Patent · US Active

Determining search query specificity

US8370319B1 · kind B1 · utility

41Cited by
4References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 8, 2011
Grant dateFeb 5, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 22, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/9535
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods described and suggested herein utilize various techniques to assess the degree of specificity of search queries. By assessing the degree of specificity of search queries, the systems and methods may be used to determine where the submitting users' intentions fall along the continuum between specific and general searching. Thus, the systems and methods may be used to, among other uses, deliver search results that more closely coincide with the users' intentions. For example, if data associated with a search query indicates that users typically submit the search query with the intention of specific searching, embodiments may tailor search results to include a limited number of highly relevant search-result items. On the other hand, for example, if data associated with a search query indicates that users typically submit the search query with the intention of general searching, embodiments may tailor search results to include a diverse set of search-result items from multiple categories.

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