AU2012202541A1 - System and method of inclusion of interactive elements on a search results page - Google Patents

Abstract

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INCLUSION OF INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS ON A SEARCH RESULTS PAGE A method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content, the method comprising: receiving a user query; identifying a category for the user query; retrieving a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields io specific to the category; generating one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query; retrieving one or more data elements in response to the one or more category template queries; populating the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and generating a graphical module on 15 a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements.

Description

S&F Ref: 941085D1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Yahoo! Inc., of 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, of Applicant: 94089, United States of America Actual Inventor(s): HALL, Ashley; RAJU, Swati, CHI, Liang-Yu Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: System and method of inclusion of interactive elements on a search results page The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(6246772_1) WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INCLUSION OF INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS ON A SEARCH RESULTS PAGE COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0@01] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD OF INVENTION [00021 The invention disclosed herein relates generally to generating query-dependent related content. More specifically, the present invention is directed towards systems and methods for receiving a search query and generating interactive content elements that provide links to data that are related to the original query. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [00031 A primary goal of the.Internet search engine is to accomplish the task of indexing a continually expanding collection of data. A multitude of techniques have been developed to crawl through content on the Internet and index each content item that the crawler encounters. The result is a tremendous searchable database what allows users to quickly find documents that are relevant to a given search query. [00041 The current state of the art, however, merely provides search results matching or related to a given query and does not fully exploit known categorical attributes of a given search to filly optimize the manner in which a search engine presents a search results page. For example, a user may enter a search query comprising the name of a musician and may receive a search results page with links to a plurality of content items related to the musician, such as the official website of the musician, lyrics of songs by the musician, photos regarding the musician, etc. Where one or more specific content items related to the user are not included in the search results, the user typically must enter one or more subsequent search queries and review one or 1/20 more sets of search results. This approach has the disadvantage of increasing the response time to providing an answer to the initial query intention of the user. 100051 Prior art techniques attempt to remedy this situation by providing a list of related queries at the top of a search results page. For example, in response to a 5 query for a musician, a search results page may display a list of the top related queries as one or more hyperlinks to subsequent search results pages. This solution is not ideal as the user must still navigate to one or more subsequent search results pages. Furthermore, the related links that the search results page provides do not represent the full spectrum of information for a given query. 10 100061 Thus there is a need in the art for an interactive module for inclusion in a search results page that is operative to provide the user with direct content experiences as well as links to a plurality of content items related to a given search query. Additionally, there is a need for a search module that provides a comprehensive listing of available search queries or topics. Furthermore, there is a is need in the art for a modernization of the standard search results page to decrease the amount of time necessary for a user to locate information that he or she desires. The systems and methods of the present invention provide solutions to this need by providing a dynamic and interactive module that is operative to provide the relevant data seamlessly and efficiently in the context of a search results page. 20 SUMMARY [0007] The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content. [00081 An aspect of the present invention provides a method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content, the method 25 comprising: receiving a user query; identifying a category for the user query; retrieving a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields specific to the category; generating one or more category template queries associated with the one 30 2/20 or more data element fields based on the user query; retrieving one or more data elements in response to the one or more category template queries; populating the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and generating a graphical module on a search results page responsive to 5 the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements. 10009] Another aspect of the present invention provides a system for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content, the system comprising: a search provider coupled to one or more client devices 10 communicatively coupled to a network, the search provider operative to receive one or more search queries from the client devices, the search provider comprising: an extraction module operative to identify a category for a user query; a template storage module operative to retrieve a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data is element fields specific to the category; a template creation module operative to generate one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query, retrieve one or more data elements according to the one or more category template queries, and populate the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data 20 elements; and a search server operative to generate a graphical module on a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements. [00101 Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer readable 25 media comprising program code for execution by a programmable processor that instructs the processor to perform a method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content, the computer readable media comprising: program code stored on a physical computer readable media for receiving a user query; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for 30 identifying a category for the user query; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for retrieving a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields specific to the category; program code stored on the physical 35 3/20 computer readable media for generating one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for retrieving one or more data elements in response to the one or more category template queries; 5 program code stored on the physical computer readable media for populating the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and program code stored on the physical computer readable media for generating a graphical module on a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements. 