IP Library Granted Patent US 9,917,904
Granted Patent B1
US 9,917,904 · App. 15/256,040 · Granted Mar 13, 2018

Identifying non-search actions based on a search-query

Inventors: Tak Keung Cheng (Los Altos, CA); Robert Stacey (San Mateo, CA); Othar Hansson (Sunnyvale, CA); Brett R. Lider (San Francisco, CA); Tomer Kol (Illit, IL); Iftach Hyams (Haifa, IL)
Assignee: Google LLC
H04L67/141G06F3/167G06F17/30864
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,917,904
App. No.
15/256,040
Granted
Mar 13, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for invoking a non-search action based on a search query. A server system receives a search query from a remote computing device. The server system determines whether the search query includes reserved text that indicates an intent by a user that provided the search query to the remote computing device to perform a non-search messaging action instead of or in addition to obtaining search results. The server system provides to the computing device, in response to determining that the search query includes the reserved text, code for causing the remote computing device to display a draft communication that includes at least the search query without the reserved text, and for allowing the user to edit the draft communication before transmitting the draft communication for receipt by recipient users.

Claims (31)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device and from user interaction with service that is capable of providing search results in response to a search query, an input from a first user that comprises a reserved term;

in response to receiving the input, identifying the reserved term as being associated communicating with one or more other users;

generating an action that involves communicating between users to be performed by an application that is separate from the service, the generating based on the reserved term and on the input, including identifying at least one of a telephone number or a person from the input; and

causing the computing device to initiate a communication session between the first user and the identified at least one of the telephone number or the person.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input comprises a voice-submitted input.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing an address book application to retrieve a telephone number for the communication session.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service is associated with a first application on the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reserved term identifies a particular action to be performed by the application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication session comprises a text messaging.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a term that indicates an intent to perform a non-search action.

9. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause operations to be performed, the operations comprising:

receiving, at a computing device and from user interaction with service that is capable of providing search results in response to a search query, an input from a first user that comprises a reserved term;

in response to receiving the input, identifying the reserved term as being associated communicating with one or more other users;

generating an action that involves communicating between users to be performed by an application that is separate from the service, the generating based on the reserved term and on the input, including identifying at least one of a telephone number or a person from the input; and

causing the computing device to initiate a communication session between the first user and the identified at least one of the telephone number or the person.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the input comprises a voice-submitted input.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , the operations further comprising accessing an address book application to retrieve a telephone number for the communication session.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the service is associated with a first application on the computing device.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the reserved term identifies a particular action to be performed by the application.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the communication session comprises a text messaging.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the input includes a term that indicates an intent to perform a non-search action.

17. A system comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to the processor and configurable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a computing device and from user interaction with service that is capable of providing search results in response to a search query, an input from a first user that comprises a reserved term;

in response to receiving the input, identifying the reserved term as being associated communicating with one or more other users;

generating an action that involves communicating between users to be performed by an application that is separate from the service, the generating based on the reserved term and on the input, including identifying at least one of a telephone number or a person from the input; and

causing the computing device to initiate a communication session between the first user and the identified at least one of the telephone number or the person.

Assignments (3)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jan 17, 2018
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 045080/0366 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044567/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2016
From: CHENG, TAK KEUNG; STACEY, ROBERT; HANSSON, OTHAR; LIDER, BRETT R.; KOL, TOMER; HYAMS, IFTACH
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 039960/0498 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14150330 · Jan 8, 2014
Continuation 13022755 · Feb 8, 2011
Provisional Application 61302955 · Feb 9, 2010