The application requires in the right of priority of 35 U.S.C § 119 (e) of the associating provisional application sequence number 60/657,371 co-pending of " search engine that merges user's input " by name of submission on February 28th, 2005, and it is incorporated in here as a reference.
Summary of the invention
The present invention relates to be used to receive the system and method that comes to provide better Search Results from the user's of search engine input for the user of system.According to the present invention, user community can management database, can generate Search Results and the out of Memory relevant with search from this database.Especially, the user can voting result the correlativity of element in the tabulation, add side information, such as the link to relevant website, and the search terms that generates with computing machine that uses user's input moves other search.By this way, Search Results can provide more relevant information for the user.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a kind of method comprises in response to a plurality of users to be imported management database and shows Search Results from database in response to first search inquiry.Preferably, Search Results comprises the results list and the supplementary data relevant with first search inquiry.Management database comprises the combination in any of following operation, the element in the results list of promptly classifying again, the storage information relevant with the correlativity of element in the results list, blocks linking in the results list, stores and the linking of the first search inquiry document associated.
According to the present invention, they think relevant website and Search Results can be classified in response to user's mark, though the website outside their the access search context, even or they with the item beyond the search inquiry in first search come mark it.
In one embodiment, supplementary data comprises the description of first notion relevant with first search inquiry.In one embodiment, management database comprises interpolation, edits and deletes any one operation in the description of first notion.In other embodiments, the description of first notion comprises the linking of description of second notion relevant with first notion.In another embodiment, supplementary data comprise with one of first notion and second notion or both relevant list of concepts in index.Second notion is that subclass, first notion same existing of first notion and its appear at statistics and go up in the notion relevant with the appearance of first notion any one.One of kind by selecting preassigned, user's input and statistical relationship are determined the relation between first notion and second notion.
In another embodiment, supplementary data comprises and is used to automatically perform linking of second search inquiry relevant with first search inquiry.The item of second search inquiry is determined by user's input or by computing machine.The item that computing machine is determined be in the document of its same existing, the item that comprising first search inquiry the document of the item that comprises first search inquiry it the position and comprising any one derivation in the density that its occurs in the document of item of first search inquiry.In one embodiment, this method also comprises and uses abort criterion to end the ability that the user provides user input data.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a kind of method comprises to search engine to be submitted inquiry to, generate search result list, retrieves the side information relevant with inquiry and shows the results page that comprises search result list and side information.User's input is used for revising at least one of search result list and side information.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a kind of demonstration and method from the relevant Search Results of first user among a plurality of users and second user's input, comprise generate first Search Results in response to first inquiry, receive input from first user, in response to revising database from first user's input, receiving second inquiry relevant and to second Search Results of second user demonstration from the database generation with first inquiry.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a kind of system comprises Web server, and it is configured to show Search Results and the side information relevant with the item of first search inquiry; Search engine is used for Query Database and Search Results is provided in response to user inquiring; And content manager, be used for management side information in response to a plurality of user's inputs.Preferably, system also comprises first data storage device that is coupled to content manager, is used to store side information.
In one embodiment, content manager is configured to receive a plurality of user's inputs that are used to upgrade side information.Preferably, system also comprises the viewing area that is used to show side information.Side information comprises the description of first notion relevant with first search inquiry.Side information comprises the link of the description of second notion.In one embodiment, content manager be configured to receive be used to add, a plurality of users' inputs of editor or Remove Links.In another embodiment, content manager is configured to receive a plurality of user's inputs that are used to add, edit or delete the description of first notion.
In another embodiment, this system also comprises and is used to show the zone that links that is used to automatically perform second search inquiry relevant with first search inquiry.Preferably, this system also comprises and is used for importing the search engine of organizing Search Results based on a plurality of users.This search engine is configured to organize Search Results by the Search Results graduation is imported based on a plurality of users.This system also comprises the subscriber equipment that is used to carry out Web server.Subscriber equipment is personal computer, portable phone and one of personal digital assistant and is configured to use in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and the WAP (wireless application protocol) any one or a plurality ofly communicates by letter with Web server.
