HK1147131B - System and method of inclusion of interactive elements on a search results page - Google Patents

Description

System and method for including interactive elements on a search results page

Copyright notice

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the patent and trademark office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Technical Field

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to generating query-dependent relevant content. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for receiving a search query and generating interactive content elements that provide links to data related to the original query.

Background

The main goal of internet search engines is to accomplish the task of indexing a continuously expanding set of data. Many techniques have been developed to crawl through (crawler through) content on the internet and index each content item encountered by a crawler. The result is a vast searchable database that allows users to quickly find documents relevant to a given search query.

However, the current state of the art merely provides search results that match or are relevant to a given query, and does not fully exploit the known category properties of a given search to fully optimize the way search engines present search result pages. For example, a user may enter a search query that includes a name of a musician, and may receive a search results page with links to content items related to the musician (e.g., the musician's official website, the musician's song lyrics, photos about the musician, etc.). In the event that one or more particular content items relevant to the user are not included in the search results, the user typically must enter one or more subsequent search queries and review one or more sets of search results. This method has the following disadvantages: the response time to provide an answer to the user's initial query intent is increased.

The prior art attempts to remedy this situation by providing a list of related content queries at the top of the search results page. For example, in response to a query to a musician, the search results page may display a list of the most relevant queries as one or more hyperlinks to subsequent search results pages. This solution is not ideal because the user still has to navigate to one or more subsequent search results pages. Furthermore, the relevant links provided by the search results page do not represent the full scope of information for a given query.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for including in a search results page an interactive module that is operable to provide a user with a direct content experience and links to a plurality of content items that are relevant to a given search query. Additionally, there is a need for a search module that: the search module provides a comprehensive list of available search queries or topics. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for: standard search results pages are modernized to reduce the amount of time necessary for a user to locate information he or she wants. The system and method of the present invention provides a solution to this need by providing a dynamic interactive module that is operable to seamlessly and efficiently provide relevant data in the context of a search results page.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating graphical modules for displaying query-specific content. A method according to one embodiment of the invention includes receiving a query, such as a search query submitted to a search engine. A category identifier is extracted from or otherwise determined for the received query. Extracting the category identifier may include locating the query in one or more category databases. A category template corresponding to the category identifier extracted from the query is retrieved and a plurality of data elements identified by the category template are retrieved.

Retrieving the plurality of data elements identified by the category template may include retrieving one or more individual results responsive to the template query and storing the results, wherein the number of stored individual results is below a predetermined threshold. Displaying may include hiding one or more remaining stored individual results and displaying individual resources in response to user interaction. In one embodiment, the user interaction may include a mouse over. In an alternative embodiment, the user interaction may comprise a mouse click, but other user interactions are also contemplated as falling within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

An interactive module including the retrieved data is generated from presentation data stored within the category template, and the interactive module is combined with the requested content item (e.g., search results page) for display to the user. Generating the interactive module may include generating an HTML file.

The invention also relates to a system for generating a graphical module for displaying query-specific content. The system of the present invention includes one or more client devices coupled to a network and a search provider coupled to the network, the search provider operable to receive one or more search queries from the client devices. The query may include a search query submitted to a search engine that may be in communication with a search provider.

The search provider includes an extraction module operable to determine a category identifier for the query, wherein extracting the category identifier may include locating the query in one or more category databases. The template storage module is coupled to the extraction module and is operable to retrieve a category template corresponding to the category identifier extracted from the query. The template creation module is operable to retrieve a plurality of data elements identified by the category template. The template creation module is further operable to generate an interactive module from the presentation data stored in the category template.

Retrieving the plurality of data elements identified by the category template may include retrieving one or more individual results responsive to the template query and storing the individual results, wherein the number of stored individual results is below a predetermined threshold. The category templates may fetch or otherwise assemble content from multiple different sources (e.g., from several different sites and domains) into an interactive module that may be graphical, auditory, or otherwise widely interactive.

