Patent Publication Number: US-8533173-B2

Title: Generating search query suggestions

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This specification relates to digital data processing, and in particular, to computer-implemented search services. 
     Conventional search services provide search query suggestions as alternatives to input search queries. For example, a conventional search engine can include a query input field that receives an input search query. In response to receiving the input search query, a conventional search service can provide search query suggestions for the input search query. A user can select a search query suggestion for use as a search query. 
     Conventional search services provide search query suggestions that are particular to the search service that generated the search query suggestions. Some conventional search services provide query suggestions that are specifically directed to searching a particular type of resource, e.g., images, videos, web pages. In addition, some search services provide alternatives to the input query that identify Internet addresses, e.g., Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), of suggested resources that are relevant to the input query. Different search services generally provide different input suggestions. 
     SUMMARY 
     This specification describes technologies relating to generation of search query suggestions. 
     In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving in a data processing device a first textual input entered in a search engine query input field by a user; automatically sending from the device, before the user submits a request for a search and after waiting a predetermined amount of time after receiving each token of the first textual input, the first textual input to a first search service and a second search service; receiving from the first search service a set of first input suggestions, each first input suggestion being textually different from the first textual input and selectable as an alternative to the first textual input; receiving from the second search service a set of second input suggestions that is different from the set of first input suggestions, each second input suggestion being textually different from the first textual input and selectable as an alternative to the first textual input; and displaying the first input suggestions in a first portion of a user interface and the second input suggestions in a second portion of the user interface, where the first portion is distinct from the second portion. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. 
     These and other embodiments can optionally include one or more of the following features. The method further includes receiving a user selection of a first input suggestion; and sending the selection to the first search service and not the second search service. The method further includes storing the first input suggestions and the second input suggestions in a local cache memory; receiving a second textual input entered in a search engine query input field by the user after receiving the first textual input and after the first input suggestions and the second input suggestions are stored in the local cache memory; comparing the second textual input to the first textual input and determining that the first textual input is the same as the second textual input; and displaying the first input suggestions and the second input suggestions stored in the local cache memory. 
     The first input suggestions are query expansions that represent alternative queries. The second input suggestions identify Internet addresses of suggested resources. The device is an intermediate server. The device is a client computer directly controlled by the user. Displaying the first input suggestions and the second input suggestions includes displaying the first input suggestions in the first portion and the second input suggestions in the second portion of a same interface element in the user interface. The same interface element is a drop-down menu. The method further includes rendering the first portion using a first color and the second portion using a distinct second color. The method further includes receiving user preferences specifying the first search service and the second search service. 
     Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. Automatically obtaining and displaying first input suggestions from a first search service and second input suggestions from a second search service reduces how much user interaction is required to obtain search suggestions from multiple search services and perform searches using a selected search suggestion for a particular search service. In addition, automatically obtaining and displaying first input suggestions from a first search service and second input suggestions from a second search service can increase the coverage of searches by capturing search query suggestions for multiple search services that can be directed to searches for different types of resources. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a flow of data in some implementations of a system that generates input suggestions using multiple search services. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example input suggestion aggregator. 
         FIG. 3A  is a screenshot illustrating an example of a web page presenting a group of first input suggestions generated using a first search service. 
         FIG. 3B  is a screenshot illustrating an example of the web page presenting the group of first input suggestions and a group of second input suggestions generated using a second search service. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an example process for automatically generating input suggestions using multiple search services. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a flow of data in some implementations of a system that generates input suggestions using multiple search services. A module  110 , e.g., a JavaScript script, installed on a client  115  monitors input  120  received in a search engine query input field from a user  122 . In some implementations, the module  110  is plug-in software that is installed in a web browser running on the client  115 . In some alternative implementations, the module  110  is installed on an intermediate server that receives the input  120 . 
     The module  110  receives the input  120  and automatically sends the input  120  to multiple search services, e.g., a first search service  125  and a distinct second search service  130 , as the input  120  is received. Each search service returns one or more input suggestions for searches to be performed by the particular search service. The first search service  125  generally will return a set of input suggestions that is different from a set of input suggestions returned by the second search service. In some implementations, the user  122  can specify the multiple search services by setting user preferences. 
     The module  110  receives first input suggestions from the first search service  125  and second input suggestions from the second search service  130 . The input suggestions are alternatives to the input  120 , e.g., expansions, completions, transliterations. The first input suggestions and the second input suggestions are all distinct from the input  120 . 
     The module  110  can present the first input suggestions and second input suggestions to the user  122  in real time, i.e., as the user  122  is typing characters in the search engine query input field. For example, the module  110  can present a first collection of first input suggestions and second input suggestions associated with a first character typed by the user  122 , and present a second collection of first input suggestions and second input suggestions associated with a sequence of the first character and a second character in response to the user  122  typing the second character in the sequence. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example input suggestion aggregator  210 . The input suggestion aggregator  210  includes an input detection submodule  220 , a data control submodule  230 , a data processing submodule  240 , and a render submodule  250 . The input detection submodule  220  detects input entered in a search engine query input field. 