Embodiment
Embodiments of the invention, different with traditional search engine, utilize side information that the more relevant information user to searching for Internet is provided, be under user's situation about importing especially in this side information.For example, according to the present invention, first user who carries out search can add the information relevant with carrying out search of user's input, with the search information relevant with the notion of being quoted by inquiry.First user can import the description of (1) notion relevant with inquiry, (2) be used to carry out the suggestion of the search relevant with notion, (3) with " seeing also " hyperlink of relevant concept related query term, (4) query term related or suggestion, (5) to the feedback of the correlativity of result and his search, (6) any out of Memory.In addition, some or all of these information can be generated by computerized algorithm, Web crawl device or other technology.Second user who carries out similar or relevant search then can check this additional information except that the results list that is provided by search engine, thereby acquisition more may maximally related Search Results with him.This second user can add the information of user's input.Two users can both share the information relevant with search for.Therefore user community can share the information that helps the user to estimate or use more accurately and provide Search Results fast.
Database comprises the combination in any of the information collected works, search index itself and the following content that are used for replenishing search result list: the record of the data that the user of search finds useful data, imported by the user of search, and such as by preserving, classify, block, write, edit or deleted data.Database is expanded in one or more data storage devices and system.And also as described below, database can be managed in response to user's input.
According to other embodiments of the invention, Search Results also comprises the options that is used to show, include but not limited to, (1) is used for providing the mechanism of the feedback of the correlativity that the results list is linked, (2) be used to preserve link that can on the personal search page, show or the mechanism that votes for peer link and (3) be used for " obstruction " with Search Results the linking of irrelevant or undesirable in fact webpage.Other embodiment comprises demonstration and the link and the investment advertisement link of relevant search terms.
In whole instructions subsequently, term " search engine " is meant the equipment (or operate on the multi-purpose computer program) of inquiry being used as the results list of the input and the hyperlink of return electron document or webpage.Search engine comprises the index of document in its collected works, determines the code and the algorithm of each document relevance and sends the graphical user interface that the results list is given the user.
In whole instructions subsequently, term " inquiry " is meant the set of the item of submitting to search engine, no matter be typewrite, speak, submit to by " link " that embedded collection of search terms, or by other interface submission.Inquiry can comprise word, a plurality of word or phrase.Inquiry can be expressed as problem (for example, " natural language " inquiry) by phrase, freely gather (loose set), structurized boolean's expression.In fact, inquiry can comprise symbol and any other other character, and described symbol and any other other character are used for searching for by search engine and comprise searching character or electronic document or the webpage relevant with searching character.
In whole instructions subsequently, term " website " is meant the set of the webpage that is linked at together and can gets on WWW.Term " webpage " is meant the addressable publication on WWW from a plurality of main frames, and includes but not limited to text, video, image, music and figure.
In whole instructions subsequently, term " the results list " is meant that the hyperlink of quoting document or webpage is tabulated and other related information of each link, these documents or webpage are to use Hypertext Transmission Protocol (HTTP) or any agreement that other is used for accession page or other electronic document agreement to visit, and described other related information includes but not limited to the title of document, the summary of document, the link of the cached copies of document, document is by last index or last date of revising, with document associations or be positioned at wherein image, with the information of extracting from document.
As used herein, term " document " broadly defines, and also comprises computer documents and webpage except its general sense, and no matter whether these pages are really in response to the request that shows is dynamically stored or generated.Term " document " is not limited to comprise the computer documents of text, but also comprises the computer documents that comprises figure, audio frequency, video and other multi-medium data.
As below in greater detail, search engine obtains by the inquiry of user's input and uses various correlation calculations that the index of search terms and webpage is mated, and its objective is those the relevant webpages of information most probable that will discern and be searched by the user.Search engine then returns the hyperlink ranked list of these webpages, is considered to the top of the more close tabulation of maximally related link.According to the present invention, search engine is imported return results tabulation based on the user, and the user has the ability of input information to system, so that for example influence the document listed or the order of link in the results list.