The interactive module may be combined with a search results page responsive to the query. Displaying the combined item may include hiding a plurality of stored individual results and displaying one or more individual results in response to user interaction. In one embodiment, the user interaction may include a mouse hover. In an alternative embodiment, the user interaction may include a mouse click. Further, in one embodiment, generating the interactive module includes generating an HTML file.

Drawings

The present invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are exemplary and not limiting, in which like references indicate similar or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 presents a block diagram illustrating a system for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent relevant content in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent relevant content in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent related content in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 present screen shots illustrating graphical modules for displaying query-dependent content within a search results page according to various embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 presents a block diagram illustrating a system for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent related content in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a plurality of client devices 102, 104, and 106 coupled to a network 108, which network 108 may include connections to one or more local and wide area networks (e.g., the internet), a content repository 110, and a search provider 112. According to one embodiment of the invention, a given client device 102, 104, and 106 is a general-purpose personal computer that includes a processor, temporary and permanent storage devices, an input/output subsystem, and a bus that provides a communications path between the components that make up the general-purpose personal computer. For example, a 3.5GHz Pentium 4 personal computer with 512MB of RAM, 40GB of hard drive storage space, and an Ethernet interface to the network. Other client devices are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, including but not limited to handheld devices, set-top terminals, mobile handsets, PDAs, and the like.

A given client device 102, 104, and 106 may communicate with a search provider 112 that hosts one or more content items. The search provider 112 may maintain one or more search servers 114, with a given search server 114 operable to host or generate one or more web pages. Search provider 112 may also include a repository that stores and transmits one or more content items in response to requests from client devices 102, 104, and 106. For example, the search provider 112 may include a search server 114 (e.g., Apache)^TMInternet information server^TMEtc.) and search database 116, according to one embodiment, search database 116 is a database that maintains an index of content items in an organized, structured manner. Search provider 112 may also maintain and execute program code operable to dynamically generate one or more content items, e.g.A search results page.

The results page provided by the search provider 112 to the clients 102, 104, and 106 may have links or references to one or more resources or content items for inclusion in the page and presentation by the clients 102, 104, and 106. Exemplary resources that a content item may include, but are not limited to, hyperlinks, JavaScript files, cascading style sheets, images, video, and audio.

Client devices 102, 104, and 106 are operable to send search requests containing search queries to search provider 112 and search server 114. Search server 114 processes incoming search requests and performs searches of search database 116, as known to those skilled in the art. Search server 114 may submit a request for search results to search database 116, and search database 116 returns one or more relevant search results 114. Search server 114 is operable to forward the received query to extraction module 118.

The extraction module 118 is operable to analyze a given user query and determine an appropriate category for the classification of the query. In one embodiment, the extraction module 118 may query one or more category databases (not shown) to locate matches to a given query. For example, if the user enters the query "super bad," the extraction module 118 may query one or more databases, including but not limited to a music database, a location database, sports data, and a movies database.

The extraction module 118 determines the type or category of query submitted and forwards the query and query type or category to the template storage 120, where the appropriate template is selected for a given query. In one embodiment, template storage 120 stores a plurality of skeleton templates for a given category. For example, a movie template may include a container for a movie poster image, a trailer link, a movie title, one or more movie reviews, one or more show times, and so forth.

A given template is forwarded from the template storage 120 to the template creation module 122. The template forwarded to the template creation module 122 may include an indication of how to populate a given template. For example, a template for a movie query may include a plurality of indications operable to cause the template creation module 122 to retrieve one or more showtimes and one or more reviews from a database, such as the search database 116. Although shown as a single database 116, in alternative embodiments, multiple databases may span multiple devices. For example, continuing with the movie query example described above, a first database may store the returned search queries, a second database may store movie listing data, and a third database may store rating and review data.

In an alternative embodiment, the template creation module 122 may pull multiple data elements across various domains. In this embodiment, the module 122 may execute search queries from various internal and external sources. For example, if the user query includes an artist and a song title, the template creation module 122 may be operable to retrieve a plurality of data from a plurality of data sources. For example, at least one music video asset may be retrieved from a third party video server such as YouTube or Launch. Additionally, lyrics for a song may be retrieved from a lyrics server, track information may be retrieved from a global database such as Gracenote, and album artwork may be retrieved via an image server.

