Semantic selection and purpose facilitation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9305108-B2
Application number	US-201213646628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2012
Priority date	Oct 5, 2011
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for proposing actions to a user to select based on the user's predicted purpose for selecting content are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an identifier of a referent entity associated with user-selectable content, identifying, based on a prediction of a purpose in selecting the content, at least one action to be executed that is associated with the entity, and providing, for display, at least one identifier of the at least one action to the device for selection by a user. Systems, graphical user interfaces, and machine-readable media are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for proposing actions to a user to select based on the user's predicted purpose for selecting content, the method comprising:
receiving an identifier of a referent entity from a device, the referent entity selected from a list of suggested entities identified from fixed user-selectable content displayed on the device;
identifying at least one descriptor associated with the referent entity;
identifying, based on a context in which the referent entity is selected by a user from the list of suggested entities, at least one action to be executed for the referent entity that is selected from a list of actions associated with the descriptor and the referent entity; and
providing, for display, at least one identifier of the at least one action to the device for selection by the user,
wherein at least one of the suggested entities is associated with a weight value indicating a likelihood that the at least one suggested entity is a referent of the fixed user-selectable content, and
wherein the at least one action is added to the list of actions in response to a previous action taken by the user or another user after the referent entity has been identified to the user or the another user.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the context comprises at least one of a current location of the device, a past location of the device, the type of the device, a previous action associated with the referent entity taken by the user or another user, a search query, information on another user associated with the user, the file from which the user-selectable content was selected, and the remaining content from which the user-selectable content was selected.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein another action from the list of actions is manually added by another user to the list of actions associated with the descriptor.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein, when the referent entity is a product, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the product, identifying a seller of the product, providing a price for the product, or providing an offer associated with the product.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein, when the product is software, the at least one action further comprises providing a location for downloading the software, or installing the software.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein, when the referent entity is a service, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the service, identifying an availability of the service, identifying a location where the service is being provided, or providing an option to purchase the service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein, when the referent entity is a location, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the location, identifying an address of the location, providing directions to the location, providing information on availability of the location, providing information on parking associated with the location, or providing an offer associated with the location.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein, when the referent entity is a person, the at least one action comprises providing contact information for the person, a description of the person, an image of the person, or information on a relationship with the person.

9. A system for proposing actions to a user to select based on the user's predicted purpose for selecting content, the system comprising:
a memory comprising user-selectable content; and
a processor configured to:
receive an identifier of a referent entity from a device, the referent entity selected from a list of suggested entities identified from fixed user-selectable content displayed on the device;
identify at least one descriptor associated with the referent entity;
identify, based on a context in which the referent entity is selected by a user from the list of suggested entities, at least one action to be executed for the referent entity that selected from a list of actions associated with the descriptor and the referent entity; and
provide, for display, at least one identifier of the at least one action to the device for selection by the user, and
wherein at least one of the suggested entities is associated with a weight value indicating a likelihood that the at least one suggested entity is a referent of the fixed user-selectable content, and
wherein the at least one action is added to the list of actions in response to a previous action taken by the user or another user after the referent entity has been identified to the user or the another user.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the context comprises at least one action based on at least one of a current location of the device, a past location of the device, the type of the device, a previous action associated with the referent entity taken by the user or another user, a search query, information on another user associated with the user, the file from which the user-selectable content was selected, and the remaining content from which the user-selectable content was selected.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein, when the referent entity is a product, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the product, identifying a seller of the product, providing a price for the product, or providing an offer associated with the product.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when the product is software, the at least one action further comprises providing a location for downloading the software, or installing the software.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein, when the referent entity is a service, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the service, identifying an availability of the service, identifying a location where the service is being provided, or providing an option to purchase the service.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein, when the referent entity is a location, the at least one action comprises providing a review of the location, identifying an address of the location, providing directions to the location, providing information on availability of the location, providing information on parking associated with the location, or providing an offer associated with the location.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein, when the referent entity is a person, the at least one action comprises providing contact information for the person, a description of the person, an image of the person, or information on a relationship with the person.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein another action from the list of actions is manually added by another user to the list of actions associated with the descriptor.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for proposing actions to a user to select based on the user's predicted purpose for selecting content, the method comprising:
receiving an identifier of a referent entity from a device, the referent entity selected by a user from a list of suggested entities identified from fixed user-selectable content displayed on the device;
identifying at least one descriptor associated with the referent entity;
identifying at least one action, from a list of actions associated with the descriptor and the referent entity, to be executed for the referent entity based on at least one of a current location of the device, a past location of the device, the type of the device, a previous action associated with the refere

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Nordstrom Paul
• Whitelaw Casey Stuart

Classifications

• G06Q30/02 Primary

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title

• G06F17/30905 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F16/9577

  Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• H04L67/535

  Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34) · CPC title