IP Library Granted Patent US 10,719,538
Granted Patent B2
US 10,719,538 · App. 15/682,490 · Granted Jul 21, 2020

Methods and systems for identifying local search queries

Inventors: Sean Christopher Timm (Herndon, VA); Sudhir Achuthan (Vienna, VA); Mikhail Nicholaos Barrett (Fairfax, VA)
Assignee: OATH INC.
G06F16/3325G06F16/337G06F16/95G06F16/9535
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,719,538
App. No.
15/682,490
Granted
Jul 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for determining whether a search query with an observed number of occurrences in a set of search queries is a local search query. In accordance with one implementation, a method is provided that comprises determining an expected number of occurrences of a search query and comparing the expected number of occurrences to a threshold. Further, the method includes determining whether the search query is a local search query based, at least in part, on the comparison.

Claims (46)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:

determining a first score, based on a first ratio between an observed number of occurrences and an expected number of occurrences of a search query;

calculating a second score, when it is determined that the expected number of occurrences is below a first threshold, based on a second ratio between observed and expected numbers of occurrences of an additional search query related to the search query; and

determining whether the search query is a local search query based, at least in part, on a comparison of the first score and the second score to a second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a percentage of the first and second scores that are greater than a third threshold;

determining whether the percentage is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold; and

establishing the search query as the local search query when the percentage is determined to be greater than or equal to the fourth threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third threshold is equivalent to the fourth threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fourth threshold is 50 percent.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the search query is stored in a database comprising the additional search query related to the search query.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search query is associated with a geographical region.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting data associated with the local search query to a device, the data representing at least one of an advertisement or trending data.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a first score, based on a first ratio between an observed number of occurrences and an expected number of occurrences of a search query;

calculating a second score, when it is determined that the expected number of occurrences is below a first threshold, based on a second ratio between observed and expected numbers of occurrences of an additional search query related to the search query; and

determining whether the search query is a local search query based, at least in part, on a comparison of the first score and the second score to a second threshold.

9. The medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining a percentage of the first and second scores that are greater than a third threshold;

determining whether the percentage is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold; and

establishing the search query as the local search query when the percentage is determined to be greater than or equal to the fourth threshold.

10. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the third threshold is equivalent to the fourth threshold.

11. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the fourth threshold is 50 percent.

12. The medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the search query is stored in a database comprising the additional search query related to the search query.

13. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the search query is associated with a geographical region.

14. The medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

presenting data associated with the local search query to a device, the data representing at least one of an advertisement or trending data.

15. A system for determining whether a search query is a local search query, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device;

program code stored in the memory device, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a first score, based on a first ratio between an observed number of occurrences and an expected number of occurrences of a search query;

calculating a second score, when it is determined that the expected number of occurrences is below a first threshold, based on a second ratio between observed and expected numbers of occurrences of an additional search query related to the search query; and

determining whether the search query is a local search query based, at least in part, on a comparison of the first score and the second score to a second threshold.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a percentage of the first and second scores that are greater than a third threshold;

determining whether the percentage is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold; and

establishing the search query as the local search query when the percentage is determined to be greater than or equal to the fourth threshold.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the third threshold is equivalent to the fourth.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the fourth threshold is 50 percent.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

the search query is stored in a database comprising the additional search query related to the search query.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the search query is associated with a geographical region.

Assignments (5)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: YAHOO ASSETS LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061571/0773 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: YAHOO AD TECH LLC (FORMERLY VERIZON MEDIA INC.)
To: YAHOO ASSETS LLC
Reel/Frame 058982/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: OATH INC.
To: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
Reel/Frame 054258/0635 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2017
From: TIMM, SEAN CHRISTOPHER; ACHUTHAN, SUDHIR; BARRETT, MIKHAIL NICHOLAOS
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 043430/0986 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 29, 2017
From: AOL INC.
To: OATH INC.
Reel/Frame 043707/0872 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13633488 · Oct 2, 2012
Related Publication 20170344628A1 · Nov 30, 2017