The template creation module 122 is further operable to parse the first set of retrieved terms and generate a query based on the retrieved terms. Continuing with the artist/song title example given above, the template creation module 122 may extract the artist and song title and query an album database such as Gracenote. The album database may return a plurality of entries including one or more albums embodying the title of the song. The template creation module 122 may be operable to utilize the data and retrieve at least one album cover from the image server.

In one embodiment, the data retrieved by the template creation module 122 may include interactive elements such as video and audio. In this embodiment, the user may be presented with an interactive module that includes a plurality of interactive elements retrieved from a plurality of data sources. For example, an interactive module corresponding to a movie may include a trailer for the movie being queried that plays in response to a user interaction such as a mouse-over or mouse-click.

After a given template is built at the template creation module 122, the completed template is returned to the search server 114. According to one embodiment, the completed template may include multiple HTML and JavaScript program code. Search server 114 may receive the completed template and embed the template into the generated search results page. Templates may be presented at the top of a search results page to ensure that the user will see the query-specific template, although other locations of completed templates on the search results page are also considered to be within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 presents a flowchart illustrating a method for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent related content in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the search provider receives a query (step 202). The query may be received as an HTTP request via a GET or POST request, which may be stored in the header of the request or in a socket (cookie). The query may include a URL-encoded text string submitted through an HTML form.

Upon receiving the query, a category is extracted based on the received query (step 204). For example, a query may be received that contains the query term "daft punk," which may be associated with the category "music. A check is performed to determine if a category is found for a given query (step 206). If no category is found, one or more search results are provided to the user (step 220), as known to those skilled in the art. Thus, some searches may not be categorized, such as overly specific queries (e.g., "int to NSString conversion") or queries that are not categorized in multiple predefined category databases.

If a category is found for a given query, a template corresponding to the category may be retrieved (step 208). The method 200 may include retrieving a template from an external database containing one or more templates. A given template may include a number of HTML or JavaScript elements that make up the "skeleton" of the final template. A given template may include formatting elements of the template such as the size, location of the elements, and the type of elements within the template. An exemplary template is shown in example 1.

1 <div id＝′movietemplate′>2 <div id＝′movieimage′>#MOVIE IMAGE#</div>3 <div id＝′movietitle′>#MOVIE TITLE#</div>4 <div id＝′moviereviews′>#MOVIE REVIEWS#</div>5 <div id＝′movieshowtimes′>#MOVIE SHOWTIMES#</div>6 </div>

Example 1

As shown in example 1, a skeleton empty (barebones) movie template may be provided to provide results for queries related to movies. The method 200 may replace a given entry including a numeric symbol with data corresponding to aspects of a given user query.

The template may be retrieved and the template query may be executed (step 210). According to one embodiment, the template query may include a request for additional data using the provided user query as input. For example, a movie template may include multiple queries, such as "retrieve movie image", "retrieve movie title", "retrieve movie commentary", and "retrieve show time". These calls are used to retrieve data from one or more external data sources, such as a subject-specific external database, or from relevant information in an index stored in a different domain. The retrieved data is stored within the template (step 212). In a preferred embodiment, storing the query results may include updating the skeleton template with the retrieved data in text format.

The process described previously (steps 210 and 212) may be repeated for a given query present within a given template (step 214). Returning to example 1, lines 2 through 5 may represent four separate queries that return four data elements to be inserted into the skeleton template.

After the data retrieval of steps 210, 212, and 214, a final template module may be generated (step 216). In one embodiment, the retrieval process may simply store the data in local non-persistent storage, with the final data being combined to form the final graphical search results module. In an alternative embodiment, a number of other parameters may be examined to perform the final modification of the template module. For example, the browser type, operating system, or browser capabilities of the browser that the user is running may be checked to modify one or more display parameters of the final template module.

The final template module may then be combined with the search results retrieved in response to the user query (step 218), and the combined search results page and template module provided to the user (step 220). According to one embodiment, the server-side program is operable to combine the search results and the template module by inserting the template module into the existing HTML of the search results page at a predetermined location.