10 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 100111 This application is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2008307247 filed on 18 September 2008. The entire content and is disclosure of Australian Patent Application No. 2008307247 is incorporated herein as if explicitly set forth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00141 The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are 20 intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: [00151 Fig. I presents a block diagram illustrating a system for generating a graphical module for the display of query-dependent related content according to one embodiment of the present invention; [00161 Fig. 2 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a 25 graphical module for the display of query-dependent related content according to one embodiment of the present invention; 30 [NEXT PAGE IS PAGE 5/201 4/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 100171 Fig. 3 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-dependent related content according to another embodiment of the present invention; [00181 Figs. 4 and 5 present screen diagrams illustrating a graphical module for the display of query-dependent content within a search results page according to various' embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [00191 In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 100201 In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [00211 Fig. 1 presents a block diagram depicting a system for generating a graphical module for the display of query-dependent related content according to one embodiment of the present invention. A system 100 comprises a plurality of client devices 102, 104 and 106, a content store 110 and a search provide 112 coupled to a network 108, which may include a connection to one or more local and wide area networks, such as the Internet. According to one embodiment of the invention, a given client device 102, 104 and 106 is general-purpose personal computer comprising a processor, transient and persistent storage devices, input/output subsystem and bus to provide a communications path between components comprising the general-purpose personal computer. For example, a 3.5 GHz Pentium 4 personal computer with 512 MB of RAM, 40 GB of hard drive storage space and an Ethernet interface to a network. 5/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 Other client devices are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention including, but not limited to, hand held devices, set top terminals, mobile handsets; PDAs, etc. [00221 A given client device 102, 104 and 106 may be in communication with a search provider 112 that hosts one or more content items. The search provider 112 may maintain one or more search servers 114, a given search server 114 operative to host or generate one or more web pages. The search provider 112 may also comprise a repository for:the storage And transmission of one or more content items in response to a request from a client device 102, 104 and 106. For example, the search provider 112 may comprise a web site that includes a search server 114 (e.g., ApacheTM, Internet Information ServerTM, etc.) and a search database 116, which according to one embodiment is a database that maintains an index of content items in an organized and structured manner. The search provider 112 may further maintain and execute program code that is operative to dynamically generate one or more content items, for example, a search results page. [00231 A resultant page that the search provider 112 provides to a client 102, 104 and 106 may have links or references to one or more resources or content items for inclusion in the page and rendering by the client 102, 104 and 106. Exemplary resources that a content item may comprise include, but are not limited to, hyperlinks, JavaScript files, Cascading Style Sheets, images, video and audio. [00241 A client device 102, 104 and 106 may be operative to transmit a search request that contains a search query to a search provider 112 and search server 114. The search server 114 handles the incoming search requests and performs a search of the search database 116, as is known by those of skill in the art. The search server 114 may submit a request to search database 116 for search results, the search database 116 returning one or more relevant search result 114. Search server 114 is operative to forward the received query to the extraction module 118. 6/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 [00251 The extraction module 118 may be operative to analyze a given user query and determine an appropriate category for classification of the query. In one embodiment, the extraction module 118 may query one or more category databases (not shown) to locate matches for a given query. For example, if a user enters the query "superbad", extraction module 118 may query one or more databases, including, but not limited to, a music database, a location database, a sports data and a movies database. [0026] The extraction module 118 determines the type or category of query submitted and forwards the query and query type or category to template storage 120, where an appropriate template is chosen for a given query. In one embodiment, the template storage 120 stores a plurality of skeleton templates for a given category. For example, a movies template may comprise a container for a movie poster image, a for a trailer link, a movie title, one or more movie reviews, one or more show times, etc. [00271 A given template is forwarded from template storage 120 to template creation module 122. A template forwarded to the template creation module 122 may comprise instructions on how to fill a given template. For example, a template for a movie query may comprise a plurality of instructions operative to cause the template creation module 122 to retrieve one or more show times from a database such as search database 116 and one or more reviews. Although illustrated as a single database 116, in an alternative embodiment a plurality of databases may span a plurality of devices. For example, continuing the previously described movie query example, a first database may store the returned search queries, a second database may store the movie listing data and a third database may store the ratings and reviews data. [00281 In an alternative embodiment, a template creation module 122 may pull a plurality of data elements spanning a variety of domains. In this embodiment, module 122 may perform search queries from a variety of internal and external sources. For example, if a user query comprises and artist and song title, template creation module 122 may be operable to retrieve a plurality of data from a plurality of data sources. For example, at least one music video resource 7/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 may be retrieved from a third party video server, such as YouTube or Launch. Additionally, lyrics to the song may be retrieved from a'lyrics server, track information may be retrieved from a global database such as Gracenote and album artwork may be retrieved via an image server. 