Method and apparatus for performing a search
A method and apparatus for generating search results with higher relevancy. More specifically, the present invention provides a listing of narrowing or related search terms based upon the search term submitted by the user. The present invention effectively guides users to narrow their search by guiding users to select or click on highly related search terms. In one embodiment, the listing of the highly related search terms is generated in accordance with sales and/or click information, e.g., via scoring of search terms that is premised on sales and/or click information.
1. A method comprising:
tracking, by at least one server computer, user search result selections, the tracking including tracking user search result selections for a first search term;
generating, by the at least one server computer using the first search term in a first search, a first set of search results in response to receiving the first search term from a user;
identifying, by the at least one server computer, a plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term for display in a candidate search terms presentation area of a user interface page, each candidate search term comprises the first search term and has a relevancy to the first search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term, at least one candidate search term's relevancy comprising a relevancy of one or more other candidate search terms of the plurality;
generating, by the at least one server computer, the user interface page for the user, the user interface page comprising a search results presentation area presenting the first set of search results generated using the first term and a candidate search terms presentation area presenting a number of the plurality of candidate search terms, wherein each identified candidate search term presented in the candidate search terms presentation area is selectable by the user to request that a second search be conducted using a selected candidate search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term; and
in response to receiving an indication that the user selected one of the number of candidate search terms, automatically generating, by the at least one server computer, a second set of search results using the selected candidate search term.
2. The method of claim 1 , the identifying the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising:
using click information associated with the first search term in determining the user search result selections for the first search term.
3. The method of claim 2 , the identifying the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising:
identifying the plurality of candidate search terms in accordance with sales information and the click information associated with the first search term.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a brand presentation area and a related searches presentation area, and each of the number of candidate search terms is presented in one of the brand and related searches presentation areas.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first search term is a brand, the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a product presentation area and at least one of the number of candidate search terms is presented in the product presentation area as a product relevant to the brand.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first search term is determined to be a performing artist.
7. A system comprising:
a server computer comprising a processor and a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the stored program logic comprising:
tracking user search result selections, including tracking user search result selections for a first search term;
generating, using the first search term in a first search, a first set of search results in response to receiving the first search term from a user;
identifying, for display in a candidate search terms presentation area of a user interface page, a plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term, each candidate search term comprises the first search term and has a relevancy to the first search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term, at least one candidate search term's relevancy comprising a relevancy of one or more other candidate search terms;
generating the user interface page for the user, the user interface page comprising a search results presentation area presenting the first set of search results generated using the first term and a candidate search terms presentation area presenting a number of the plurality of candidate search terms, wherein each identified candidate search term presented in the candidate search terms presentation area is selectable by the user to request that a second search be conducted using a selected candidate search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term; and
in response to receiving an indication that the user selected one of the number of candidate search terms, automatically generating a second set of search results using the selected candidate search term.
8. The system of claim 7 , the identifying logic executed by the processor for identifying the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising:
using click information associated with the first search term in determining the user search result selections for the first search term.
9. The system of claim 8 , the identifying logic executed by the processor for identifying the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising:
identifying logic executed by the processor for identifying the plurality of candidate search terms in accordance with sales information and the click information associated with the first search term.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a brand presentation area and a related searches presentation area, and each of the number of candidate search terms is presented in one of the brand and related searches presentation areas.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first search term is a brand, the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a product presentation area and at least one of the number of candidate search terms is presented in the product presentation area as a product relevant to the brand.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first search term is determined to be a performing artist.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon computer-readable instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to:
track user search result selections, including tracking user search result selections for a first search term;
generate, using the first search term in a first search, a first set of search results in response to receiving the first search term from a user;
identify, for display in a candidate search terms presentation area of a user interface page, a plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term, each candidate search term comprises the first search term and has a relevancy to the first search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term, at least one candidate search term's relevancy comprising a relevancy of one or more other candidate search terms;
generate the user interface page for the user, the user interface page comprising a search results presentation area presenting the first set of search results generated using the first term and a candidate search terms presentation area presenting a number of the plurality of candidate search terms, wherein each identified candidate search term presented in the candidate search terms presentation area is selectable by the user to request that a second search be conducted using a selected candidate search term identified using the user search result selections for the first search term; and
in response to receiving an indication that the user selected one of the number of candidate search terms, automatically generate a second set of search results using the selected candidate search term.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , the instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to the identify the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising instructions to:
use on click information associated with the first search term in determining the user search result selections for the first search term.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , the instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to the identify the plurality of candidate search terms relevant to the first search term further comprising instructions to:
identify the plurality of candidate search terms in accordance sales information and the click information associated with the first search term.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a brand presentation area and a related searches presentation area, and each of the number of candidate search terms is presented in one of the brand and related searches presentation areas.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first search term is a brand, the candidate search terms presentation area comprises a product presentation area and at least one of the number of candidate search terms is presented in the product presentation area as a product relevant to the brand.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first search term is determined to be a performing artist.