DE102006032105A1 - Apparatus and method for ordering search results - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for sorting search results, wherein at least one search term is determined (S1, S2), at least one search location is determined (S3), as a function of the at least one search term, S search results are determined (S4) and the search results are ordered in dependence on the at least one search location for generating a location-dependent search result (S5).

Description

The The present invention relates to a device and a Method for location-dependent Order search results and an associated computer readable medium.

Especially The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for location-dependent Organize search results within the Internet or World Wide Web (WWW) taking into account a place of origin.

The World Wide Web has the accessibility revolutionized to an unimaginable amount of information, in electronic form as written data, audio data or Image and video data in archived form or in real time.

Of the Information exchange within the Internet takes place under a so-called client-server model. Individual clients lead one here Request to centralized server on the web by, which as a data store or serve as a filing. The previous web servers analyze this the search request and answer this with a corresponding Search result in a more or less ordered form.

With the rapidly growing amount of data content on the Internet or However, World Wide Web results in more and more search hits, which is finding a desired one Content greatly impeded.

conventional Search engines therefore filter a respective hit list, for example based on settings in a given browser such as a language. Such language-dependent search engines deliver however in some cases only insufficient search results or hit lists.

Of the Invention is therefore the object of a device and a method for ordering search results and a computer-readable one To create a medium with which one improved for the user Generate hit list.

According to the invention this Task with regard to the method by the measures of the claim 1, with regard to the device by the features of the claim 10 and with regard to the computer-readable medium by the features of claim 19 solved.

One The method for ordering search results can therefore be the steps , wherein at least one search term is determined, at least a search location is determined, using search results Place of origin information depending on the at least a search term can be determined, and the search results depend on from the at least one search location for generating a location-dependent Search results are ordered. That way you can search results for the first time under consideration ordered and issued at the place of origin. A relevance determined hit lists will be greatly improved.

Preferably becomes the search location in dependence determined by at least one search term. More specifically, this can an analysis of the search request or the search term to make it out Conclusions on a desired search location close.

For example in determining the search location, comparing the search term with entries in a variety of dictionaries that associated with the respective locations, and outputting the location performed as a search location, where a maximum match is detected. The search location can be a country, a region of the country or a sub-region in each of which a common language or a common language Dialect exists. However, the search location can also be a topic area in each of which there is a common topic. In dependence of the concrete search terms thus used by the user probably desired search locations be set automatically and the hit list accordingly be arranged optimally.

Furthermore can the search term in the respective language or the respective one Dialect of possible Places to confirm be acoustically reproduced by the user. This way you can the reorganization of the hit list or of the search result depending on be further improved by a user input.

Further may be spending the location-dependent Search results be realized in such a way that the search results marked locally on an overview map are. User comfort is thereby further improved.

Regarding the device for ordering search results are from a Search term generator generates at least one search term, from a search engine dependent on from at least one search term search results with place of origin information generates from a location determination unit at least one search location determined and from a valuation unit the search results in dependence from the at least one search location for generating a location-dependent search result rated and rearranged.

In the further subclaims Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized.

The Invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment with reference closer to the drawing described.

It demonstrate:

1 a simplified block diagram of a client-server system with inventive device;

2 a simplified block diagram of the device according to the invention; and

3 a simplified flow diagram illustrating essential steps of the method according to the invention.

1 shows a simplified block diagram of a client-server system with inventive device for location-dependent ordering of search results according to the present invention.

According to 1 a client C is connected to a server S via a network N. The network N is for example a packet-switching network and in particular the so-called Internet. Of course, alternative networks can also be used.

The client C may, for example, a PC, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a smartphone or other telecommunications terminal having at least one client memory CS and a client processor CP. The client memory is, for example, a random access memory (RAM) and the client processor is a microprocessor. The telecommunication terminal or the client C can also have a browser or a browser-like application with which the terminal has access to the Internet or the network N and the server S connected thereto. Such browsers are, for example, Microsoft's Internet Explorer ^™ , Netscape Navigator ^™ from Netscape Communication Corporation or Safari ^™ from Apple Computer Incorporation.

About one Such a browser, for example, realized by the server S Homepage be driven with a corresponding search engine, where in a corresponding input field from a user on the client side a search request SA and from the search engine implemented in the server a corresponding list of hits or a sorted by location search result OSE is sent.

Of the Server S, in which the device according to the invention for location-dependent ordering of search results and the associated method preferably Consequently, a server processor SP and a. can be realized Server memory SS, in which the actual location-based search engine OSM for location-dependent Ordering search results is realized.

