Search System Using Search Subdomain And Hints To Subdomains In Search Query Statements And Sponsored Results On A Subdomain-By-Subdomain Basis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239503-A1
Application number	US-201615136668-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2003
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, via the internet, a search query string from a client system; identifying, using a search server computer, a plurality of keywords in the search query string; determining that the search query string lacks a location keyword by:
for each keyword in the plurality of keywords, determining, using the search server computer, that the keyword is not associated with any geographic location;
determining, using the search server computer, that the search query string is implicitly local; determining a geographic location associated with the client system; in response to determining that the search query string is implicitly local, identifying, using the search server computer, one or more location-specific results that are associated with the geographic location; providing, using the search server computer, the one or more location-specific results to the client system associated with the first user as a response to the search query string.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location associated with user preferences of a user of the client system.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on an IP/network address associated with said client system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on a mobile access point used by the client system to send the search query string.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the search query string is implicitly local is based, at least in part, on determining that the search query string reflects an intent to make a purchase that is typically made locally.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second search query string; determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and adding the location keyword associated with the geographic location to the second search query string.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the geographic location; in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the geographic location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point associated with the client system.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term; identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving information, from the client system of the first user, requesting generic search results; in response to receiving said information:
identifying non-location-specific search results;
wherein identifying the non-location-specific search results is not specific to a particular location; and
providing the non-location-specific search results as a response to the search query string.

11 . A system comprising:
one or more processors; a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors perform:
receiving, via the internet, a search query string from a client system;
identifying, using a search server computer, a plurality of keywords in the search query string;
determining that the search query string lacks a location keyword by:
for each keyword in the plurality of keywords, determining, using the search server computer, that the keyword is not associated with any geographic location;

determining, using the search server computer, that the search query string is implicitly local;
determining a geographic location associated with the client system;
in response to determining that the search query string is implicitly local, identifying, using the search server computer, one or more location-specific results that are associated with the geographic location;
providing, using the search server computer, the one or more location-specific results to the client system associated with the first user as a response to the search query string.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location associated with user preferences of a user of the client system.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on an IP/network address associated with said client system.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on a mobile access point used by the client system to send the search query string.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining that the search query string is implicitly local is based, at least in part, on determining that the search query string reflects an intent to make a purchase that is typically made locally.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:
receiving a second search query string; determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and adding the location keyword associated with the geographic location to the second search query string.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:
receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the geographic location; in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform identifying the geographic location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point associated with the client system.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:
receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term; identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

20 . The system of claim 11 ,

Assignees

• Yahoo Inc

Inventors

• Diab Ali
• Gatz Scott A
• Kapur Shyam
• Ku David
• Kung Chuck
• Hoang Phu
• Lu Qi
• Pogue Lynne
• Shen Yuan Kui
• Shi Norman
• Tran Thai
• Walther Eckart
• Weiner Jeff

Classifications

• G06F16/9537 Primary

  Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries · CPC title

• G06Q30/0261

  based on user location · CPC title

• G06F16/9032

  Query formulation · CPC title

• G06F16/951

  Indexing; Web crawling techniques · CPC title

• G06F16/252

  between a Database Management System and a front-end application · CPC title