System and method for displaying columns of search results

Abstract

A method for generating search results based on a search term and displaying the search results in one or more groupings. The method includes receiving a search term entered by a user, selecting one or more search result groupings based on the search term entered by the user and at least in part on a bid amount associated with the search term, providing search results based on the search term entered by the user for each search result grouping, and displaying the search groupings to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a search term;   identifying a set of search results based at least in part on the search term, the set of search results including a first set of items associated with a first item type and a second set of items associated with a second item type, the first set of items and the second set of items provided through a store;   displaying the first set of items in a first pane of a display area and the second set of items in a second pane of the display area, the first pane and the second pane occupying respective areas of the display area, and the first pane configured to display search results associated with a different item category type than the second pane;   enabling pane selection options, based at least in part on a feature of the search results, that allow for opening one or more new panes, each of the one or more new panes including one or more results corresponding to an additional item category type or closing one or more panes displayed; and   in response to a pane selection, adjusting an area of displayed panes to fill the display area.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a pane selection of closing the first pane; and   enlarging an area of the second pane to substantially fill the display area.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a pane selection of opening a new pane; and   reducing an area of the first pane and the second pane, wherein the new pane, first pane, and second pane substantially fill the display area.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a pane selection of opening a new pane; and   closing at least one of the first pane or the second pane.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 closing one of the first pane or second pane associated with a longest period of time of not receiving a user interaction.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the user interaction includes at least one of: (i) causing display of additional information about a search result listed in a corresponding pane, (ii) following a hyperlink within the additional information, (iii) adding an item to a tentative shopping list, the item associated with a search result listed in a corresponding pane, or (iv) purchasing an item associated with a search result listed in a corresponding pane. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 closing one of the first pane or second pane associated with a minimum area of the display area.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a bid for placement of sponsored search results corresponding to the search term, the bid including at a bid amount to place sponsored search results in a third pane of the display area;   calculating a projected revenue stream for the bid based at least in part on the bid amount; and   determining whether or not to accept the bid based at least in part on the projected revenue stream for the bid.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising, before receiving the, providing a suggested bid amount based at least in part on bids previously received. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein calculating a projected revenue stream is further based at least in part on performance history of the sponsored search results, and wherein the performance history of the sponsored search results includes at least one of: (i) click through rates of the sponsored search results, (ii) amount of time users spend on one or more sponsored sites associated with the sponsored search results, or (iii) results of user satisfaction survey. 
     
     
         11 . A computing system, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
 receive a search term; 
 identify a set of search results based at least in part on the search term, the set of search results including a first set of items associated with a first item type and a second set of items associated with a second item type, the first set of items and the second set of items provided through a store; 
 display the first set of items in a first pane of a display area and the second set of items in a second pane of the display area, the first pane and the second pane occupying respective areas of the display area, and the first pane configured to display search results associated with a different item category type than the second pane; 
 enable pane selection options, based at least in part on a feature of the search results, that allow for opening one or more new panes, each of the one or more new panes including one or more results corresponding to an additional item category type or closing one or more panes displayed; and 
 in response to a pane selection, adjust an area of displayed panes to fill the display area. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further enable the processor to:
 receive a pane selection of closing the first pane; and   enlarge an area of the second pane to substantially fill the display area.   
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further enable the processor to:
 receive a pane selection of opening a new pane; and   reduce an area of the first pane and the second pane, wherein the new pane, first pane, and second pane substantially fill the display area.   
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further enable the processor to:
 receive a pane selection of opening a new pane; and   closing one of the first pane or second pane associated with a longest period of time of not receiving a user interaction.   
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 14 , wherein the user interaction includes at least one of: (i) causing display of additional information about a search result listed in a corresponding pane, (ii) following a hyperlink within the additional information, (iii) adding an item to a tentative shopping list, the item associated with a search result listed in a corresponding pane, or (iv) purchasing an item associated with a search result listed in a corresponding pane. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed further enable the processor to:
 receive a bid for placement of sponsored search results corresponding to the search term, the bid including at a bid amount to place sponsored search results in a third pane of the display area;   calculate a projected revenue stream for the bid based at least in part on the bid amount; and   determine whether or not to accept the bid based at least in part on the projected revenue stream for the bid.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising:
 receiving a search term;   identifying a set of search results based at least in part on the search term, the set of search results including a first set of items associated with a first item type and a second set of items associated with a second item type, the first set of items and the second set of items provided through a store;   displaying the first set of items in a first pane of a display area and the second set of items in a second pane of the display area, the first pane and the second pane occupying respective areas of the display area, and the first pane configured to display search results associated with a different item category type than the second pane;   enabling pane selection options, based at least in part on a feature of the search results, that allow for opening one or more new panes, each of the one or more new panes including one or more results corresponding to an additional item category type or closing one or more panes displayed; and   in response to a pane selection, adjusting an area of displayed panes to fill the display area.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions executed by the one or more processors to perform the set of operations of:
 receiving a bid for placement of sponsored search results corresponding to the search term, the bid including at a bid amount to place sponsored search results in a third pane of the display area;   calculating a projected revenue stream for the bid based at least in part on the bid amount; and   determining whether or not to accept the bid based at least in part on the projected revenue stream for the bid.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions executed by the one or more processors to perform the set of operations of:
 before receiving the, providing a suggested bid amount based at least in part on bids previously received.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 ,
 wherein calculating a projected revenue stream is further based at least in part on performance history of the sponsored search results, and wherein the performance history of the sponsored search results includes at least one of: (i) click through rates of the sponsored search results, (ii) amount of time users spend on one or more sponsored sites associated with the sponsored search results, or (iii) results of user satisfaction survey.