based, in part, on the vocalization nuances of the audio query;
• and
• a search results presentation generator configured to generate a search results presentation for the computer user based on the identified plurality of search results and in light of the vocalization nuances of the audio query.