100291 Template creation module 122 may further be operable to parse a first' set of retrieved items and generate queries based on the retrieved items. Continuing the artist/song title example previously presented, a template creation module 122 may extract the artist and song title and query an album database, such as Gracenote. The album database may return a plurality of items including the album or albums featuring the song title. The template creation module 122 may be operative to utilize this data and retrieve at least one album cover from an image server. [00301 In one embodiment, data retrieved by template creation module 122 may comprise interactive elements, such as video and audio. In this embodiment, an interactive module may be presented to the user comprising a plurality of interactive elements retrieved from a plurality of data sources. For example, an interactive module corresponding to a movie may comprise a trailer for the queried movie that plays in response to a user interaction such as a mouseover or mouseclick. [00311 After construction of a given template at the template creation module 122, the completed template is returned to the search server 114. In accordance with one embodiment, a completed template may comprise a plurality of HTML and JavaScript program code. Search server 114 may receive the completed template and embed the template into the generated page of search results. The template may be presented at the top of a search result page, guaranteeing a user will see the query-specific template, although other locations of the completed template on the search results page is contemplated as falling within the scope of embodiments of the present invention. [00321 Fig. 2 presents a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a graphical module for the display of query-dependent related content according to one embodiment of the 8/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 present invention. As Fig. 2 illustrates, a search provider receives a query, step 202. A query may be received as an HTTP request via a GET or POST request, the query being stored within the header of the request or within a cookie. The query may comprise a URL encoded text string submitted via an HTML form. [00331 Upon receiving the query, a category is extracted on the basis of the received query, step 204. For example, a query may be received containing the query terms "daft punk," which may be associated with the category "music". A check is performed to determine if a category is found for the given search query, step 206. If no category was found, one or more search results may be provided to the user as is known to those of skill in the art, step 220. Accordingly, some searches may not be categorized, such as overly specific queries (e.g., "int to NSString conversion") or queries that are not categorized within a plurality of predefined category databases. [00341 If a category for a given query is found, a template corresponding to the category may be retrieved, step 208. The method 200 may comprise retrieving a template from an external database containing one or more templates. A given template may comprise a plurality of HTML or JavaScript elements forming a "skeleton" of a final template. A given template may comprise formatting elements of the template such as size, position of elements and type of elements within the template. An exemplary template is shown in Example I. 1 <div id='movietemplate'> 2 <div id='movieimage'>#MOVIE IMAGE#</div> 3 <div id-'movietitle'>#MOVIE TITLE#</div> 4 <div id='moviereviews'>#MoVIE REVIEWS#</divy 5 <div id='movieshowtimes'>#MoVIE SHOWTIMES#</div> 6 </div> Example 1 As Example 1 illustrates, a barebones movie template may be provided for providing results for queries that are related to movies. The present method 200 may replace a given entry. enclosed with number signs with data corresponding to various aspects of the given user query. 10035] The template is retrieved and a template query may be executed, step 210. In accordance with one embodiment, a template query may comprise a request for additional data 9/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 utilizing the supplied user query as the input. For example, a movie template may comprise a plurality of queries such as a "fetch movie image", "fetch movie title", "fetch movie reviews" and "fetch show times". These calls are utilized to fetch data from one or more external data sources, such topic specific external databases, or from relevant information in the index stored in different domains. The retrieved data is stored within the template, step 212. In a preferred embodiment, storing the query results may comprise updating a skeleton template with the retrieved data in a textual format. [0036] The previously described process (steps 210 and 212) may be repeated for a given query present within a given template, step 214. Returning to Example 1, lines 2 through 5 may represent four separate queries returning four data elements to be inserted into the skeleton template. [0037 Following the data retrieval of steps 210, 212 and 214, the finalized template module may be generated, step 216. In one embodiment, the retrieval process may merely store data in local, non-persistent storage, wherein the final data is combined to form a final graphical search result module. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of other parameters may be inspected for perform final modification to the template module. For example, a browser type for the browser the users is executing, operating system or browser capabilities may be inspected to modify one or more display parameters of the final template module. [0038] The finalized template module may then be combined with the search results fetched in response to the user query, step 218, and the combined search result page ind template module are provided to the user, step 220. In accordance with one embodiment, a server side program may be operative to combine the search results and the template module by inserting the template module into the existing HTML of the search results page at a predetermined position. [00391 Fig. 3 presents a flow diagram illustrating an alternative method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-dependent related content according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As Fig. 3 illustrates, a template query is executed, step 10/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 302. A template query may comprise a request for additional data utilizing the supplied user query as the input. For example, a movie template may comprise a plurality of queries such as a "fetch movie image", "fetch movie title", "fetch movie reviews" and "fetch showtimes" query. The queries utilize the user query to fetch data from one of more external data sources, such as one or more content specific external databases. 100401 In response to the template query, a plurality of query results may be retrieved, step 304. Query results may comprise links to one or more content items that correspond or are relevant to a given query. In one embodiment, links to one or more content items comprise links to the most relevant data located on an external server. For example, if a movie template requests a list of showtimes links to one or more content items representing showtimes may be returned. A link to a given content item may comprise XML or similarly formatted data that may be parsed and placed within the template. [0041] An individual result may be fetched from the data set retrieved in step 304, step 306, for storage within a data structure present within the template, step 308. According to one embodiment, a data structure may comprise an array or array-like structure comprising the one or more retrieved results, with a check made to determine if the number of selected results is above or below a threshold, step 310. If the number of results is below the threshold, program flow returns to step 306 and the process may be re-executed; if not, a next query may be executed, step 312. 