Generation of refinement terms for search queries

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving from a user a first search query consisting of one or more first query terms;
• responsively to the search query, generating and presenting to the user a search result listing that includes at least a first snippet associated with a first search result document, and a second snippet associated with a second search result document;
• presenting, in association with the first snippet, a first set of one or more refinement terms, and, in association with the second snippet, a second set of one or more refinement terms, wherein the first set is different from the second set;
• responsively to a selection of one of the refinement terms of the first set or second set, adding the selected one of the refinement terms to the search query to generate a refined second search query;
• and
• responsively to the refined second search query, generating and presenting to the user a refined search result listing.

An apparatus comprising:

• an interface for communicating with a user;
• and
• a processor, configured to receive from the user, via the interface, a first search query consisting of one or more first query terms;
• receive from the user, via the interface, an indication of a desired level of personalization of refinement options for the first search query;
• responsively to the first search query, generate a set of one or more refinement terms at least in part responsively to the indication;
• present the set of refinement terms to the user via the interface;
• responsively to a selection of at least one of the refinement terms by the user, add the selected at least one refinement term to the first search query to generate a second search query;
• and present to the user, via the interface, search results responsively to the second search query.

An apparatus comprising:

• an interface for communicating with a user;
• and
• a processor, which is configured to receive from the user, via the interface, a first search query consisting of one or more first query terms;
• responsively to the search query, generate and present to the user, via the interface, a search result listing that includes at least a first snippet associated with a first search result document, and a second snippet associated with a second search result document;
• present, in association with the first snippet, a first set of one or more refinement terms, and, in association with the second snippet, a second set of one or more refinement terms, wherein the first set is different from the second set;
• responsively to a selection of one of the refinement terms of the first set or second set, add the selected one of the refinement terms to the search query to generate a refined second search query;
• and responsively to the refined second search query, generate and present to the user, via the interface, a refined search result listing.

A computer software product for executing a process, the product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to receive from a user a first search query consisting of one or more first query terms;

• receive from the user an indication of a desired level of personalization of refinement options for the first search query;
• responsively to the first search query, generate a set of one or more refinement terms at least in part responsively to the indication;
• present the set of refinement terms to the user;
• responsively to a selection of at least one of the refinement terms by the user, add the selected at least one refinement tend to the first search query to generate a second search query;
• and present to the user search results responsively to the second search query.

A computer software product for executing a process, the product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to receive from the user a first search query consisting of one or more first query terms;

• responsively to the search query, generate and present to the user a search result listing that includes at least a first snippet associated with a first search result document, and a second snippet associated with a second search result document;
• present, in association with the first snippet, a first set of one or more refinement terms, and, in association with the second snippet, a second set of one or more refinement terms, wherein the first set is different from the second set;
• responsively to a selection of one of the refinement terms of the first set or second set, add the selected one of the refinement terms to the search query to generate a refined second search query;
• and responsively to the refined second search query, generate and present to the user a refined search result listing.