     The data control submodule  230  communicates with two or more search services. In some implementations, the data control submodule  230  creates a thread for each of the two or more search services. In some implementations, the data control submodule  230  includes an event handler, e.g., an Ajax handler. The event handler generates calls to a communication engine, e.g., an Ajax engine, that sends asynchronous requests, e.g., XMLHttp requests, for input suggestions to the two or more search services. In some implementations, the data control submodule  230  generates a call to the communication engine immediately after each token of a textual input, e.g., after each character of a first search query or each word of a first search query, is received at the search engine query input field. As a result, input suggestions can be provided to the user as the user types each token of the textual input. In some alternative implementations, the data control submodule  230  implements a delay, waiting a predetermined amount of time before automatically making the request to the two or more search services. The predetermined amount of time is specified in the module  110 . The predetermined amount of time can be any amount of time, e.g., 0 ms, 150 ms, greater than or equal to 0. In practice, the predetermined amount of time typically falls in a range between 0 ms and 500 ms. In some implementations, the user  122  can specify the predetermined amount of time by setting user preferences. 
     The data control submodule  230  receives different input suggestions from the two or more search services and sends the input suggestions to the data processing submodule  240 . The data processing submodule  240  stores the input suggestions in a computer-readable memory, e.g., a local cache memory implemented in a local random access memory. In some implementations, the data processing submodule  240  stores the textual input in the computer-readable memory and associates the input suggestions with the textual input. When another textual input, e.g., a second search query, is received, the data processing submodule  240  can compare the other textual input to textual inputs associated with input suggestions stored in the computer-readable memory. If the other textual input is the same as a stored textual input, then the data processing submodule  240  provides the input suggestions associated with the stored textual input to the render submodule  250  for rendering without requesting input suggestions from the search services. 
     The render submodule  250 , e.g., an Ajax render engine, renders the input suggestions for display to the user as the input suggestions are received from the search services. In some implementations, the render submodule  250  renders input suggestions for each search service for display in distinct portions of a user interface. 
       FIG. 3A  is a screenshot illustrating an example of a web page presenting a group  310  of first input suggestions generated using a first search service. The web page includes a search query input field  320 . The search query input field  320  includes a search query “bd”. First input suggestions were requested from the first search service by the input suggestion aggregator  210 . 
     The input suggestion aggregator  210  receives first input suggestions and displays the first input suggestions in an interface element of the web browser showing the web page. In the example of  FIG. 3A , the interface element is a drop-down menu showing first input suggestions that are transliterations of expansions of “bd”, e.g., “ ” (“Bīn dé” in Romanized Chinese), “ ” (“B{hacek over (a)}i dù” in Romanized Chinese). When a user selects one of the first input suggestions, the input suggestion aggregator  210  sends the selection to the first search service, and the first search service responds in accordance with the selection. 
     In some implementations, the first input suggestions identify Internet addresses of suggested resources, e.g., relevant web pages. When a user selects one of the first input suggestions, the input suggestion aggregator  210  sends the selection to the first search service, and the first search service redirects a web browser instance to the Internet address of the suggested resource identified by the selected first input suggestion. 
       FIG. 3B  is a screenshot illustrating an example of the web page presenting the group  310  of first input suggestions and a group  330  of second input suggestions generated using a second search service. In the example of  FIG. 3B , the input suggestion aggregator  210  is configured to request first input suggestions from the first search service and second input suggestions from the second search service before the user submits a request for a search, e.g., by pressing an “Enter” key or selecting a “Search” button on the web page. In the example, the second input suggestions are transliterations of expansions of “bd”, e.g., “   ” (“B{hacek over (a)}i dù” in Romanized Chinese), “ ” (“B{hacek over (a)}i dù zhī dao” in Romanized Chinese). The input suggestion aggregator  210  displays the first input suggestions and the second input suggestions in distinct portions, e.g., a first portion  340  and a second portion  350 , of a same interface element, e.g., a drop-down menu. Because the first input suggestions and second input suggestions are displayed in distinct portions, a user can easily distinguish between an input suggestion associated with the first search service and one associated with the second search service. In some implementations, a user can easily determine whether an input suggestion is associated with the first search service or the second search service because the first portion  340  has an indicator  342  identifying the first search service, e.g., a “First Search Service” label, and the second portion  350  has an indicator  352  identifying the second search service, e.g., a “Second Search Service” label. 
     In some implementations, render submodule  250  further or alternatively distinguishes the groups of first input suggestions and second input suggestions by rendering the first portion  340  and second portion  350  with distinct visual features. For example, in  FIG. 3B , the first portion  340  is rendered using a first color, e.g., as represented by boundaries with a first pattern, and the second portion  350  is rendered using a distinct second color, e.g., as represented by boundaries with a second pattern. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3B , when a user selects one of the second input suggestions, the input suggestion aggregator  210  sends the selection to the second search service, and a web browser instance is redirected to a web page displaying search results generated by the second search service for the selected second input suggestion. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an example process  400  for automatically generating input suggestions using multiple search services. The process  400  includes receiving  410  in a data processing device a first textual input entered in a search engine query input field by a user. The process  400  also includes automatically sending  420  from the device, before the user submits a request for a search and after waiting a predetermined amount of time after receiving each token of the first textual input, the first textual input to a first search service and a second search service. 
     The process  400  also includes receiving  430  from the first search service a set of first input suggestions, and receiving  440  from the second search service a set of second input suggestions that is different from the set of first input suggestions. Each first input suggestion and second input suggestion is textually different from the first textual input and selectable as an alternative to the first textual input. The process  400  also includes displaying  450  the first input suggestions in a first portion of a user interface and the second input suggestions in a second portion of the user interface. The first portion is distinct from the second portion. 
     Embodiments of the subject matter and the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a tangible program carrier for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The tangible program carrier can be a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, or a combination of one or more of them. 
     The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. 
     A computer program, also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, or declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data, e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files, e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. 
     The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). 
     Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, to name just a few. 
     Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. 
     To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. 
     Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described is this specification, or any combination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet. 
     The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. 
     While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any implementation or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. 
     Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.