10042] As described, a threshold may be utilized to limit the number of retrieved results that a template may display. For example, the present invention may be operative to utilize an existing database API to retrieve or otherwise identify links to content items for inclusion in a given template. In this embodiment, an exemplary search for showtimes may return a large number of results, depending on the location for which the user is searching. Due to limited space within the template, however, the template may utilize only a predetermined number of the returned results. In one embodiment, only a subset of the retrieved results may be stored within 11/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 the template and an additional link may be provided for a user to view the remaining results. In an alternative embodiment, a first plurality of results may be displayed and in response to a user interaction (e.g., a mouseover) a larger subset of the results may be displayed in a second panel overlaying the template. The larger subset may be stored within the search results page itself, or may be fetched asynchronously in response to the user interaction. [0043] The template queries may be executed for generation of the final template module, step 314. In one embodiment, the retrieval process of may store data in non-persistent storage, wherein the data is combined to form a final module. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of other parameters may be inspected for performing a final modification to the template module. For example, browser type, operating system or browser capabilities may be inspected to modify display parameters of the final template module for display to the user. 100441 Fig. 4 presents a screen diagram illustrating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific template generated in response to a user query for a movie title. As Fig. 4 illustrates, a user enters a search query 402 via an HTML form as is known to those of skill in the art. In response to a submitted user query, a search results page containing a plurality of search results is returned to the user 404. [00451 In addition to the search results 404, a query-specific template 406 is presented to the user. As illustrated, the template 406 is dependent on the type of query entered by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, a query-specific template 406 comprises a plurality of template fields 408, 410, 412 and 414. A query-specific movie template 406 comprises a movie image field 408, a title field 410, a reviews and ratings field 412'and a showtimes field 414. 10046] Fig. 4 illustrates the dynamics of the present embodiment of the invention as the contents of the template are dependent on both the type of query 402 entered and additionally the content of the query 402. In addition to this dynamic aspect, in an alternative embodiment, the query may further be analyzed to determine if additional parameters are present within the user query. As illustrated, a user query 402 may comprise an additional parameter such as an area 12/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 code (as illustrated, "10022") to provide greater granularity as to the data that the template 406 is operative to display. Upon receipt of the user query 402, the search provider extracts the additional parameter from the user query and further updates the template contents by modifying the showtimes field 414 to display showtimes of the queried movie closest to the submitted zip code. [0047] Fig. 5 presents a screen diagram illustrating a graphical module for the display of query-specific template generated in response to a user query for a professional athlete. As Fig. 5 illustrates, a user enters a search query 502 via an HTML form as is known to those of skill in the art. In response to a submitted user query, a search engine returns a search results page comprising one or more matching or otherwise relevant search results to the user 504. [0048] In addition to the search results 504, a graphical module for the display of a query-specific template 506 is presented to the user. According to the present embodiment, the template 506 is dependent on the type or category of query that the user enters. A query-specific template 506 may comprise a plurality of template fields 508, 510, 512 and 514. A query specific athlete template 506 comprises an athlete image field 508, an athlete field 510, a team data field 512 and a statistics field 514. [0049] Additionally, search results page 504 contains a list of related searches 516. Related searches 516 have been identified to further distinguish the present invention from prior art techniques. As can be seen from Fig. 5, related searches 516 in accordance with the current state of the art provide one or more helpful related searches. The related searches 516, however, do not necessarily contain the information for which the user is looking. In the current embodiment, a user is more likely to be interested in the current performance of an athlete, as shown through statistics field 514, as opposed to whether he has won an award in the past, as shown through 'david ortiz hank aaron award" present within related lincs 516. Furthermore, the information that the query-specific template 506 provides is present on the current search results page 504, thereby allowing the user to find relevant information while remaining on the 13/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 search results page and obviating the need to navigate to a subsequent page as required by the list of related links 516. [0050] Figs. I through 5 are conceptual illustrations allowing for an explanation of the present invention. It should be understood that various aspects of the embodiments of the present invention could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the various components and/or steps would be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same piece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one or more of the illustrated blocks (e.g., components or steps). 100511 In software implementations, computer software (e.g., programs or other instructions) and/or data is stored on a machine readable medium as part of a computer program product, and is loaded into a computer system or other device or machine via a removable storage drive, hard drive, or communications interface. Computer programs (also called computer control logic or computer readable program code) are stored in a main and/or secondary memory, and executed by one or more processors (controllers, or the like) to cause the one or more processors to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In this document, the terms "machine readable medium," "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium" are used to generally refer to media such as a random access memory (RAM); a read only memory (ROM); a removable storage unit (e.g., a magnetic or optical disc, flash memory device, or the like); a hard disk; electronic, electromagnetic, optical, acoustical, or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); or the like. [0052] Notably, the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an 14/20 WO 2009/045738 PCT/US2008/076808 understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. [0053] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s). [0054] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 15/20

