Patent ID: 8065316
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method performed by one or more server devices, the method comprising: receiving, by the one or more server devices, a first search query; receiving, by the one or more server devices, after receiving the first search query, a second search query that is different from the first search query; identifying, by one or more processors of the one or more server devices, based on a set of predetermined criteria, that the second search query is a refinement query of the first search query; collecting, by the one or more processors of the one or more server devices, a plurality of refinement query suggestions for the first search query, where the plurality of refinement query suggestions includes the second search query; counting, by the one or more processors of the one or more server devices, a quantity of times that each refinement query suggestion, of the plurality of refinement query suggestions, was previously received and identified, by the one or more server devices, as a refinement of a query that matches the first search query; storing the plurality of refinement query suggestions in a memory associated with the one or more server devices; clustering, by the one or more processors of the one or more server devices, the stored plurality of refinement query suggestions to form a plurality of clusters; identifying, by the one or more processors of the one or more server devices, a particular cluster, of the formed plurality of clusters, based on the plurality of refinement query suggestions within the particular cluster; selecting, by the one or more processors of the one or more server devices, from within the identified particular cluster, at least one potential refinement query suggestion, where the selecting includes: transmitting, by a communication interface of the one or more server devices, the selected at least one potential refinement query suggestion to a client associated with a user, the transmitting occurring in response to receiving, from the user, a third search query that matches the first search query.