Determining a set of steps responsive to a how-to query
Methods and apparatus related to providing steps for completing a task based on analysis of multiple sources. A how-to query related to performing a task and a plurality of sources related to the how-to query may be identified. A set of steps related to performing the task may be determined based on analysis of the plurality of sources that are related to the how-to query, optionally including determining a confidence measure for the plurality of sources. The set of steps may be associated with the how-to query in a database. The set of steps may be provided to a user in response to the how-to query submitted by the user. In some implementations the analysis of the plurality of sources that are related to the how-to query may include comparing components of different sets of steps and identifying the common elements to determine a set of steps.
1. A method implemented by one or more processors, comprising:
generating a set of steps, wherein the set of steps comprises an enumerated listing of instructions that assist users in performing a task, and wherein generating the set of steps comprises:
identifying, from a first search result document and a second search result document that are responsive to a search query, and based on the first search result document and the second search result document both being included in a threshold quantity of highest ranked search result documents for the search query, at least:
a first set of steps from the first document, and
a second set of steps from the second document and
generating the set of steps based on both the first set of steps from the first document and the second set of steps from the second document
storing an association of the set of steps with the search query;
subsequent to storing the association, and in response to receiving a first submission of the search query:
identifying the set of steps as responsive to the search query based on the stored association of the set of steps with the search query;
identifying additional search results that are responsive to the search query, each of the additional search results being associated with a corresponding search result document;
determining to provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps in response to the first submission of the search query; and
providing the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps; and
subsequent to storing the association, and in response to receiving a second submission of the search query from a client device of a user:
determining to provide the set of steps in response to the second submission of the search query, wherein determining to provide the set of steps in response to the second submission of the search query is based on identifying that the user performed, prior to the second submission of the search query, one or more past computing interactions that are indicative of the set of steps,
wherein the one or more past computing interactions include at least one action that is in addition to a search query issuance action and that is in addition to a search result selection action; and
providing the set of steps to the client device in response to the second submission of the search query, wherein providing the set of steps to the client device comprises providing the set of steps for display above any of the additional search results.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to the second submission of the search query, providing the additional search results to the client device for presentation in combination with the set of steps.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the additional search results to the client device for presentation in combination with the set of steps comprises providing the additional search results for less prominent presentation than the set of steps.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include a download initiated by the user or an email interaction.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include a past electronic communication of the user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include navigation to one or more electronic resources, by the user via the client device, that are related to a task of the search query.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps in response to the first submission of the search query is based on:
the set of steps being stored in association with the search query, and a relevance score being stored for the association of the set of steps with the search query, and determining that the relevance score fails to satisfy a threshold.
8. A computing system, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
generate a set of steps, wherein the set of steps comprises an enumerated listing of instructions that assist users in performing a task, and wherein the instructions to generate the set of steps further cause the at least one processor to:
identify, from a first search result document and a second search result document that are responsive to a search query, and based on the first search result document and the second search result document both being included in a threshold quantity of highest ranked search result documents for the search query, at least:
a first set of steps from the first document, and
a second set of steps from the second document; and
generate the set of steps based on both the first set of steps from the first document and the second set of steps from the second document;
subsequent to storing the association, and in response to receiving a first submission of the search query:
identify the set of steps as responsive to the search query based on the stored association of the set of steps with the search query;
identify additional search results that are responsive to the search query, each of the additional search results being associated with a corresponding search result document;
determine to provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps in response to the first submission of the search query; and
provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps; and
subsequent to storing the association, and in response to receiving a second submission of the search query from a client device of a user:
determine to provide the set of steps in response to the second submission of the search query, wherein determining to provide the set of steps in response to the second submission of the search query is based on identifying that the user performed, prior to the second submission of the search query, one or more past computing interactions that are indicative of the set of steps,
wherein the one or more past computing interactions include at least one action that is in addition to a search query issuance action and that is in addition to a search result selection action; and
provide the set of steps to the client device in response to the second submission of the search query, wherein providing the set of steps to the client device comprises providing the set of steps for display above any of the additional search results.
9. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
in response to the second submission of the search query, provide the additional search results to the client device for presentation in combination with the set of steps.
10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions to provide the additional search results to the client device for presentation in combination with the set of steps comprise instructions to provide the additional search results for less prominent presentation than the set of steps.
11. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include a download initiated by the user or an email interaction.
12. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include a past electronic communication of the user.
13. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more past computing interactions include navigation to one or more electronic resources, by the user via the client device, that are related to a task of the search query.
14. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions to determine to provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps in response to the first submission of the search query is based on:
the set of steps being stored in association with the search query, and a relevance score being stored for the association of the set of steps with the search query, and determining that the relevance score fails to satisfy a threshold.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a first query score for the first submission of the search query,
wherein determining to provide the additional search results in response to the first submission of the search query without also providing the set of steps in response to the first submission of the search query is based on the first query score;
determining a second query score for the second submission of the search query,
wherein determining the second query score comprises determining the second query score based on the one or more past computing interactions, and
wherein the second query score differs from the first query score based on the one or more past computing interactions; and
wherein determining to provide the set of steps in response to the second submission of the search query is based on the second query score.