According to the present invention, when the user had been sent the webpage that comprises the results list, he can select to add additional information to the page, and this is for subsequently by importing other users visible that identical or similar inquiry visits search engine.
Fig. 1 is used to show the schematic illustration of returning the typical graphics user interface (GUI) that is used for the display result page 100 in response to inquiry according to of the present invention.GUI allows the user to add, edit and check the description of relevant one or more notions relevant with query term, and interpolation, edits and check the suggestion of how to search for the information relevant with notion.
Results page 100 comprises the frame 110 that is used to insert query term, be used to show the description of the notion relevant with query term zone 120, comprise the description of the different concepts relevant with query term zone 130, comprise the zone 140 that the notion relevant with other query term " seeing also " link and the zone 180 of zone 150 that comprises the lists of links that causes that relevant query term is performed and advertisement link.Results page also 100 also comprises the zone 160 that comprises the results list that is returned by search engine.Zone 160 also comprises the mechanism 170 that is used to import user feedback and is used to preserve the mechanism that links 190 related with each result who is returned by search engine.As described in more detail below, in a preferred embodiment, zone 120,130,140 and 150 can be edited, add or be revised by the user, so that show the information that offers other user who carries out identical or similar inquiry.
Shown in the example of Fig. 1, when the user in frame 110 when input inquiry item " U2 " and request search, results page 100 is returned to him.Zone 120 shows the description of a notion relevant with query term " U2 ", and what import as the user here is the description of band " U2 ".The description that zone 130 illustrates the different concepts of inquiry " U2 ", what import as the user here is the U2 reconnaissance plane.Zone 150 explicit users also have interest allows the query term of the relevant search that search engine carries out, such as user's input or by " U2 concert admission ticket " or " U2iPod " of algorithm derivation.Zone 140 comprises " seeing also " hyperlink as the notion relevant with other query term user input or that derived by algorithm, such as " the Dragon Lady " of " Bono " or " U2 reconnaissance plane " notion of " U2 band " notion.
Zone 160 comprises Search Results and user feedback mechanisms 170.How good want that the content match of searching must have for corresponding webpage and he to use user feedback mechanisms 170, user to grade.In other words, if first webpage of listing in zone 160 comprises the relevant information relevant with the rock band U2 of user search, then the user can use user feedback mechanisms 170 with high mark (such as 5 stars) this link of grading.It is irrelevant but list in zone 160 to be exclusively used in second webpage of title of the clothes line that is called " U2 " and notion that the user searches, and this second webpage can be graded with lower mark (such as 1 star).According to the present invention, when after a while user also when interested in the search of band " U2 " with " U2 " inquiry, the search listing that returns to him comprises the top of the more close the results list of first webpage (classifying with 5 stars) and the bottom of the more close tabulation of second webpage (classifying with 1 star), or even does not list.By this way, the user has been presented the results list with correlated results of only at first listing.Visiting in the results list the user of website subsequently has bigger chance and checks the maximally related website of the notion of just searching with him.Except metadata and the out of Memory without user input, the order of the results list discipline is therefore based on user's feedback.
The user can also add the description 120 about the notion relevant with query term, the notion relevant background information that some is provided and has quoted by inquiry or suggestion, and described inquiry or suggestion relate to relevant with the described notion information of how searching for.The user can also revise, strengthens or remove the description about the notion relevant with query term, is added by itself or other user before this is described or revises.
The user can add the description of the additional concepts relevant with search terms, even imported other notion.For example, for query term " star wars ", the description of the notion of film " Star Wars " can be added, and comprises the information such as the story of a play or opera, performer and producer.Subsequently, the user can clickthrough 130, and this allows them to add and the relevant description of same queries item " starwars ", has described different notions, for example " strategic defensive initiatively or SDI ".
