Method for determining relevant search results

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining search results. The method may include receiving an at least partial search term, and identifying keywords based on the at least partial search term, wherein each keyword has an associated keyword measure based on the number of times each keyword has been previously searched for within a predetermined time period. For each keyword search results associated with the keyword may be identified, wherein each result has an associated search measure. A relevance measure may be determined for each result using the keyword measure the search measure, and used to provide at least one of the results as a search result for the at least partial search term.

1 . A computer implemented method for determining search results, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an at least partial search term;   identifying keywords based on the at least partial search term, wherein each keyword has an associated keyword measure based on the number of times each keyword has been previously searched for within a predetermined time period;   for each keyword:
 identifying search results associated with the keyword, wherein each result has an associated search measure; and 
 determining a relevance measure for each result using the keyword measure and the search measure; and 
   providing at least one of the results as a search result for the at least partial search term based on the corresponding relevance measure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the keyword measure is time weighted to give more recently searched for keywords a higher weighting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search measure is based on the number of times a search result is selected following a keyword search. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relevance measure for each result is determined by multiplying the respective keyword measure by the respective search measure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an overall relevance measure for a result appearing in the search results associated with more than one keyword by summing the relevance measures determined for the result in relation to each keyword. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ranking the search results for the at least partial search term according to relevance measure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting at least one search result for the at least partial search term together with at least one keyword for selection by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving notification that one of the keywords presented for selection has been highlighted by the user; and   increasing the keyword measure associated with the highlighted keyword.   
     
     
         9 . The method  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an updated at least partial search term;   re-identifying keywords based on the updated at least partial search term; and   re-determining relevant search results based on the re-identified keywords.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 re-presenting search results based on the updated at least partial search term.   
     
     
         11 . A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a machine readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when read by a machine, operate to cause data processing apparatus to:
 receive an at least partial search term;   identify keywords based on the at least partial search term, wherein each keyword has an associated keyword measure based on the number of times each keyword has been previously searched for within a predetermined time period;   for each keyword:
 identify search results associated with the keyword, wherein each result has an associated search measure; and 
 determine a relevance measure for each result using the keyword measure and the search measure; and 
   provide at least one of the results as a search result for the at least partial search term based on the corresponding relevance measure.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the keyword measure is time weighted to give more recently searched for keywords a higher weighting. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the relevance measure for each result is determined by multiplying the respective keyword measure by the respective search measure. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to: determine an overall relevance measure for a result appearing in the search results associated with more than one keyword by summing the relevance measures determined for the result in relation to each keyword. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to: present at least one search result for the at least partial search term together with at least one keyword for selection by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions to:
 receive notification that one of the keywords presented for selection has been highlighted by the user; and   increase the keyword measure associated with the highlighted keyword.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to:
 receive an updated at least partial search term;   re-identify keywords based on the updated at least partial search term; and   re-determine relevant search results based on the re-identified keywords.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one storage device storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving an at least partial search term;   identifying keywords based on the at least partial search term, wherein each keyword has an associated keyword measure based on the number of times each keyword has been previously searched for within a predetermined time period;   for each keyword:
 identifying search results associated with the keyword, wherein each result has an associated search measure; and 
 determining a relevance measure for each result using the keyword measure and the search measure; and 
   providing at least one of the results as a search result for the at least partial search term based on the corresponding relevance measure.