IP Library Granted Patent US 12,332,950
Granted Patent B2
US 12,332,950 · App. 17/573,256 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Apparatus and method for providing search service in association with chatroom of messenger application

Inventors: Grace Minjoo Chung (Seongnam-si, KR); Bohye Kim (Seongnam-si, KR); Maria Park (Seongnam-si, KR); Jae Gwang Lee (Seongnam-si, KR); Ji Yong Kim (Seongnam-si, KR)
Assignees: LY Corporation; NAVER Corporation
G06F16/9532G06F16/90324G06F16/9038
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,332,950
App. No.
17/573,256
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, a computer system, a server, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for providing a search service are provided. The method of providing the search service includes: executing the search service provided through a chatroom associated with a messenger application; and, based on a first search term input for the search service, displaying, on a search entry area, first search results corresponding to the first search term and at least one autocomplete search term of the first search term.

Claims (81)

1. A method of providing a search service, implemented by a computer system, the method comprising:

executing the search service provided through a chatroom associated with a messenger application, wherein the chatroom is to exchange messages among a plurality of users;

based on a first search term input for the search service, displaying, on a search entry area, first search results corresponding to the first search term and at least one autocomplete search term of the first search term;

sharing, through the chatroom, the first search results with the plurality of users; and

storing, in a database, information about the first search results indexed to the first search term and the at least one autocomplete search term of the first search term,

wherein the at least one autocomplete search term of the first search term is determined based on determining whether a quantity of search term input history of a user for the search service meets or exceeds a predetermined amount,

wherein the first search results are related to a topic determined for the chatroom and filtered search results from among first search results of the first search term,

wherein the topic for the chatroom is determined based on at least one of i) an initial topic set at creation of the chatroom, ii) a title of chatroom, or iii) analysis of keywords included in messages transmitted in the chatroom,

wherein the search entry area comprises a first area for inputting the first search term and a second area for displaying the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term,

wherein the displaying of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises:

displaying the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area concurrently with the first search term being input by the user is displayed on the first area, without receiving, from the user, a search request for outputting the first search results;

determining that the user has modified the first search term being input by the user on the first area, without receiving a separate search request from the user; and

updating, based on the modified first search term, the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term displayed on the second area in response to determining that the user has modified the first search term,

wherein the updating of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term is performed without transmitting the first search term to the chatroom, and

wherein the displaying of the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area comprises displaying a first portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that matches the first search term and a second portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that does not match the first search term such that the first portion and the second portion are distinguishable from each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search entry area is displayed as an overlay over the chatroom according to execution of the search service.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises displaying the first search results corresponding to the first search term and the at least one autocomplete search term on the search entry area without receiving, from the user, a search request for displaying the first search results after the first search term being input, and

a subset of the first search results corresponding to the first search term includes a third portion corresponding to the first search term or a fourth portion corresponding to a first autocomplete search term of the first search term.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein, when the first search term corresponds to an incomplete query, the displaying of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises displaying, on the search entry area, the at least one autocomplete search term and the second portion corresponding to the first autocomplete search term.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term includes at least one of an image related to the first search term, a video related to the first search term, movie information related to the first search term, television (TV) program information related to the first search term, place information related to the first search term, official account information related to the first search term, and person information related to the first search term.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sharing, through the chatroom, one or more search results selected from a third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term displayed on the search entry area.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sharing of the one or more search results comprises:

receiving a first selection of at least one content from the third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term;

identifying the at least one content as content to be shared;

displaying the content to be shared to be distinguished from other contents among the third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term; and

based on receiving a second selection of the content to be shared that is distinguishably displayed, sharing second content indicated by the second selection through the chatroom.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises, based on a change in the first search term input for the search service resulting in a second search term, displaying, on the search entry area, second search results corresponding to the second search term and a second autocomplete search term of the second search term.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

based on receiving a selection of the at least one autocomplete search term displayed on the search entry area, providing second search results corresponding to the selection.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first search results corresponding to the first search term include first modeled search results corresponding to the first search term or second modeled search results corresponding to the at least one autocomplete search term, the first modeled search results and the second modeled search results having been generated at a server that provides the search service.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first modeled search results or the second modeled search results include second search results corresponding to a second search term that is a combination of the first search term or the at least one autocomplete search term of the first search term and a third search term, and

the third search term is determined based on at least one of:

a search term input history of another search term input from the user for the search service with the first search term or the at least one autocomplete search term,

news related to at least one of the first search term, the at least one autocomplete search term, and issue information provided from the search service, and

information related to the chatroom.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term include second search results that correspond to information related to the chatroom, and

the information related to the chatroom includes at least one of the topic of the chatroom, a keyword that is determined based on a first message sent in the chatroom or a second message received in the chatroom, and a location of another user included in the chatroom.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying recommendation content on the search entry area after the search service is executed and before the first search term is input for the search service,

