Entity-based searching with content selection

1. A method of selecting content for presentation with search results comprising:

maintaining, by a processing circuit, in a database, a plurality of search entities corresponding to named entities in the physical world;

associating, by the processing circuit, for each one of the plurality of search entities stored in the database, an online action corresponding to the search entity in the database;

identifying, at the processing circuit, an entity-action pair comprising the online action and one of the plurality of search entities;

receiving, from a client device, a search query including a keyword;

retrieving search results based on the search query;

determining, by the processing circuit, that the search query keyword corresponds to the search entity of the entity-action pair and not to the online action of the entity-action pair;

generating, by the processing circuit, at least one search entity object including an actionable item that is linked to an information resource of a content provider, the actionable item causing the client device to execute a function on the information resource of the content provider, the function corresponding to the online action and executed responsive to an action performed on the actionable item; and

providing to the client device, by the processing circuit, a webpage comprising a search result screen that includes the search results, the search entity, and the generated search entity object including the actionable item presented on the search result screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating, by the processing circuit, a visual layout configured to position the content adjacent to the search entity on the search result screen.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, by the processing circuit, a ranking of entity-action pairs for the search entity; and generating, by the processing circuit, a visual layout configured to position the content relative to the search entity according to the ranking.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, by the processing circuit, that the search query keyword corresponds to a different search entity than the search entity of the entity-action pair; determining, by the processing circuit, a relationship between the two search entities; and generating, by the processing circuit, a visual layout for the content that includes information regarding the relationship between the two search entities.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the processing circuit, content placement parameters for a content provider, the content placement parameters including the entity-action pair comprising the online action and the one of the plurality of search entities.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: conducting, by the processing circuit, in response to receiving a plurality of search requests, a plurality of content placements using the content placement parameters, wherein each of the search requests comprises a different keyword.

7. A system for selecting content for presentation with search results comprising a processing circuit configured to:

maintain, in a database, a plurality of search entities corresponding to named entities in the physical world;

associate, for each one of the plurality of search entities stored in the database, an online action corresponding to the search entity in the database;

identify an entity-action pair that comprises the online action and one of the plurality of search entities;

receive a search query including a keyword;

retrieve search results based on the search query;

determine that the search query keyword corresponds to the search entity of the entity-action pair and not to the online action of the entity-action pair;

generate at least one search entity object including an actionable item that is linked to an information resource of a content provider, the actionable item causing the client device to execute a function on the information resource of the content provider, the function corresponding to the online action and executed responsive to an action performed on the actionable item; and

provide to the client device a webpage comprising a search result screen that includes the search results, the search entity, and the generated search entity object including the actionable item presented on the search result screen.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate a visual layout configured to position the content adjacent to the search entity on the search result screen.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

determine a ranking of entity-action pairs for the search entity; and

generate a visual layout configured to position the content relative to the search entity according to the ranking.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

determine that the search query keyword corresponds to a different search entity than the search entity of the entity-action pair;

determine a relationship between the two search entities; and

generate a visual layout for the content that includes information regarding the relationship between the two search entities.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive content placement parameters for a content provider, the content placement parameters including the entity-action pair comprising the online action of the one of the plurality of search entities.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to conduct, in response to receiving a plurality of search requests, a plurality of content placements using the content placement parameters, wherein each of the search requests comprises a different keyword.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations for selecting content for presentation with search results comprising:

maintaining, in a database, a plurality of search entities corresponding to named entities in the physical world;

associating, for each search entity of the plurality of search entities stored in the database, an online action corresponding to the search entity in the database;

identifying an entity-action pair comprising the online action and one of the plurality of search entities;

receiving, from a client device, a search query having a keyword;

retrieving search results based on the search query;

determining that the search query keyword corresponds to the search entity of the entity-action pair and not to the online action of the entity-action pair;

generating at least one search entity object including an actionable item that is linked to an information resource of a content provider, the actionable item causing the client device to execute a function on the information resource of the content provider, the function corresponding to the online action and executed responsive to an action performed on the actionable item; and

providing to the client device a webpage comprising a search result screen that includes the search results, the search entity, and the generated search entity object including the actionable item presented on the search result screen.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a visual layout configured to position the content adjacent to the search entity on the search result screen.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a ranking of entity-action pairs for the search entity; and

generating a visual layout configured to position the third-party content relative to the search entity according to the ranking.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the search query keyword corresponds to a different search entity than the search entity of the entity-action pair;

determining a relationship between the two search entities; and

generating a visual layout for the third-party content that includes information regarding the relationship between the two search entities.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving content placement parameters for a content provider, the content placement parameters including the entity-action pair comprising the online action and the search entity.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:

conducting, in response to receiving a plurality of search requests, a plurality of content placements using the content placement parameters, wherein each of the search request comprises a different keyword.