IP Library Granted Patent US 8,321,446
Granted Patent B2
US 8,321,446 · App. 12/636,716 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Method and system to combine keyword results and natural language search results

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,321,446
App. No.
12/636,716
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A search query is received from a single input field of a user interface. A keyword search is performed based on the search query to generate keyword search results. A natural language search is performed of a frequently-asked question (FAQ) database based on the search query to generate FAQ search results. The keyword search results and the FAQ search results are combined in a display page.

Claims (42)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a search query for a particular application from an input field of a user interface;

performing a keyword search based on the search query to generate keyword search results;

performing a natural language search of a frequently-asked question database based on the search query to generate frequently-asked question search results; and

outputting a first display page, wherein the first display page categorizes the keyword search results and the frequently-asked question search results into a plurality of categories, wherein each category of the first display page is associated with a category title, a first display region, and a second display region that is separate from the first display region, wherein the first display region of a particular category includes one or more keyword search results associated with the particular category and does not include any of the frequently-asked question search results, and wherein the second display region associated with the particular category includes one or more frequently-asked question search results associated with the particular category and does not include any of the keyword search results;

wherein a statistical cluster analysis is performed to determine the plurality of categories for the particular application based on group assignments and name assignments.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the group assignments and the name assignments are determined using a card sort method.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the group assignments and the name assignments are validated via a reverse card sort method.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the reverse card sort method is performed by a second set of individuals.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein an order of the categories shown in the first page is a fixed order.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein an order of the categories shown in the first page is a variable based on how well results in each category match the search query.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first display page includes a second user interface that enables refinement of the search query.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first display page includes a user-selectable option to output a second display page that displays additional keyword search results associated with at least one category and additional frequently-asked question search results associated with the at least one category.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the keyword search results of the second display page are displayed in a first column and the frequently-asked question search results of the second display page are displayed in a second column.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first display region associated with the particular category is a first column and wherein the second display region associated with the particular category is a second column adjacent to the first column.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein a keyword search result of the one or more keyword search results associated with the particular category that best matches the search query is in a first row of the first column.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a search query for a particular application from an input field of a user interface;

perform a keyword search based on the search query to generate keyword search results;

perform a natural language search of a frequently-asked question database based on the search query to generate frequently-asked question search results; and

output a first display page, wherein the first display page categorizes the keyword search results and the frequently-asked question search results into a plurality of categories, wherein each category of the first display page is associated with a category title, a first display region, and a second display region that is separate from the first display region, wherein the first display region of a particular category includes one or more keyword search results associated with the particular category and does not include any of the frequently-asked question search results, and wherein the second display region of the particular category includes one or more frequently-asked question search results associated with the particular category and does not any of the keyword search results;

wherein a statistical cluster analysis is performed to determine the plurality of categories for the particular application based on group assignments and name assignments.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein a card sort method is used to perform the group assignments and the name assignments.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the group assignment performed by the at least one set of individuals is validated via a reverse card sort method.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine a first category that best matches the search query and a second category with a next best match to the search query; and

display information associated with the first category in a row separate from information associated with the second category.

16. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code executable by the processor to:

receive a search query for a particular application from an input field of a user interface;

perform a keyword search based on the search query to generate keyword search results;

perform a natural language search of a frequently-asked question database based on the search query to generate frequently-asked question search results; and

output a first display page, wherein the first display page categorizes the keyword search results and the frequently-asked question search results into a plurality of categories, wherein each category includes:

a category title associated with the category;

a first column with a first listing of one or more of the keyword search results associated with the category, wherein the first listing does not include any of the frequently-asked question search results; and

a second column with a second listing of one or more of the frequently-asked question search results associated with the category, wherein the second listing does not include any of the keyword search results;

wherein a statistical cluster analysis is performed to determine the plurality of categories for the particular application based on group assignments and name assignments.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a card sort method is used to perform the group assignments and the name assignments.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the group assignment performed by the at least one set of individuals is validated via a reverse card sort method.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the memory includes computer program code executable by the processor to output a second display page that displays additional keyword search results associated with a particular category from the keyword search results and additional frequently-asked question search results associated with the particular category from the frequently-asked question results in response to selection of a user-selectable option associated with the particular category.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein a frequently-asked question search result associated with the particular category is shown in a first row of the second column associated with the particular category when the frequently-asked question search result best matches the search query compared to other frequently-asked question search results associated with the particular category.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2023
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 065530/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041504/0952 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023644 FRAME 0878. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: EDWARDS, GREGORY W.; NIEMEYER, JEFFREY MICHAEL; MILLER, MARY C.; JIA, YONGMEI
To: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 041466/0101 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 041466/0447 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
To: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 041466/0452 →