DEVICE CONTENT USED TO BIAS A SEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Biasing of search query inputs based on local content, device profile and/or activity information. In various embodiments, biasing operations are performed on a search input to a client device in order to improve search result relevancy. The biasing operations produce additional search query elements/context options based on locally-hosted content or other information that may not be readily available to a search engine. The local content may include, for example, images, text, audio/video files, documents, code, applications, social media, etc. One or more of additional search query elements/context options produced by the biasing operations are then utilized in a search query communicated to a search engine. In various alternate embodiments, device activity data extracted from a user's device (such as data generated by device sensors) may likewise be employed to refine search queries. In further embodiments, searching and biasing operations may be performed by an intermediary or proxy device.
1 . A method for biasing a search query, the method comprising:
identifying a first search element;
processing the first search element to produce a second search element, the second search element providing a context for the first search element;
communicating a search query to a search engine, the search query including at least the second search element; and
receiving search results from the search engine, the search results responsive to the search query.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second search element is derived from locally-hosted content or information.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the search engine is a web-based search engine.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first search element includes a search term entered by a user of the computing device.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second search element includes at least one image.
6 . The method of claim 4 , the search query further including the first search element.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second search element includes information derived from at least one image hosted by the computing device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving targeted advertising information from the search engine in conjunction with the search results, the targeted advertising information based, at least in part, on the second search element.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the search engine is a metasearch engine.
10 . A method for use by a client device, the method comprising:
identifying a search element;
performing pre-processing of the search element to generate a plurality of context options for use in a search query;
presenting the plurality of context options for use in a user selection process that identifies at least one of the plurality of context options; and
communicating the search query to a search engine, the search query including at least one of the context options identified in the user selection process.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving search results from the search engine, the search results responsive to the search query.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of context options are derived from locally-hosted content or information.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of context options includes at least one image.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the search engine is a web-based search engine.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the search element includes at least one search term generated by a human.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the search element is generated by an automated process.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein pre-processing of the search element to generate a plurality of context options is performed, at least in part, by an intermediary device.
18 . A device, comprising:
a communication interface configured to support communications with a search infrastructure;
processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface;
memory coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory configured to store local content;
program code stored in the memory, wherein the processing circuitry operates according to the program code to provide a user interface configured to support entry of a search query term for submission to the search infrastructure; and
a search pre-processing module coupled to the memory and operable to identify the local content having potential relevance to the search query term.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry further operates according to the program code to append the local content, or information derived therefrom, to the search query term to generate a search query.
20 . The device of claim 19 ,
the user interface further configured to enable a user to select the local content identified by the search pre-processing module for use in generating the search query.