SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RICH QUERY CONSTRUCTION

1 . A method for constructing a rich query from a selected semantic entity included in a page, the method comprising:

a. receiving user input identifying a semantic entity for which contextual information is desired;

b. identifying context information associated with the selected semantic entity;

c. encoding a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) using the semantic entity and the identified context information; and

d. transmitting the encoded URL to a search server.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein user input is received via a touch screen interface.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein context information is identified using characteristics of the page in which the semantic entity was included.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein context information is identified using one of a title of a web page, a URL identifying a web page, a META tag included in a web page, and information identifying word frequencies of the web page including the semantic entity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein context information is identified using information regarding the user's browsing history.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the information regarding the user's browsing history includes one of the user's browsing history, favorite web sites of the user, bookmarks saved by the user, prior searches requested by the user, and frequently accessed web sites.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein context information is identified using a profile established by the user.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein context information is identified using a Bloom filter.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising encoding a first URL using the semantic entity and first context information and a second URL using the semantic entity and second context information.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the encoded URL is transmitted using an HTTP POST command.

11 . A system for constructing a rich query from a selected semantic entity included in a page, the method comprising:

means for receiving user input identifying a semantic entity for which contextual information is desired;

means for identifying context information associated with the selected semantic entity;

means for encoding a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) using the semantic entity an the identified context information; and

means for transmitting the encoded URL to a search server.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiving means receives user input via a touch screen interface.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying means identifies contextual information using characteristics of the page in which the semantic entity was included.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying means identifies contextual information using one of a title of a web page, a URL identifying a web page, a META tag included in a web page, and information identifying word frequencies of the web page including the semantic entity.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying means identifies contextual information using information regarding the user's browsing history.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the information regarding the user's browsing history includes one of the user's browsing history, favorite web sites of the user, bookmarks saved by the user, prior searches requested by the user, and frequently accessed web sites.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying means identifies contextual information using a profile established by the user.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying means identifies contextual information using a Bloom filter.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the encoding means encodes a first URL using the semantic entity and first context information and a second URL using the semantic entity and second context information.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the transmitting means transmits encoded URL is transmitted using an HTTP POST command.