Presentation of items based on a theme

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating a query are described. A query submitted by a user is accessed and the submitted query is identified as corresponding to a theme by determining a strength score of the submitted query. In one example embodiment, the strength score indicates a pertinence of the submitted query to the theme, the theme being a descriptor of a concept that is applicable to the submitted query. A thematic query is generated based on the submitted query and the determined strength score.

1 . A system comprising:
 an access module configured to access a query submitted by a user;   an identification module, executable by a processor and configured to identify the submitted query as corresponding to a theme by determining a strength score of the submitted query, the strength score indicating a pertinence of the submitted query to the theme, the theme being a descriptor of a concept that is applicable to the submitted query; and   a query module to generate a thematic query based on the submitted query and the determined strength score.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the submitted query is submitted by a particular user having a particular username that corresponds to a particular activity level with respect to a network-based system; and   the determining of the strength score is based on the particular username corresponding to the particular activity level.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a further query among a plurality of submitted queries is submitted by a further user among a plurality of users, the further user having a further username that corresponds to a different activity level; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that the pertinence of the submitted query to the theme is greater than a further pertinence of the further query to the theme.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the particular activity level transgresses a threshold activity level that indicates a minimum level of activity with respect to the network-based system; and   the particular activity level is representative of at least one of a number of transactions conducted using the network-based system, a number of queries submitted to the network-based system, an age of the username, or a reputation score of the username.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the submitted query is submitted within a time span that includes a reference time; and   the determining of the strength score is based on the submitted query being submitted within the time span.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the reference time marks a periodic event; and   at least some of the time span is precedent to the reference time that marks the periodic event.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the periodic event is at least one of an annual event, it monthly event, a calendar event, an astronomical event, a religious event, a government event, a holiday, or a season.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the reference time marks a news event; and   at least some of the time span is subsequent to the reference time that marks the news event.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the news event is at least one of a press release, a blog posting, a social network posting, or a publication of a news report.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 accessing a query submitted by a user;   identifying the submitted query as corresponding to a theme by determining a strength score of the submitted query, the strength score indicating a pertinence of the submitted query to the theme, the theme being a descriptor of a concept that is applicable to the submitted query, the identifying being performed by a processor; and   generating a thematic query based on the submitted query and the determined strength score, the thematic query being different than the submitted query.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining search results by executing the thematic query, the search results referencing a plurality of items that each correspond to the theme; and   presenting at least some of the plurality of items in a single collection that corresponds to the theme.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the submitted query includes multiple search criteria; and   the determining of the strength score is based on a count of the multiple search criteria.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a further query among a plurality of submitted queries includes only one search criterion; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that the pertinence of the submitted query to the theme is greater than a further pertinence of the further query to the theme.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the submitted query and a different query among a plurality of submitted queries are submitted in a single browser session that corresponds to a session identifier;   the determining of the strength score is based on the submitted query and the different query being submitted in the single browser session.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a further query among the plurality of submitted queries is submitted in a different browser session; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that the pertinence of the submitted query to the theme is greater than a further pertinence of the further query to the theme.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 accessing a query submitted by a user;   identifying the submitted query as corresponding to a theme by determining a strength score of the submitted query, the strength score indicating a pertinence of the submitted query to the theme, the theme being a descriptor of a concept that is applicable to the submitted query; and   generating a thematic query based on the submitted query and the determined strength score, the thematic query being different than the submitted query.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-rear able storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the submitted query and a further query among a plurality of submitted queries are submitted within a time span; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that a subset of the plurality of submitted queries is submitted during the time span.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the subset is indicative of an increase in submission of queries that correspond to the theme; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that the time span is less than an average time span for submission of queries that correspond to the theme.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the subset is indicative of a decrease in submission of queries that correspond to the theme; and   the determining of the strength score includes determining that the time span is greater than an average time span for submission of queries that correspond to the theme.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the theme includes a descriptive token absent from the submitted query; and   the submitted query is included in a plurality of submitted queries.