US 8,301,656 B2 · Interface for a universal search

Abstract

A search engine may perform a search for a user search query over a number of possible search categories. For example, the search query may be performed for general web documents, images, and news documents. The search engine ranks categories based on the search query and/or the documents returned for each category and presents the search results to the user by category. Higher ranking categories may be presented more prominently than lower ranking categories.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more server devices, a first list of search results and a second list of search results, the first list being associated with a first category, the second list being associated with a second category that differs from the first category, the first category being higher ranked than the second category based on respective relevances of search results in the first list and search results in the second list to a search query;
generating, by one or more processors of the one or more server devices, a document providing information associated with the first list and the second list, where the document includes a first area and a second area, the first area being more prominently presented, within the document, than the second area when the document is rendered,
where the first area of the document is associated with the first list, where the first area presents information associated with at least one search result of the first list, the information presented in the first area including at least one snippet associated with, respectively, the at least one search result of the first list, and
where the second area of the document is associated with the second list, where the second area presents information associated with at least one search result of the second list, and where the information presented in the second area does not include a textual snippet associated with any of the at least one search result of the second list;
and
outputting, by the one or more server devices, the document.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor in a computer system, results that are relevant to a search query, the results including a first plurality of search results and a second plurality of search results, the first plurality of search results being associated with a first document category, the second plurality of search results being associated with a second document category that differs from the first document category, the first document category being more relevant to the search query than the second document category;
providing, by a processor in the computer system and for presentation on a display, information associated with the results, the providing of the information including:
providing, for presentation in a first display area of the display, information associated with the first plurality of search results, and
providing, for presentation in a second display area of the display, information associated with the second plurality of search results, the first display area being more prominently presented on the display than the second display area,
where the first display area presents a snippet associated with, respectively, each displayed one of the first plurality of search results, and
where the second display area does not include a snippet associated with any of the second plurality of search results.

3 more elements

A system comprising:

one or more server devices to:
receive a first list of search results and a second list of search results, the first list being associated with a first category, the second list being associated with a second category that differs from the first category, the first category being higher ranked than the second category based on respective relevances of search results in the first list and search results in the second list to a search query;
generate a document that provides information associated with the first list and the second list, where the document includes a first area and a second area, the first area being larger and more prominently presented, within the document, than the second area when the document is rendered,
where the first area of the document is associated with the first list, where the first area presents information associated with at least one search result of the first list, the information presented in the first area including at least one snippet associated with, respectively, the at least one search result of the first list, and
where the second area of the document is associated with the second list, where the second area presents information associated with at least one search result of the second list, and where the information presented in the second area does not include a textual snippet associated with any of the at least one search result of the second list;
and
output the document.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,834 words

Summary669 words

#A. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to database search engines, and more particularly, to user interfaces that are used to present the results of a search.

#B. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings,

#FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a network in which systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may be implemented;

#FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a client and/or server shown in FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,023 words

#The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description does not limit the invention.

#As described herein, a search engine returns search results to a user in which the search results are organized by document category. The different document categories are organized in the document returned to the user based, at least in part, on the relevance of the categories to the user search query.

#FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a network 100 in which systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention may be implemented. Network 100 may include multiple clients 110 connected to one or more servers 120 via a network 140. Network 140 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of networks. Two clients 110 and one server 120 have been illustrated as connected to network 140 for simplicity. In practice, there may be more or fewer clients and servers. Also, in some instances, a client may perform the functions of a server and a server may perform the functions of a client.

Facts

Application

12/200,601Filed 28 Aug 2008 · continuation

Priority

31 Dec 2003

Published

US 2009/0063425 A15 Mar 2009

Granted

30 Oct 2012

Term ended

18 May 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 504 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification10 codes

G06F 16/9538
Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines: presentation of query results
G06F 16/24578
With adaptation to user needs: using ranking
G06F 16/35
Of unstructured textual data: clustering; Classification
G06F 16/951
Retrieval from the web: indexing; Web crawling techniques

Family

Application10/748,666Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Dec 2003

US 2009/0063425 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Mar 2009

US 7,447,678 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2005/0165744 A1Published application

US 8,301,656 B2This patent

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

Timeline

31 Dec 2003Priority claimedParent application 10/748,666
28 Aug 2008Application filedUS 12/200,601
5 Mar 2009PublishedUS 2009/0063425 A1
30 Oct 2012GrantedUS 8,301,656 B2
13 Dec 2012Assigned to Google Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
2 Oct 2017Assigned to Google LLCchange of name
18 May 2025Term endedEstimated, includes 504 days of adjustment

Interface for a universal search

Life of this patent

Interface for a universal search

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description3,834 words

Drawings

Classification10 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,834 words