Of the Server memory SS serves as a computer readable medium, in the program code can be stored and processed by the server processor SP. Preferably, a RAM (Random Access Memory) is used as a server memory used. As computer-readable media for storing the program code according to the invention can but also floppy disks, CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic disks, memory chips, ROM, ASICS and preconfigured processors or microcontrollers and all optical and magnetic media are used which can be read and processed by a computer. Of the Program code can be in any programming language such as C, C ++, Visual Basic, JAVA, etc. programmed be.

According to 1 the inventive device for location-dependent ordering of search results next to a database DB, in which essentially the web contents of the network N are stored with their place of origin information, further a dictionary database with a plurality of dictionaries W1 to Wx, the respective origin locations are assigned. The database DB preferably represents an indexed database which contains web pages with associated origin information. The origin information can be obtained, for example, from the contact area of the respective web page and therefore, for example, a respective country, a respective region of the country or a subregion. The place represents in this case a geographical place of origin.

In but the same way, the place can also be understood thematically and indicate a respective place of origin in a particular subject area. Such topics can for example, the natural sciences, the law or the music sciences, which are also a specific one Language or a specialized vocabulary. According to the present Invention can Consequently, search results that depend on a search term obtained obtained from a database DB corresponding to a predetermined search location to generate a location-dependent search result OSE ordered and generated.

The 3 shows a flowchart for illustrating essential steps of the inventive method, as shown for example in the server S according to 1 can be performed.

According to 3 After a start in step S0, first a search request SA sent by the client C via the network N is detected. The search request SA may comprise, for example, a string or a string with one or a plurality of words or search terms, as they are usually entered in a corresponding input field by a user.

In In step S2, the search request SA acquired in step S1 is generated of at least one search term SB decomposed, for example Spaces or special characters can be used. Basically, the Search terms can also be determined by means of so-called "parsers".

In a step S3 now at least one search location SO is set. In the simplest case, the search location SO can be manually from a user are entered, the search locations used in the invention not only geographical locations, but also by subject-ordered areas can represent. Preferably, however, in step S3, the at least one search location SO in dependence automatically determined by the determined search term SB or certainly. In this case, in step S3, a comparison of at least a search term SB with entries in the variety of dictionaries W1 to Wx of the dictionary database carried out which are assigned to respective locations. Subsequently, will the dictionary assigned place issued as a search location SO, at which a maximum match between the search term SB and one or more entries of the Dictionaries W1 until Wx is detected.

On get that way For example, as a search location a country, a region of a country or a sub-region in which or in each case a common language or a common dialect. In the same way, the Search location SO also represent a topic, in each case one shared topic.

to Further improvement of the method according to the invention may further the search term SB generated in step S2 in a respective language or a respective dialect of the digital dictionary or the possible Places to confirm be acoustically reproduced by the user. A German Search term can therefore be in High German, Swiss German, or Austrian Users are acoustically output or played on the client C, so that this may possibly make a wider selection.

In a step S4 may subsequently the search result with respective origin information UO in dependence be determined by at least one search term SB, which one first receives disordered search results SE. Of course you can the step S4 is also performed before the step S3.

In Step S5 will now be dependent on at least one Search location SO the search results SE determined in step S4 are arranged in such a way that a location-dependent Search result or a list of hits sorted by the search location OSE results. The process ends in step S6.

In an unillustrated further step, the client C the location-dependent Search result or ordered by search locations hit list OSE such may be outputted, e.g. marked locally on an overview map are. Such an overview card may be a geographic map if geographic locations exist or in the presence of subject areas an overview of the respective topics represent. In this way, user comfort can be further improved become.

2 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating the device according to the invention, wherein like reference numerals the same or corresponding elements as in 1 denote, which is why a repeated description is omitted below.

According to 2 For example, the location-dependent search engine OSM can be stored in a memory SS of the server S according to FIG 1 be realized and processed by a server processor SP. The location-dependent search engine OSM receives via a telecommunication interface the search request SA entered by a user at the client C, which is forwarded to the server S via the network N. For example, the search request SA is entered by typing words in a special search field represented by a browser in the client C. Basically, however, handwritten input search requests SA with corresponding associated character recognition or language-entered search terms with associated speech recognition are possible.

The location-dependent search engine OSM accordingly receives the search request SA preferably as a search string or search string entered by a user, and also recognizes therefrom a search command. Conversion of the search request entered at the client C by, for example, a speech recognition or text writer Identification is preferably already done in the client C, but can also be performed only in the server S.

