Patent Document ID: 7689540
Application ID: 11613004

Base Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving multiple series of queries; determining that each of the multiple series of queries were submitted by a user when seeking information that satisfies a single information need; determining that a starting point of each of the multiple series of queries is the same, the starting point being at least one query submitted chronologically before other queries included in the multiple series of queries; determining that an end point of at least some of the multiple series of queries differs, the end point being at least one query submitted chronologically after the at least one query representing the starting point; in response to determining that the starting point of each of the multiple series of queries is the same and that the ending point of at least some of the multiple series of queries differs: identifying a subset of end points of the multiple series of queries that excludes at least the end point found in a minimum number of the multiple series of queries; and generating a query reformulation path that associates the starting point with the subset of end points; and storing the generated query reformulation path to enable presentation of the subset of end points in response to receipt of the at least one query representing the starting point.

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Claim 5:
5. The method of claim 1 wherein: identifying the subset of end points of the multiple series of queries that excludes at least the end point found in the minimum number of the multiple series of queries comprises identifying the end point found in a maximum number of the multiple series of queries; generating the query reformulation path that associates the starting point with the subset of end points comprises generating the query reformulation path that associates the starting point with the end point found in the maximum number of the multiple series of queries; and storing the generated query reformulation path to enable presentation of the subset of end points in response to receipt of the at least one query representing the staffing point comprises storing the generated query reformulation path to enable presentation of the end point found in the maximum number of the multiple series of queries in response to receipt of the at least one query representing the staffing point.