Routing query results

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9558274-B2
Application number	US-201113287997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2011
Priority date	Nov 2, 2011
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

Systems and method for routing search query results in a networked computing environment. An initial search query is reformulated into at least one sub-query in accordance with one or more configurable rules. The sub-query is sent to at least one information system or source, and any potential hits associated with the same are optionally combined and then rendered for viewing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for routing search query results in a networked computing environment, the method comprising:
receiving, at an application executing on the first computing device, a search string comprising at least one key term;
generating a plurality of queries based on the at least one key term, wherein two or more of the plurality of queries includes at least one query expression;
sending the plurality of queries to at least one information source for evaluation of a corresponding at least one query expression against information accessible to the at least one information source;
receiving a plurality of query results, wherein two or more of the plurality of query results include a result classification identifying a type of a corresponding query result and a priority classification identifying a significance of a corresponding query result;
combining at least two of the plurality of query results into a combined query result based on the result classification and the priority classification of two or more the at least two of the plurality of query results, wherein the at least two of the plurality of query results are one of interleaved and stacked to form the combined query result; and
sending at least the combined query result to a second computing device for rendering within an interface executing thereon.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of query results comprise a results table including a collection of information arranged in a column and row format.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a results table is an ordered collection of results.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a results table is an unordered collection of results.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the key term is at least one of a user entered query term, a web part configured query term, a site navigation context and a user context.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search string is mapped to the plurality of queries in accordance with one or more mapping rules.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more mapping rules assigns a type to one or more expressions of the plurality of queries, wherein the type describes a classification associated with the at least one key term.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one information source is at least one of a local index, a search application and a database application.

9. A computing device, comprising:
a processing unit; and
a system memory connected to the processing unit, the system memory including instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to implement a mapping module, a results module, and a web part module, each configured to route search query results in a networked computing environment, wherein:
the mapping module is configured to:
receive a search string comprising at least one key term;
generate a plurality of queries based on the at least one key term, wherein two or more of the plurality of queries includes at least one query expression; and
send each one of the plurality of queries to at least one information source for evaluation of a corresponding at least one query expression against information accessible to the at least one information source;

the results module is configured to:
receive a plurality of query results, wherein each one of the plurality of query results include a result classification identifying a type of a corresponding query result and a priority classification identifying a significance of the corresponding query result; and

the web part module is configured to:
combine at least two of the plurality of query results into a combined query result based on the result classification and the priority classification of each of the at least two of the plurality of query results, wherein the at least two of the plurality of query results are one of interleaved and stacked to form the combined query result; and
send at least the combined query result to a second computing device in for rendering within an interface executing thereon.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of query results comprise a results table including a collection of information arranged in a column and row format.

11. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein a results table is an ordered collection of results.

12. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one information source is selected from the group comprising: a web search engine; a database application; and an index associated with the application.

13. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein a results table is an unordered collection of results.

14. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the web part module includes a plurality of web parts that implement one or more controls that enable end users to view and modify content, appearance, and behavior of Web pages.

15. The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising a query module, wherein the query module is configured to transmit the search string comprising the at least one key term to the mapping module.

16. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is further caused to implement an index, wherein the index comprises data structured in accordance with a schema associated with an application executing on the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the processing unit is further caused to implement a configuration module, wherein the configuration module comprises one or more rules for combining the plurality of query results.

18. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the configuration module is operable to provide an interface comprising a web part configuration section for configuring web parts and a search results configuration section for configuring the one or more rules.

19. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the search results configuration section enables a user to associate the web parts with a set of corresponding information sources.

20. A computer-readable storage device not consisting of a propagated data signal, the computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a first computing device, cause the first computing device to perform steps comprising:
receive, at an application executing on the first computing device, a search string comprising at least one key term;
generate a plurality of queries based on the at least one key term, wherein two or more of the plurality of queries includes at least one query expression;
send the two or more of the plurality of queries to at least one information source for evaluation of a corresponding at least one query expression against information accessible to the at least one information source;
receive a plurality of query results each comprising a results table including a collection of information arranged in a column and row format defined by one of an ordered collection of results and an unordered collection of results, wherein two or more of the plurality of query results include a result classification identifying a type of a corresponding query result and a priority classification identifying a significance of a corresponding query result;
combine at least two of the plurality of query results into a combined query result based on the result classification and priority classification of two or more the at least two of the plurality of query results, wherein the at least two of the plurality of query results are one of

Assignees

• Holm Fredrik
• Narula Puneet
• Poznanski Victor
• Taranov Viktoriya
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Holm Fredrik
• Narula Puneet
• Poznanski Victor
• Taranov Viktoriya

Classifications

• G06F17/30672

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/30864 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/30566

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F16/3338

  Query expansion · CPC title

• G06F16/256 Primary

  in federated or virtual databases · CPC title