Framework for suggesting search terms

Abstract

A query stem is received via a search engine query input field of a user interface presented on a client device. Before receiving an input submitting the query stem as a query to the search engine, list of general queries based on the query stem and a list of local queries based the query stem and related to a location of the client device are obtained. At least one general query is selected from the list of general queries and at least one local query is selected from the list of local queries for inclusion in a blended list of queries. A presentation order of the blended list of queries is determined, so that a local query that is a more specific version of a general query is placed immediately next to the general query. The selected queries are presented via the user interface, in accordance with the determined order.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, via a search engine query input field of a user interface presented on a client device, a query stem;   before receiving an input submitting the query stem as a query to the search engine:
 obtaining, by one or more processors, a list of general queries based on the query stem; 
 obtaining, by one or more processors, a list of local queries based the query stem and related to a location of the client device; 
 selecting at least one general query from the list of general queries and at least one local query from the list of local queries for inclusion in a blended list of queries; 
 determining a presentation order of the blended list of queries, including placing a local query that is a more specific version of a general query immediately next to the general query; and 
 presenting the selected queries via the user interface, in accordance with the determined presentation order. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the local query that is the more specific version of the general query immediately next to the general query includes placing the local query directly below the general query. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the local query that is the more specific version of the general query immediately next to the general query includes placing the local query directly above the general query. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a fixed number of queries from the list of local queries prior to selecting any number of queries from the list of general queries. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting, from the list of local queries, a query that is highly specific to a local area corresponding to the location of the client device;   wherein determining the presentation order of the blended list of queries includes placing the selected query at the top of the blended list of queries.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining popularity metrics for queries on the list of general queries and on the list of local queries;   wherein selecting the at least one general query from the list of general queries and at least one local query from the list of local queries includes is based at least in part on the popularity metrics.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein determining a presentation order of the blended list of queries includes promoting a local query included in the blended list of queries in response to determining that a ratio of a popularity metric of the local query to a popularity metric of the corresponding general query exceeds a certain threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the popularity metrics includes, for a given query, determining a ratio between a number of previously submitted queries which match the given query and the number of previously submitted queries which contain the query stem. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a general location of the client device; and   determining a specific location of the client device;   wherein obtaining the list of general queries is based on the general location of the client device, and obtaining the list of local queries is based on specific general location of the client device.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining the general location of the client device includes determining a country in which the client device is located, and   determining the specific location of the client device includes determining a city in which the client device is located.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 one or more computer programmed to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via a search engine query input field of a user interface presented on client device, a query stem; 
 before receiving an input submitting the query stem as a query to the search engine:
 obtaining, by one or more processors, a list of general queries based on the query stem; 
 obtaining, by one or more processors, a list of local queries based the query stem and related to a location of the client device; 
 selecting at least one general query from the list of general queries and at least one local query from the list of local queries for inclusion in a blended list of queries; 
 determining a presentation order of the blended list of queries, including placing a local query that is a more specific version of a general query immediately next to the general query; and 
 presenting the selected queries via the user interface, in accordance with the determined presentation order. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein placing the local query that is the more specific version of the general query immediately next to the general query includes placing the local query directly below the general query. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein placing the local query that is the more specific version of the general query immediately next to the general query includes placing the local query directly above the general query. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising selecting a fixed number of queries from the list of local queries prior to selecting any number of queries from the list of general queries. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 selecting, from the list of local queries, a query that is highly specific to a local area corresponding to the location of the client device;   wherein determining the presentation order of the blended list of queries includes placing the selected query at the top of the blended list of queries.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 determining popularity metrics for queries on the list of general queries and on the list of local queries;   wherein selecting the at least one general query from the list of general queries and at least one local query from the list of local queries includes is based at least in part on the popularity metrics.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein determining a presentation order of the blended list of queries includes promoting a local query included in the blended list of queries in response to determining that a ratio of a popularity metric of the local query to a popularity metric of the corresponding general query exceeds a certain threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein determining the popularity metrics includes, for a given query, determining a ratio between a number of previously submitted queries which match the given query and the number of previously submitted queries which contain the query stem. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
 determining a general location of the client device; and   determining a specific location of the client device;   wherein obtaining the list of general queries is based on the general location of the client device, and obtaining the list of local queries is based on specific general location of the client device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 determining the general location of the client device includes determining a country in which the client device is located, and   determining the specific location of the client device includes determining a city in which the client device is located.