A search term generator 1 now evaluates the search request SA and generates at least one search term SB. Preferably, the search term generator 1 a search query unit that detects the search request SA, wherein in a decomposing unit, not shown, the detected search request SA is decomposed into at least one search term SB. The search terms SB represent, for example, search words that are spaced apart by spaces. However, they can also represent whole sentences that are syntactically analyzed, ie parsed.

A search engine 2 now generates search results SE with origin information UO, depending on the search terms SB generated. More specifically, the web contents stored in the database DB are compared with the search terms with their origin information UO, and when a match, a corresponding web content is output as the search result SE. The database DB is preferably indexed, the origin information UO being obtained from the contact areas of the respective web pages. Alternatively to the in 2 In principle, a real-time comparison in the actual world wide web can also be carried out. The search results SE obtained in this way can also be sorted or filtered using conventional evaluation criteria, not shown.

A location unit 3 also serves to determine at least one search location SO, wherein in principle a request, not shown, can be performed by the user of the client C via the network N. Preferably, however, the location determining unit becomes 3 automatically determine or determine the search location SO as a function of the at least one search term SB.

For example can do this a variety of digital dictionaries W1 until Wx assigned to respective locations are used. The Places represent countries, Regions or sub-regions, in each of which a common Language or a common dialect. The "English" dictionary W1 could consequently the countries USA, Australia and England, the German dictionary W2 could the countries Germany, Swiss and Austria be assigned while the Spanish dictionary W3 the countries Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. On this way, an analysis of the search terms SB may be more appropriate Search location SO be determined.

As already described above, the search locations can not only geographic Places represent, but also subject areas, taking for example the digital dictionaries reference books e.g. in the field of science, musicology or the law. Again, through Comparison of the determined search terms SB with the entries in the respective dictionaries Conclusions on the subject areas or the presumably desired search location SO are met.

The Location unit can for this purpose a comparator unit, not shown for comparing the at least one search term SB with the entries in the digitized dictionaries W1 to Wx, wherein an unillustrated output unit the one or the dictionary assigned places as search location or search places SO, where a maximum match between the search term SB and a respective entry in the dictionary is detected.

Especially for the Case in which the location determination unit a variety of possible locations determined as a search location SO, a not shown offer unit provide a user with a location selection from which the user selects a suitable location as a search location SO. Preferably, this will Information in turn about the network N is output to the client C to the user. This Offering possible For example, search locations can be text-based by displaying each one potential geographic locations or topic areas.

Especially For example, in the case of a language-based determination of search locations, that of the User entered search term SB in the dialect of each possible Search location the user on the client C acoustically output. In the case of a German search term, where a maximum match in the German dictionary W2 was determined Consequently, for example, three possible search locations "Germany", "Switzerland" and "Austria" by an acoustic reproduction of the Search term in High German, Swiss German and Austrian respectively.

To an optional confirmation an offered search location by the user at the client C and the subsequent transmission This information to the server S is then confirmed by the search location SO selected and the location evaluation unit are displayed as the relevant search location SO.

The location valuation unit 4 then performs a location rating by the search engine 2 determined search results SE, wherein substantially the relevant search location SO is compared with the place of origin information contained in the search results UO. The valuation unit 4 then orders the search results SE according to a maximum match between the place of origin information and the relevant search location SO, whereby a location-dependent search result OSE or a location-dependent hit list is generated.

In addition to by the valuation unit 4 In addition, if the search results SE are rearranged depending on the search location SO, filtering based on the search location SO can also be performed, with the number of search engine 2 determined SE search results depending on the relevant search location SO can be greatly reduced.

Further can be location-dependent Search result OSE too over the network N will be issued to the client C that matches the search results marked locally on an overview map are. The overview map This can either represent a geographical map or topic areas graphically illustrate.

On get that way an apparatus and method for ordering search results dependent on from geographic locations or topic areas that have relevance greatly improved by search results. Especially business travelers With often changing locations thus obtained independently of respectively used clients C or dial-in nodes in network N respectively optimally adapted search results.

The The invention has been described above on the basis of a client-server configuration. However, it is not limited to and includes the same Also other configurations or systems and in particular Stand-alone solutions.

