IP Library Granted Patent US 10,394,918
Granted Patent B2
US 10,394,918 · App. 15/689,885 · Granted Aug 27, 2019

Visualizing query results to improve quality of subsequent searches

Inventors: Mihoko Hasegawa (Tokyo, JP); Ryoji Kurosawa (Tokyo, JP); Kensuke Matsuoka (Kamagaya, JP); Fumihiko Terui (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F16/9535G06F3/0482G06F3/0486G06F16/248G06F16/2428G06F16/93
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,394,918
App. No.
15/689,885
Granted
Aug 27, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for improving the quality of subsequent searches. A request is received from a user to perform a search using the term(s) provided by the user. A search is then performed using the provided term(s). A representation of the search result is depicted as an area (e.g., bubble) with terms of interest displayed outside the area. The area represents a set of documents that were found in the performed search and the terms of interest represent terms that may be of interest to the user based on this set of documents. These terms of interest may be selected by the user to adjust the search result. In this manner, the user is presented with an intuitive view as to how different terms or different searches will have an impact on the search results thereby improving the quality of subsequent searches.

Claims (19)

1. A method for improving the quality of subsequent searches, the method comprising:

receiving a first request to perform a first search using one or more provided terms;

performing said first search using said one or more provided terms; and

determining whether a previous search has been performed; and

depicting, by a processor, a first representation of a first search result of said first search as a first area in response to said previous search not having been performed with a first set of terms of interest of said first search result displayed outside said first area, wherein said first set of terms of interest comprises one or more of the following: correlated terms in connection with said first search result, high frequency terms in connection with said first search result, synonyms of said one or more provided terms and facet values, wherein said first set of terms of interest is different from said one or more provided terms, wherein said first area represents a first set of documents that were found in said first search result using said one or more provided terms, wherein said first set of documents is accessible by a user selecting said first area; wherein said first area comprises a bubble or a circle.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of said first set of terms of interest displayed outside said first area;

performing a second search using said selected term of interest in response to receiving said selection of said term of interest;

depicting a second representation of a second search result of said second search using said selected term of interest as a second area; and

performing a third search forming a third search result by performing a logical operation on said one or more provided terms with said selected term of interest in response to said user performing an operation on said second area in connection with said first area.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

depicting a region between said first and second areas representing a set of documents that is the difference between said first and third search results in response to performing said third search, wherein said region includes new terms of interest for said set of documents.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said logical operation is performed in response to said user preforming an operation selected from the group consisting of: dragging and dropping said second area into said first area, selecting an overlapping region of said first area and said second area and dragging out said second area.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

depicting a second representation of a previous search result as a second area in response to said previous search being performed.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

depicting a region between said first and second areas representing a set of documents that is the difference between said previous search result and said first search result, wherein said region includes terms of interest for said set of documents.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

altering a number of terms of interest depicted in said region in response to said user dragging one of said first and second areas inward or outward.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: BREAKWATER SOLUTIONS, LLC; REPARIO DATA, LLC
To: JETTEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 069124/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2022
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: BREAKWATER SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 058616/0384 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2017
From: HASEGAWA, MIHOKO; KUROSAWA, RYOJI; MATSUOKA, KENSUKE; TERUI, FUMIHIKO
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043439/0422 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15229305 · Aug 5, 2016
Related Publication 20180039706A1 · Feb 8, 2018