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-9323848-B2
Application number	US-201414588191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Apr 4, 2003
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

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 a search query string from a first user;
identifying a plurality of keywords in the search query string;
determining whether any keyword, of the plurality of keywords, qualifies as a location keyword based on the keyword satisfying certain criteria;
wherein determining whether any keyword qualifies as a location keyword includes determining that the search query string includes a location keyword;
determining that the location keyword is associated with a first location;
in response to determining that the location keyword is associated with the first location, identifying one or more location-specific results;
wherein the one or more location-specific results are associated with the first location; and
providing the one or more location-specific results as a response to the search query string;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. 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 to the second search query string.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the first 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.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

5. 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.

6. 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 a table of terms with meanings that are location-specific;
wherein the table of terms includes a particular entry that associates the particular term with the second location.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving information, from 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.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the one or more location-specific results from a subdomain that is indexed according to location.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second search query string;
wherein the search query string includes the location keyword;
determining that the location keyword is at least included in an entry of a list of location-exception terms;
in response to determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms, identifying one or more non-location-specific results;
wherein the one or more non-location-specific results are not specific to any particular location; and
providing the one or more non-location-specific results as a response to the second search query string.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the second search query string comprises a second term; and
determining that the location keyword is at least included in the entry of the list of location-exception terms comprises identifying the second term in the entry of the list of location-exception terms.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:
receiving a search query string from a first user;
identifying a plurality of keywords in the search query string;
determining whether any keyword, of the plurality of keywords, qualifies as a location keyword based on the keyword satisfying certain criteria;
wherein determining whether any keyword qualifies as a location keyword includes determining that the search query string includes a location keyword;
determining that the location keyword is associated with a first location;
in response to determining that the location keyword is associated with the first location, identifying one or more location-specific results;
wherein the one or more location-specific results are associated with the first location; and
providing the one or more location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
receiving a second search query string:
determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and
adding the location keyword to the second search query string.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the first 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.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for identifying the first location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
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.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term,
identifying a second location based, at least in part, on a table of terms with meanings that are location-specific;
wherein the table of terms includes a particular entry that associates the particular term with the second location.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
receiving information, from 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.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , the instructions further comprising instructions for:
identifying the one or more location-specific results from a subdo

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

• H04W4/025

  using location based information parameters · CPC title

• Y10S707/99934

  Query formulation, input preparation, or translation · CPC title

• G06Q30/0256 Primary

  User search · CPC title

• G06F16/248

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• Y10S707/99933

  Query processing, i.e. searching · CPC title