Patent · US Active

System and method for query refinement to enable improved searching based on identifying and utilizing popular concepts related to users' queries

US7483885B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
16References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 2006
Grant dateJan 27, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 14, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99945
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Refining a user query is disclosed. In one method, a query is received from a user, and then mapped to one or more search concepts. A list of search concepts associated associated with the query is then displayed. Alternatively or additionally, the search concepts associated with the query are used to provide a set of improved search results. In another method, a number of queries from a number of users are analyzed to identify two or more search concepts, and a popularity value is assigned to them based on the queries. Thus, the relative popularity of the respective search concepts can be determined. Alternatively or additionally, a preferred search query for the search concepts can be determined. The popularity and preferred queries can be used to allow automatic or user-initiated refinement.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.