SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTEXTUAL SEARCHING OF SEMANTIC ENTITIES

1 . A method for contextual searching of a semantic entity comprising:

receiving a rich query comprising a semantic entity to be searched and contextual information regarding the selection of the semantic entity;

receiving, from a search engine, a plurality of search results returned in response to submitting a search request using the selected semantic entity;

selecting a plurality of content sources to be searched based on the returned search results;

converting the received rich query into a plurality of simple queries, each one of the plurality of simple queries corresponding to one of the plurality of content sources;

submitting each one of the plurality of simple queries to the corresponding content source;

receiving results from each of the plurality of content sources; and

filtering the plurality of received results into a single result list for presentation to a user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of disambiguating the semantic entity.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of disambiguating further comprises consulting a directory of ambiguous phrases.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of disambiguating further comprises forming a plurality of word grams from the semantic entity, receiving search results obtained by submitting each of the word grams to a search engine, and selecting the word gram returning the most popular results as the disambiguated search term.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection of a plurality sources comprises comparing the returned search results to a vertical category map identifying relevant content sources.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the rich query into a simple query comprises generating a CGI query from the rich query.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of simple queries is submitted to the corresponding content source substantially simultaneously with the others of the plurality of simple queries.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein filtering the plurality of received results comprises removing duplicate results.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the filtered results to a client for display to a user.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the results are transmitted in a JSON-encoded structure.

11 . A system for contextual searching of a semantic entity comprising:

means for receiving a rich query comprising a semantic entity to be searched and contextual information regarding the selection of the semantic entity;

means for receiving, from a search engine, a plurality of search results returned in response to submitting a search request using the selected semantic entity;

means for selecting a plurality of content sources to be searched based on the returned search results;

means for converting the received rich query into a plurality of simple queries, each one of the plurality of simple queries corresponding to one of the plurality of content sources;

means for submitting each one of the plurality of simple queries to the corresponding content source;

means for receiving results from each of the plurality of content sources; and

means for filtering the plurality of received results into a single result list for presentation to a user.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising the means for disambiguating the semantic entity.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the disambiguating means consults a directory of ambiguous phrases.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the disambiguating means forms a plurality of word grams from the semantic entity, receives search results obtained by submitting each of the word grams to a search engine, and selects the word gram returning the most popular results as the disambiguated search term.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the selection means compares the returned search results to a vertical category map identifying relevant content sources.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the converting means generates a CGI query from the rich query.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the submitting means submits each one of the plurality of simple queries to the corresponding content source substantially simultaneously with the others of the plurality of simple queries.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the filtering means removes duplicate results.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the transmitting means transmits the filtered results to a client for display to a user.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the transmitting means transmits the filtered results to a client in a JSON-encoded structure.