Claims (20)

1. A method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query specific content, the method comprising: 5 receiving a user query; identifying a category for the user query; retrieving a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields specific to the category; to generating one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query; retrieving one or more data elements in response to the one or more category template queries; populating the one or more data element fields of the category template is with the one or more data elements; and generating a graphical module on a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements.

2. The method of claim I wherein the category template includes one or more 20 formatting elements of at least one of size, element positioning, and type of elements.

3. The method of claim I further comprising: extracting one or more parameters from the user query; and 25 updating the one or more data element fields based on the one or more parameters.

4. The method of claim I wherein identifying the category comprises associating one or more query terms from the user query with a given category. 30

5. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving one or more data elements further comprises: retrieving a plurality of individual results retrieved in response to a given category template query; and 16/20 storing the plurality of individual results within a corresponding data element field in the category template.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprises displaying one or more 5 individual resources in response to a mouse interaction.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mouse interaction comprises a mouse over. to

8. A system for generating a graphical module for the display of a query specific content, the system comprising: a search provider coupled to one or more client devices communicatively coupled to a network, the search provider operative to receive one or more search queries from the client devices, the search provider comprising: is an extraction module operative to identify a category for a user query; a template storage module operative to retrieve a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields specific to the 20 category; a template creation module operative to generate one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query, retrieve one or more data elements according to the one or more category template queries, and populate the 25 one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and a search server operative to generate a graphical module on a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements. 30

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the category template includes one or more formatting elements of at least one of size, element positioning, and type of elements. 35 17/20

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the extraction module is operative to: extract one or more parameters from the user query; and update the one or more data element fields based on the one or more parameters. 5

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the extraction module is operative to associate one or more query terms from the user query with a given category.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the template creation module is operative 10 to: retrieve a plurality of individual results retrieved in response to a given category template query; and store the plurality of individual results within a corresponding data element field in the category template. 15

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the search server is further operative to display one or more individual resources in response to a mouse interaction.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the mouse interaction comprises a mouse 20 over.

15. Computer readable media comprising program code for execution by a programmable processor that instructs the processor to perform a method for generating a graphical module for the display of a query-specific content, the 25 computer readable media comprising: program code stored on a physical computer readable media for receiving a user query; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for identifying a category for the user query; 30 program code stored on the physical computer readable media for retrieving a category template corresponding to the category for the user query, the category template comprising one or more data element fields specific to the category; 18/20 program code stored on the physical computer readable media for generating one or more category template queries associated with the one or more data element fields based on the user query; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for 5 retrieving one or more data elements in response to the one or more category template queries; program code stored on the physical computer readable media for populating the one or more data element fields of the category template with the one or more data elements; and 10 program code stored on the physical computer readable media for generating a graphical module on a search results page responsive to the user query utilizing the category template with the one or more data elements.

16. The computer readable media of claim 15 wherein the category template is includes one or more formatting elements of at least one of size, element positioning, and type of elements.

17. The computer readable media of claim 15 wherein the program code for identifying the category further comprises: 20 program code for extracting one or more parameters from the user query; and program code for updating the one or more data element fields based on the one or more parameters. 25

18. The computer readable media of claim 15 wherein the program code for identifying the category comprises associating one or more query terms from the user query with a given category.

19. The computer readable media of claim 15 wherein the program code for 30 retrieving one or more data elements further comprises: program code for retrieving a plurality of individual results retrieved in response to a given category template query; and 19/20 program code for storing the plurality of individual results within a corresponding data element field in the category template.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19 further comprises program code 5 for displaying one or more individual resources in response to a mouse interaction. Dated 1 May, 2012 Yahoo! Inc. 10 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON 20/20