1

Search term generator

2

Search engine

3

Location determination unit

4

assessment unit

C

client

CS

Client Storage

CP

Client processor

N

network

S

server

SP

Server processor

SS

Server memory

OSM

location-dependent search engine

SA

Search query

EYELET

location-dependent search result

DB

Database

W1 to Wx

digitized dictionaries

UO

Origin Information

SB

Search term

SE

Search result

SO

Web-site

S0 to S6

 steps

Claims (27)

Method for organizing search results with the steps: Determining (S1, S2) at least one search term (SB); Determine (S3) from at least one search location (SO); Determining (S4) of Search results (SE) with place of origin information (UO) in dependence from at least one search term (SB); and Order (S5) the search results (SE) depending on from the at least one search location (SO) for generating a location-dependent search result (OSE). The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one search term (SB) comprises the steps: To capture (S1) a search request (SA); and Decomposing (S2) the search request (SA) for generating the at least one search term (SB). Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Determining the search location (SO) as a function of the at least one Search term (SB) performed becomes. The method of claim 3, wherein determining (S3) of the at least one search location (SO) comprises the steps: to compare the at least one search term (SB) with entries in a plurality of dictionaries (W1 to Wx) associated with respective locations; and Output of the place as a search location (SO), where a maximum match is detected. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the determining (S3) of the at least one search location (SO) the Step, after which a user from a search location (SO) Variety of possible Select places. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, where the search location (SO) is a country, a region of the country or represents a sub-region in which each of a common Language or a common dialect. Method according to claim 6, wherein the search term (SB) in the respective language or the respective dialect of the possible locations for confirmation acoustically reproduced. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 7, where the search location (SO) represents a topic in which, respectively there is a common topic. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 8, with the further step of outputting the location-dependent search results (OSE), where the search results (OSE) are marked locally on a map are. Device for sorting search results with a search term generator ( 1 ) for generating at least one search term (SB); a search engine ( 2 ) for generating search results (SE) with location information (UO) in dependence on the at least one search term (SB); a location determination unit ( 3 ) for determining at least one search location (SO); and a valuation unit ( 4 ) for evaluating and ordering the search result in dependence on the at least one search location (SO) for generating a location-dependent search result (OSE). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the search term generator ( 1 ) a search query unit for detecting a search request (SA); and a decomposing unit for decomposing the search request (SA) into the at least one search term (SB). Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the locating unit ( 3 ) determines the search location (SO) as a function of the at least one search term (SB). Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized by a database having a plurality of dictionaries (W1 to Wx) associated with respective locations, said location unit ( 3 ) a comparator unit for comparing the at least one search term (SB) with entries in the dictionaries (W1 to Wx); and an output unit for outputting the location as a search location (SO) at which a maximum match is detected. Device according to one of the claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the locating unit ( 3 ) comprises an offer unit for offering a plurality of possible search locations from which a user selects an appropriate location as a search location (SO). Device according to one of the claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the search location is a country, a region of the country or a sub-region in which or in each one common language or a common dialect. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the search term generator ( 1 ) acoustically reproduces the search term (SB) in the respective language or the respective dialect of the possible locations for confirmation. Device according to one of the claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the search location (SO) is a topic, in each of which there is a common topic. Device according to one of the claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the evaluation unit ( 4 ) has an output unit for outputting the location-dependent search results (OSE), wherein the search results (OSE) are locally marked on an overview map. Computer readable medium with program code for organizing from search results with: a program code for determining (S1, S2) of at least one search term (SB); a program code for determining (S3) at least one search location (SO); one Program code for determining (S4) search results (SE) with source location information (UO) depending at least one search term (SB); and a program code for ordering (S5) the search results (SE) as a function of the at least a search location (SO) for generating a location-dependent search result (OSE). Computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the program code for determining the at least one search term (SB): one Program code for detecting (S1) a search request (SA); and one Program code for decomposing (S2) the search request (SA) for generating of the at least one search term (SB). Computer-readable medium according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the program code for determining the search location (SO) depending on of which at least one search term (SB) is performed. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program code for determining (S3) the at least one search location (SO): a program code for comparing the at least one search term (SB) with entries in a plurality of dictionaries (W1 to Wx), the respec are assigned to places; and a program code for outputting the location as a search location (SO) at which a maximum match is found. Computer-readable medium according to one of the claims 19 to 22, wherein the program code for determining (S3) the at least one search location (SO) has a program code, after which a user selects a search location (SO) from a variety of possible Select places can. Computer-readable medium according to one of the claims 19 to 23, where the search place (SO) is a country, a region of the country or represents a sub-region in which each of a common Language or a common dialect. Computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the program code for determining the at least one search term (SB) is the search term (SB) in the respective language or the respective dialect of the possible Places to confirm acoustically reproduced. Computer-readable medium according to one of the claims 19 to 25, where the search location (SO) represents a topic in which, respectively there is a common topic. Computer-readable medium according to one of the claims 19 to 26, with the further program code for outputting the location-dependent search results (OSE), where the output search results (OSE) are marked locally on an overview map are.