Facet Suggestion for Search Query Augmentation

Abstract

A method searches a set of information using a computer. The method generates a set of search results based on a search query. Then, without further user input, the method generates a set of candidate facets, where each of the candidate facets can be used to select a subset of the search results. The method ranks the candidate facets in accordance with selectivity of the candidate facets and selects a plurality of facets from among the candidate facets for presentation to the user. The selection is in accordance with the rankings of the candidate facets. The method formats the presentation facets for display to the user. In response to user selection of a presentation facet, the method generates a revised search query comprising the original search query and the selected presentation facet, and generates a revised set of search results based on the revised search query.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of searching a set of information, comprising:
 at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors, wherein performance of the method is controlled by execution of the one or more programs:   generating an initial set of search results based on an initial search query;   without further user input:
 generating a set of candidate facets, each of which can be used to select a subset of the initial set of search results; 
 ranking the candidate facets in accordance with selectivity of the candidate facets with respect to at least some of the search results, wherein the selectivity of the candidate facets is based, at least in part, on how evenly each candidate facet, when combined with the initial search query, splits the initial set of search results; 
 selecting a plurality of presentation facets from among the candidate facets in accordance with the rankings of the candidate facets; 
 formatting for display the presentation facets; and 
   in response to user selection of any one of the presentation facets, generating a revised search query comprising the initial search query and the selected presentation facet, and generating a revised set of search results based on the revised search query.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , including responding to the initial search query by formatting for concurrent display the initial search query, a subset of the initial set of search results, and the presentation facets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, without further user input, determining for each candidate facet which facet characteristics from a predefined set of facet characteristics are characteristics of the candidate facet, wherein the ranking further includes ranking the candidate facets in accordance with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each facet characteristic of the predefined set of facet characteristics has an associated weight, and the ranking of the candidate facets is based in part on the weights associated with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the weight associated with each facet characteristic is based on historical popularity of presentation facets having the facet characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of information comprises one or more of the set consisting of:
 electronic messages associated with an individual user;   product specifications for a set of products; and   product information about product features for a set of products.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including generating, in response to the user selection of one of the presentation facets, a revised set of candidate facets corresponding to the revised set of search results; and formatting for display at least a subset of the revised set of candidate facets. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a set of candidate facets includes generating at least one candidate facet for each of a plurality of predefined operators based on the initial search results. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating a candidate facet for a respective predefined operator includes generating a candidate facet based on metadata in the initial search results. 
     
     
         10 . A system for searching a set of information, comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions executed by the one or more processors so as to:   generate an initial set of search results based on an initial search query;   without further user input:
 generate a set of candidate facets, each of which can be used to select a subset of the initial set of search results; 
 rank the candidate facets in accordance with selectivity of the candidate facets with respect to at least some of the search results, wherein the selectivity of the candidate facets is based, at least in part, on how evenly each candidate facet, when combined with the initial search query, splits the initial set of search results; 
 select a plurality of presentation facets from among the candidate facets in accordance with the rankings of the candidate facets; and 
 format for display the presentation facets; and 
   in response to user selection of any one of the presentation facets, generate a revised search query comprising the initial search query and the selected presentation facet, and generate a revised set of search results based on the revised search query.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions to determine for each candidate facet, without further user input, which facet characteristics from a predefined set of facet characteristics are characteristics of the candidate facet, wherein the instructions to rank the candidate facets further include instructions to rank the candidate facets in accordance with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each facet characteristic of the predefined set of facet characteristics has an associated weight, and the instructions to rank the candidate facets performs the ranking in part based on the weights associated with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the weight associated with each facet characteristic is based on historical popularity of presentation facets having the facet characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the set of information comprises one or more of the set consisting of:
 electronic messages associated with an individual user;   product specifications for a set of products; and   product information about product features for a set of products.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions to generate a set of candidate facets include instructions to generate, in response to the user selection of one of the presentation facets, a revised set of candidate facets corresponding to the revised set of search results; and the one or more programs include instructions for formatting for display at least a subset of the revised set of candidate facets. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions to generate the initial set of search results includes instructions to generate at least one candidate facet for each of a plurality of predefined operators based on the initial search results. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions to be executed by the one or more processors so as to:
 generate an initial set of search results based on an initial search query;   without further user input:
 generate a set of candidate facets, each of which can be used to select a subset of the initial set of search results; 
 rank the candidate facets in accordance with selectivity of the candidate facets with respect to at least some of the search results, wherein the selectivity of the candidate facets is based, at least in part, on how evenly each candidate facet, when combined with the initial search query, splits the initial set of search results; 
 select a plurality of presentation facets from among the candidate facets in accordance with the rankings of the candidate facets; and 
 format for display the presentation facets; and 
   in response to user selection of any one of the presentation facets, generate a revised search query comprising the initial search query and the selected presentation facet, and generate a revised set of search results based on the revised search query.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions to determine for each candidate facet, without further user input, which facet characteristics from a predefined set of facet characteristics are characteristics of the candidate facet, wherein the instructions to rank the candidate facets further include instructions to rank the candidate facets in accordance with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein each facet characteristic of the predefined set of facet characteristics has an associated weight, and the instructions to rank the candidate facets performs the ranking in part based on the weights associated with the facet characteristics of the candidate facets. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the weight associated with each facet characteristic is based on historical popularity of presentation facets having the facet characteristic. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the set of information comprises one or more of the set consisting of:
 electronic messages associated with an individual user;   product specifications for a set of products; and   product information about product features for a set of products.   
     
     
         22 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions to generate a set of candidate facets include instructions to generate, in response to the user selection of one of the presentation facets, a revised set of candidate facets corresponding to the revised set of search results; and the one or more programs include instructions for formatting for display at least a subset of the revised set of candidate facets. 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , the instructions to generate a set of candidate facets include instructions to generate at least one candidate facet for each of a plurality of predefined operators based on the initial search results.