Suggesting alternative queries in query results

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for suggesting alternative queries based on original query search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving search results for a first query, where each search result refers to a respective resource and includes a snippet of content from the respective resource, receiving one or more suggested second queries, for each of the suggested second queries: selecting a set of words in one of the snippets to represent the suggested second query, associating the suggested second query with the set so that a user can interact with a word in the set to invoke the suggested second query, and marking the set so as to indicate that the user can interact with a word in the set to invoke the suggested second query, and transmitting the search results including each marked set to a client device for presentation to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying on a display device a first set of search results responsive to a first query, each search result referring to a respective resource and including a link to the respective resource and a snippet of content from the respective resource, wherein each of a plurality of the snippets includes a marked set of one or more words, wherein each marked set of one or more words is associated with multiple respective suggested second queries, wherein, when a user positions a cursor within a region associated with the marked set of one or more words, a listing of the multiple respective suggested second queries is displayed;   receiving input from the user interacting with a word in a particular marked set of one or more words within a particular snippet;   identifying the suggested second query associated with the particular marked set of one or more words;   submitting the particular suggested second query to a search engine; and   displaying a second set of one or more search results responsive to the suggested second query.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , where receiving input from the user comprises:
 receiving input from the user moving the cursor displayed on the display device;   determining whether the cursor is positioned within a region associated with a word in the particular marked set of one or more words, and while the cursor is positioned within the region, displaying a dialog box including a user-selectable representation of the particular suggested second query; and   receiving a second input from the user selecting the particular suggested second query included in the dialog box.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 changing an appearance of the marked words within the snippet while the cursor is positioned within the region associated with the word in the particular marked set of one or more words.   
     
     
         5 . A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 displaying on a display device a first set of search results responsive to a first query, each search result referring to a respective resource and including a link to the respective resource and a snippet of content from the respective resource, wherein each of a plurality of the snippets includes a marked set of one or more words, wherein each marked set of one or more words is associated with multiple respective suggested second queries, wherein, when a user positions a cursor within a region associated with the marked set of one or more words, a listing of the multiple respective suggested second queries is displayed;   receiving input from the user interacting with a word in a particular marked set of one or more words within a particular snippet;   identifying the suggested second query associated with the particular marked set of one or more words;   submitting the particular suggested second query to a search engine; and   displaying a second set of one or more search results responsive to the suggested second query.   
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , where receiving input from the user comprises:
 receiving input from the user moving the cursor displayed on the display device;   determining whether the cursor is positioned within a region associated with a word in the particular marked set of one or more words, and while the cursor is positioned within the region, displaying a dialog box including a user-selectable representation of the particular suggested second query; and   receiving a second input from the user selecting the particular suggested second query included in the dialog box.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 6 , where the computer program product is further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 changing an appearance of the marked words within the snippet while the cursor is positioned within the region associated with the word in the particular marked set of one or more words.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 one or more computers; and   a client device operable to interact with the one or more computers and to:
 display on a display device a first set of search results responsive to a first query, each search result referring to a respective resource and including a link to the respective resource and a snippet of content from the respective resource, wherein each of a plurality of the snippets includes a marked set of one or more words, wherein each marked set of one or more words is associated with multiple respective suggested second queries, wherein, when a user positions a cursor within a region associated with the marked set of one or more words, a listing of the multiple respective suggested second queries is displayed; 
 receive input from the user interacting with a word in a particular marked set of one or more words within a particular snippet; 
 identify the suggested second query associated with the particular marked set of one or more words; 
 submit the particular suggested second query to a search engine; and 
 display a second set of one or more search results responsive to the suggested second query. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where receiving input from the user comprises:
 receiving input from the user moving the cursor displayed on the display device;   determining whether the cursor is positioned within a region associated with a word in the particular marked set of one or more words, and while the cursor is positioned within the region, displaying a dialog box including a user-selectable representation of the particular suggested second query; and   receiving a second input from the user selecting the particular suggested second query included in the dialog box.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further operable to:
 change an appearance of the marked words within the snippet while the cursor is positioned within the region associated with the word in the particular marked set of one or more words.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more computers comprise a server operable to interact with the client device through a data communication network, and the client device is operable to interact with the server as a client. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the client device comprises a personal computer running a web browser or a mobile telephone running a WAP browser. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more computers comprises one personal computer, and the personal computer comprises the client device.