FIG. 3 presents a flow diagram illustrating an alternative method for generating a graphics module for displaying query-dependent related content in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a template query is performed (step 302). The template query may include a request for additional data using the provided user query as input. For example, a movie template may include multiple queries, such as "retrieve movie image", "retrieve movie title", "retrieve movie commentary", and "retrieve show time" queries. These queries utilize user queries to retrieve data from one of a plurality of external data sources, such as one or more content-specific external databases.

In response to a template query, a plurality of query results may be retrieved (step 304). The query results may include links to one or more content items that correspond to or are relevant to the given query. In one embodiment, the links to the one or more content items include links to the most relevant data located on an external server. For example, if a movie template requests a list of show times, a link to one or more content items representing show times may be returned. The link to a given content item may comprise XML or similar formatted data that may be parsed and placed within the template.

Individual results may be retrieved from the data set retrieved in step 304 (step 306) for storage in a data structure present in the template (step 308). According to one embodiment, the data structure may comprise an array or array-like structure having one or more results taken, where a check is made to determine whether the number of results selected is above or below a threshold (step 310). If the number of results is below the threshold, program flow returns to step 306 and processing may be performed again; if not, the next query may be executed (step 312).

As described, a threshold may be utilized to limit the number of results achieved that a template may display. For example, the present invention is operable to utilize existing database APIs to retrieve or otherwise identify links to content items included in a given template. In this embodiment, an exemplary search for show time may return a large number of results depending on the location the user is searching for. However, due to the limited space within the template, the template may only utilize a predetermined number of returned results. In one embodiment, only a subset of the retrieved results may be stored within the template, and additional links may be provided for the user to view the remaining results. In an alternative embodiment, the top plurality of results may be displayed, and in response to a user interaction (e.g., a mouse-over), a larger subset of the results may be displayed in a second panel overlaying the template. The larger subset may be stored within the search results page itself, or may be retrieved asynchronously in response to user interaction.

The template query may be executed to generate a final template module (step 314). In one embodiment, the retrieval process may store the data in non-persistent storage, where the data is combined to form the final module. In an alternative embodiment, a number of other parameters may be checked to perform the final modification to the template module. For example, the browser type, operating system, or browser capabilities may be examined to modify the display parameters of the final template module that is displayed to the user.

FIG. 4 presents a screen shot illustrating a graphical module for displaying query-specific templates generated in response to a user query for a movie title. As shown in FIG. 4, a user enters a search query 402 through an HTML form, as known to those skilled in the art. In response to the submitted user query, a search results page containing a plurality of search results is returned to the user (404).

In addition to the search results 404, a query-specific template 406 is presented to the user. As shown, the template 406 depends on the type of query entered by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the query-specific template 406 includes a plurality of template fields (fields) 408, 410, 412, and 414. The query-specific movie template 406 includes a movie images field 408, a title field, reviews and ratings field 412, and a show time field 414.

FIG. 4 shows the dynamic behavior of an embodiment of the invention as: the content of the template depends not only on the type of query 402 entered, but also on the content of the query 402. In addition to this dynamic aspect, in an alternative embodiment, the query may be analyzed to determine if additional parameters exist in the user query. As shown, the user query 402 may include additional parameters, such as an area code (as shown, "10022"), to provide greater granularity with respect to the data that the template 406 is operable to display. Upon receiving the user query 402, the search provider extracts additional parameters from the user query and also updates the template content by modifying the showtime field 414 to display the showtime of the queried movie closest to the submitted zip code.

FIG. 5 presents a screen shot illustrating a graphical module for displaying query-specific templates generated in response to a user query for a professional athlete. As shown in FIG. 5, a user enters a search query 502 through an HTML form, as known to those skilled in the art. In response to the submitted user query, the search engine returns a search results page to the user that includes one or more matching or otherwise related search results (504).

In addition to the search results 504, a graphical module for displaying a query-specific template 506 is presented to the user. According to the present embodiment, the template 506 depends on the type or category of query entered by the user. The query-specific template 506 may include a plurality of template fields 508, 510, 512, and 514. The query-specific athlete template 506 includes an athlete image field 508, an athlete field 510, a team data field 512, and a statistics field 514.