In interchangeable embodiment, add according to the present invention, revise or the notion of deletion be each other subclass (for example, sub-topics), same existing in document or with the appearance of statistical dependence mode.For example, notion " operating system " is theme and relevant sub-topics with " Linux ".And, in interchangeable embodiment,, determine that notion is relevant according to the kind and the statistical computation (for example, notion has multifrequency together in document numerous) of preassigned, user's input.
The user can add to be linked to hyperlink or " seeing also " of different query term related notions and quotes 140.As an example, the user add Star Wars film notion " seeing also " partly, the hyperlink of the notion of George Lucas, the author/producer of query term " GeorgeLucas ".The user can revise, adds or delete " seeing also " and quote.
The user can be that notion adds the inquiry of suggestion, and described notion makes inquiry be submitted to search engine when clicked, and this search engine returns the results page 100 that comprises the results list 160 related with side information 120,140 and 150.
The search engine algorithm that can also use a computer generates the query term of being advised.For example, the item of such computerized algorithm searching documents to determine in identical document (with existing), in preset distance each other or in predetermined density (pre-determined number at least promptly occurring), often to occur.Therefore algorithm determines that these are relevant, and search engine provides query term as suggestion.Replacedly, computerized algorithm keeps the tabulation of query term, such as the synonym or the word modification of also advising to the user.
The user can add or preserve and is considered to and the linking of the document of notion height correlation.This can finish by manual input link or by the icon 190 of clicking hyperlink or being labeled as " preservations ", or is pointed out by other item such as " bookmark ", " label " or " adding collection to ".Because different user will have the most relevant relevant different ideas with website, therefore algorithm according to the present invention is determined the order of listed website.In one embodiment, algorithm uses " inside " to handle, and makes that receiving maximum " ballot " (for example by maximum user " preservation ") documents places higherly in the results list.
If in the results list that being generated by search engine also appears in the link of institute's " preservation " document, it also is one that has been voted for by the user that this icon 165 can be used for illustrating this link.And, below each Search Results is " By " clauses and subclauses 167, and the title that it shows the user who adds link makes the part that it can be used as the results list be returned, and " Tags " clauses and subclauses 168, it has listed user and the item that links all marks or generated by prior searches.
According to the present invention, the link of website can be with by listing in two ways with the link of the user of iconic marker input as mentioned above, as two independent tabulations: the link of (1) the results list (algorithm) and user's input or, or (2) merge in the tabulation.
Two or more people can revise any information described here.As an example, first user writes out and second user's modification, first user's work.First user can " reduce " or update second user's work.Should import what information if two or more people disagree with, then they can be by alternate manner communication (for example, forum, Email, immediate information software) so that manage conflict and should say that to clauses and subclauses what reaches an agreement.
If any two or more users can not solve their the relevant different opinions of should importing and so on, then they can take their difference to " editor " that can solve these different opinions." editor " is responsible for a large amount of motif areas and has calming down controversial issue, interpolation or deletion information, and finally removing the user's of refusal cooperation authority.
If the user imports the information that other people often restore, can suppose that then this user does not import people and wants the information of putting up.For example, the user may uglify or destroy the information in the motif area.A rule can be implemented, and the user who has made clauses and subclauses restore pre-determined number in the section between it requires is at a time ended a certain predetermined amount of time.This rule is intended to reduce the amount of destruction.
Except the information of any particular type of suggestion here, the user can import the information of any kind of.As an example, for all performers, their webpage the Internet film database (
Www.imdb.com) link be transfused to.Perhaps for the city, the link that the Weather.com page of Current Temperatures and weather condition is shown is transfused to.Perhaps, for a first song, sell song, the lyrics, artist other song or even the link of performing the website of some or all of songs be transfused to.
Will be understood that, can make a lot of modifications according to the present invention.For example, can directly read the feedback that the user generates from file rather than user from the input of terminal.And, although results page 100 shows the information such as " seeing also " link 140, will be understood that according to the present invention the result of information page that comprises user input can illustrate with the combination in any in a plurality of zones, described zone comprise those zones shown in Figure 1 or except the zone.This information be used to make Search Results more comprehensively, accurate and meaningful.