wherein the displaying of the first search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises, based on the first search term being input for the search service, displaying the first search results corresponding to the first search term and the at least one autocomplete search term on the search entry area, and stopping the displaying of the recommendation content.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the recommendation content is determined based on information related to the chatroom including at least one of the topic of the chatroom, a keyword that is determined based on a first message sent in the chatroom or a second message received in the chatroom, and a location of another user included in the chatroom, and

the recommendation content includes at least one of place information about a place that is determined based on the location of the another user included in the chatroom, a first recommendation search term that is determined based on the keyword, and a second recommendation search term that is determined based on the topic of the chatroom.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the recommendation content includes participating content that allows participation of at least one user included in the chatroom, and

the participating content includes game content that allows play of the at least one user, a survey that allows participation of the at least one user, and test content that allows participation of the at least one user.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein a third portion of the first search results corresponding to the first search term include second search results of a type preset for a category to which the first search term belongs.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by at least one processor of the computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method of claim 1 .

18. A computer system comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:

execute a search service provided through a chatroom associated with a messenger application, wherein the chatroom is to exchange messages among a plurality of users;

based on a search term input for the search service, display on a search entry area, search results corresponding to the search term and at least one autocomplete search term of the search term;

share, through the chatroom, the search results with the plurality of users; and

store, in a database, information about the search results indexed to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term of the search term,

wherein the at least one autocomplete search term of the search term is determined based on determining whether a quantity of search term input history of a user for the search service meets or exceeds a predetermined amount,

wherein the search results are related to a topic determined for the chatroom and filtered search results from among the search results of the search term,

wherein the topic for the chatroom is determined based on at least one of i) an initial topic set at creation of the chatroom, ii) a title of chatroom, or iii) analysis of keywords included in messages transmitted in the chatroom,

wherein the search entry area comprises a first area for inputting the search term and a second area for displaying the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term,

wherein the display of the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises to:

display the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area concurrently with the search term being input by the user is displayed on the first area, without receiving, from the user, a search request for outputting the search results;

determine that the user has modified the search term being input by the user on the first area, without having received a separate search request from the user; and

update, based on the modified search term, the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term displayed on the second area in response to a determination that the user has modified the search term,

wherein the update of the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term is performed without transmitting the search term to the chatroom, and

wherein the display of the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area comprises to display a first portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that matches the search term and a second portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that does not match the search term such that the first portion and the second portion are distinguishable from each other.

19. A method of providing a search service, performed by a server that provides the search service through a chatroom associated with a messenger application, the method comprising:

based on a request from a user terminal through the chatroom, providing the search service to the user terminal in association with the chatroom, wherein the chatroom is to exchange messages among a plurality of users;

based on a search term input for the search service from the user terminal, providing search results corresponding to the search term and at least one autocomplete search term of the search term to the user terminal, and causing the search results corresponding to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term to be displayed on an search entry area;

sharing, through the chatroom, the search results with the plurality of users; and

storing, in a database, information about the search results indexed to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term of the search term,

wherein the at least one autocomplete search term of the search term is determined based on determining whether a quantity of search term input history of a user for the search service meets or exceeds a predetermined amount,

wherein the search results are related to a topic determined for the chatroom and filtered search results from among the search results of the search term,

wherein the topic for the chatroom is determined based on at least one of i) an initial topic set at creation of the chatroom, ii) a title of chatroom, or iii) analysis of keywords included in messages transmitted in the chatroom,

wherein the search entry area comprises a first area for inputting the search term and a second area for displaying the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term,

wherein the displaying of the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises:

displaying the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area concurrently with the search term being input by the user is displayed on the first area, without receiving, from the user, a search request for outputting the search results;

determining that the user has modified the search term being input by the user on the first area, without receiving a separate search request from the user; and

updating, based on the modified search term, the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term displayed on the second area in response to determining that the user has modified the search term,

wherein the updating of the search results and the at least one autocomplete search term is performed without transmitting the search term to the chatroom, and

wherein the displaying of the at least one autocomplete search term on the second area comprises displaying a first portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that matches the search term and a second portion of the at least one autocomplete search term that does not match the search term such that the first portion and the second portion are distinguishable from each other.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the providing of the search results corresponding to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises providing the search results corresponding to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term to the user terminal without receiving, from the user terminal, a search request for displaying the search results after the search term being input, and a subset of the search results corresponding to the search term include a third portion corresponding to the search term or a fourth portion corresponding to a first autocomplete search term of the search term.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the providing of the search results corresponding to the search term and the at least one autocomplete search term comprises, based on a change in the search term input for the search service from the user terminal resulting in a changed search term, providing updated search results corresponding to the changed search term and at least one updated autocomplete search term of the changed search term to the user terminal.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2024
From: Z INTERMEDIATE GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: LY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067041/0713 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 4, 2024
From: LINE CORPORATION
To: Z INTERMEDIATE GLOBAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067021/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2022
From: CHUNG, GRACE MINJOO; KIM, BOHYE; PARK, MARIA; LEE, JAE GWANG; KIM, JI YONG
To: LINE CORPORATION; NAVER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058622/0174 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0003761 · Jan 12, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220222304A1 · Jul 14, 2022
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