In addition, search results page 504 contains a list of related searches 516. Related searches 516 have been identified to further distinguish the present invention from the prior art. As can be seen in FIG. 5, a related search 516 in accordance with the current state of the art provides one or more helpful related searches. However, the related searches 516 do not necessarily contain the information sought by the user. In the current embodiment, the user is more likely to be interested in the player's current performance (as shown by the statistics field 514) than whether the player won or won the prize in the past (as shown by the "David orthogz hank arrona prize" present in the related link 516). In addition, the information provided by the query-specific template 506 appears on the current search results page 504, allowing the user to find relevant information while remaining on the search results page and eliminating the need to navigate to subsequent pages as required by the list of relevant links 516.

Fig. 1 to 5 are conceptual diagrams illustrating the present invention. It should be understood that various aspects of the embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In such embodiments, the various components and/or steps would be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same piece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one or more of the illustrated blocks (e.g., components or steps).

In a software implementation, computer software (e.g., programs or other instructions) and/or data is stored on a machine-readable medium as part of a computer program product and loaded into a computer system or other device or machine via a removable storage drive, hard drive, or communications interface. Computer programs (also called computer control logic or computer readable program code) are stored in main and/or secondary memory and executed by one or more processors (controllers, etc.) to cause the one or more processors to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In this document, the terms "machine-readable medium," "computer program medium," and "computer-usable medium" are used to generally refer to media such as: random Access Memory (RAM); read Only Memory (ROM); a removable storage unit (e.g., a magnetic or optical disk, flash memory device, etc.); a hard disk; electronic, electromagnetic, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); and so on.

Note that the figures and examples above are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the elements described or illustrated above. In addition, in the case where some elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of the known components that are necessary for understanding the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of the known components are omitted so as not to obscure the present invention. In this specification, an embodiment showing a single component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of that same component, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (17)

1. A method for generating a graphical module for displaying query-specific content, the method comprising:

receiving a query;

determining a category identifier for the query;

retrieving a category template corresponding to a category identifier of the query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields for a given category and one or more template-specific queries that retrieve data elements used to populate the one or more data element fields; retrieving one or more data elements associated with the query in accordance with the one or more template-specific queries;

populating the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and

an interactive module on a search results page is generated from the category template and a plurality of search results on the search results page are generated for display to a user in response to the query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the query comprises a search query submitted to a search engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the category identifier comprises locating the query in one or more category databases.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein executing at least one template query further comprises:

retrieving a plurality of individual resources retrieved in response to a template query; and

storing the plurality of individual resources, wherein a number of the stored individual resources is below a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a subset of the stored individual resources.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying step comprises:

hiding one or more remaining stored individual resources; and

one or more individual resources are displayed in response to the user interaction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interaction comprises a mouse over.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interaction comprises a mouse click.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the interactive module comprises generating an HTML file.

10. A system for generating a graphical module for displaying query-specific content, the system comprising:

one or more client devices coupled to the network;

a search provider coupled to the network operable to receive one or more search queries from the client device, the search provider comprising:

an extraction module operable to determine a category identifier for the query;

a template storage module operable to retrieve a category template corresponding to a category identifier extracted from the query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields for a given category and one or more template-specific queries that retrieve data elements used to populate the one or more data element fields;

a template creation module operable to retrieve one or more data elements associated with the query from the one or more template-specific queries, populate the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements, and generate an interactive module on a search results page from the category template and a plurality of search results on the search results page for display to a user in response to the query.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the query comprises a search query submitted to a search engine.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the template creation module is operable to:

retrieving a plurality of individual resources retrieved in response to a template query; and

storing the plurality of individual resources, wherein a number of the stored individual resources is below a predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the search server displays a subset of the stored individual resources.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the search server displays a plurality of remaining stored individual resources and displays all of the individual resources in response to user interaction.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interaction comprises a mouse over.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interaction comprises a mouse click.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein generating the interactive module comprises generating an HTML file.