Search System Using Search Subdomain And Hints To Subdomains In Search Query Statements And Sponsored Results On A Subdomain-By-Subdomain Basis

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, via the internet, a search query string from a client system;

identifying, using a search server computer, a plurality of keywords in the search query string;

determining that the search query string lacks a location keyword by:

for each keyword in the plurality of keywords, determining, using the search server computer, that the keyword is not associated with any geographic location;

determining, using the search server computer, that the search query string is implicitly local;

determining a geographic location associated with the client system;

in response to determining that the search query string is implicitly local, identifying, using the search server computer, one or more location-specific results that are associated with the geographic location;

providing, using the search server computer, the one or more location-specific results to the client system associated with the first user as a response to the search query string.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location associated with user preferences of a user of the client system.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on an IP/network address associated with said client system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on a mobile access point used by the client system to send the search query string.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the search query string is implicitly local is based, at least in part, on determining that the search query string reflects an intent to make a purchase that is typically made locally.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second search query string;

determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and

adding the location keyword associated with the geographic location to the second search query string.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the geographic location;

in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and

providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the geographic location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point associated with the client system.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term;

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information, from the client system of the first user, requesting generic search results;

in response to receiving said information:

identifying non-location-specific search results;

wherein identifying the non-location-specific search results is not specific to a particular location; and

providing the non-location-specific search results as a response to the search query string.

11 . A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors perform:

receiving, via the internet, a search query string from a client system;

identifying, using a search server computer, a plurality of keywords in the search query string;

determining that the search query string lacks a location keyword by:

for each keyword in the plurality of keywords, determining, using the search server computer, that the keyword is not associated with any geographic location;

determining, using the search server computer, that the search query string is implicitly local;

determining a geographic location associated with the client system;

in response to determining that the search query string is implicitly local, identifying, using the search server computer, one or more location-specific results that are associated with the geographic location;

providing, using the search server computer, the one or more location-specific results to the client system associated with the first user as a response to the search query string.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location associated with user preferences of a user of the client system.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on an IP/network address associated with said client system.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining a geographic location associated with the client system includes determining the geographic location based on a mobile access point used by the client system to send the search query string.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining that the search query string is implicitly local is based, at least in part, on determining that the search query string reflects an intent to make a purchase that is typically made locally.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:

receiving a second search query string;

determining that the second search query string is implicitly local; and

adding the location keyword associated with the geographic location to the second search query string.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:

receiving information, from the first user, selecting a second location that is different than the geographic location;

in response to receiving said information, identifying second location-specific results associated with the second location; and

providing the second location-specific results as a response to the search query string.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform identifying the geographic location based, at least in part, on a mobile access point associated with the client system.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:

receiving a second search query string that includes a particular term;

identifying a second location based, at least in part, on determining that at least one entry in one or more query logs (a) is associated with a logged search query string that includes the particular term, and (b) indicates selection of a page that is associated with the second location.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has further instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors further perform:

receiving information, from the client system of the first user, requesting generic search results;

in response to receiving said information:

identifying non-location-specific search results;

wherein identifying the non-location-specific search results is not specific to a particular location; and

providing the non-location-specific search results as a response to the search query string.