Fig. 2 is the process flow diagram that the operation of internet hunt application 200 has been described according to an embodiment of the invention.Internet hunt uses 200 for the user provides ability to system's input information, and the input based on this user allows other user to receive more significant Search Results thus.This information is used for the document graduation (for example the result that search engine is initially returned classifies again) of the results list that will generate in response to ad hoc inquiry, perhaps adds for user's Useful Information of carrying out identical or similar search.This results list therefore can be in response to user feedback by " transformation " with backspace significative results more, and return the additional information relevant with the theme of inquiring about.
In step 205, the user submits inquiry to search engine.Then this process proceeds to the step 210 and 220 that can be performed simultaneously.In step 210, calculate search result list, and in step 220, retrieval side information (for example the zone among Fig. 1 120,130,140 and 150).Step 210 and 220 all proceeds to 230, and wherein results page (for example 100 among Fig. 1) is sent to the user.Step 230 proceeds to any one in the step 240,250,260 and 270.
In step 240, the user is allowed to add or editor's additional information (for example the zone among Fig. 1 120,130,140 and 150).Replacedly, in step 250, the user can click the search link (for example zone among Fig. 1 130) of suggestion; Or, click " seeing also " link (for example zone among Fig. 1 140) in step 260; In step 270, access websites one of (for example follow in the zone 150 in Fig. 1 link after).Step 240 is circulated back to step 230, and step 250,260 and optional 270 all loops back 280 to step 205.Replacedly, from step 270, the user can proceed to step 290, and wherein inquiry is finished.
Fig. 3 explanation is according to each parts of system 300 of the present invention.System 300 comprises the subscription client 305 that is connected with Web server 310.Web server 310 is coupled to content manager 320 and search engine 340.Content manager 320 is coupled to the data repository 330 that is used to store supplemental content.Search engine 340 is coupled to the data repository 350 that comprises document index, itself then be coupled to index 360.Index 360 is coupled to web content database 370, and it is coupled to Web crawl device 380.Web crawl device 380 is coupled to one or more websites 399 by internet 390.
In the operation, Web crawl device 380 navigates on internet 390, and access websites 399 is also filled web content database 370.Index 360 uses web content database 370 to create document index 350.When the user generated inquiry to subscriber's main station 305, Web server 310 sent to search engine 340 with searching request.Search engine 340 determines which webpage is the most relevant with this inquiry probably, and the feedback of using above-mentioned user to generate is created the results list.The grade that search engine 340 uses the user to generate is as mentioned above come the ranking results tabulation, and the results list is fed back to the user for demonstration.
Also in response to inquiry, content manager 320 comprises conceptual description, other conceptual description, " seeing also " link and relevant query term from the data repository 330 retrievals side information relevant with inquiry.This information for example shows respectively in the zone 120,130,140 and 150 of Fig. 1.Content manager 320 also allows the user to add, edit or removes side information.Website 310 will be from the result of search engine 340 and information combination from content manager 320, and this combination is returned to the user.Content manager 320 determines whether the user changes side information, and if change, then it is stored in the data repository 330.For after move the user of identical or similar search new or updated information is available now.
Fig. 4 is each hardware component that has illustrated according to the internet hunt application system of using for user 405 400 of the present invention.System 400 comprises the client device 410 that is coupled to Web server 430 by internet 420.Client device 410 can be any equipment that is used to visit Web server 430 and is configured to use the Internet protocol such as, but not limited to http (HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)) and WAP (WAP (wireless application protocol)) to communicate.Preferably, client device 410 is personal computers.Replacedly, client device 410 is another equipment that includes but not limited to handheld device, such as cell phone or PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), can use such as the standard of HTML (HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)), HDML (handheld device markup language), WML (WAP Markup Language) etc. and come presentation information.
Web server 430 is coupled to content server 440 and search server 460.Content server 440 is coupled to data storage device 450 and search server 460 is coupled to data storage device 470.
Be understood that easily for those skilled in the art, under the situation of the spirit and scope of the present invention that do not depart from the claims qualification, can make other modification embodiment.