Intent-Based Presentation of Search Results

Abstract

Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and computer systems configured to respond to a search query from a computer user. In response to receiving a search query from the computer user, search results are obtained. A plurality of user intents are identified according to the obtained search results. The obtained search results are then grouped according to the subject matter of the search results, where each group corresponds to one of the plurality of user intents. A first user intent (with the corresponding group of search results) is selected. A search results page is generated from the search results of the group the search results corresponding to the selected first user intent and the generated search results page is returned to the computer user in response to the search query.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for responding to a search query from a computer user, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of search results from a content store in response to a search query received from a computer user;   identifying one or more user intents from the obtained search results;   grouping a first set of the obtained search results, wherein the first set of obtained search results correspond to a first identified user intent of the one or more identified user intents;   generating one or more search results pages including a first search results page, wherein the first search results page is generated from the first set of search results corresponding to the selected identified first user intent; and   providing at least the first search results page to the computer user in response to the search query.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computing system comprising at least a processor, carry out a method for responding to a search query from a user, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of search results from a content store in response to a search query received from a computer user;   identifying one or more user intents from the obtained search results;   grouping a first set of the obtained search results, wherein the first set of obtained search results correspond to a first identified user intent of the one or more identified user intents;   generating one or more search results pages including a first search results page, wherein the first search results page consists of search results of the first set of search results corresponding to the selected identified first user intent, and further consists of another search result of the obtained search results that does not correspond to the first identified user intent, wherein the another search results is located on the generated search results page is a less prominent position than other search results of the first set of search results; and   providing at least the first search results page to the computer user in response to the search query.   
     
     
         3 . A computer system for providing online search services, the system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes instructions stored in the memory as part of or in conjunction with additional components to respond to a search query from a computer user, the additional components comprising:
 a communication component by which the computer system receives the search query from the computer user and returns a generated search results page to the computer user over a network;   a search results retrieval component that obtains a plurality of search results from a content store responsive to the computer system receiving the search query from the computer user;   an intent identification component that identifies a plurality of user intents from the search results obtained by the search results retrieval component in response to the computer system receiving the search query from the computer user;   an intent selection component that selects a first user intent from the plurality of user intents as the primary intent of the search query;   a search results grouping component that groups the search results obtained by the search results retrieval component that correspond to a first user intent of the plurality of user intents into a first group of search results; and   a search results page generator that generates a search results page in response to receiving the search query from the first group of search results corresponding to the first user intent.