Preview search results

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for previewing content that is located behind the links of a search results webpage without having to click on the links and thereby cause webpage changes. Embodiments provide a webpage that presents a first set of search results in response to a search query submitted by a user. This webpage is displayed in a graphical user interface and the first set of search results comprises one or more links to other search results webpages, which are defined dynamically and cannot be pre-computed. In the event a user mouses over one of the links, embodiments execute the search associated with the moused-over link and then render selected portions of the search results in a preview window that is positioned over a portion the webpage that displays the first set of search results.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a search query;   determining a set of search results and a set of search refinement suggestions relevant to the received search query;   displaying, via a graphical interface, the set of search results and user-selectable elements, individual user-selectable elements corresponding to a search refinement suggestion;   determining that a pointer is positioned within a user-selectable element of interest of the user-selectable elements;   pre-fetching a set of refined search results based on the search refinement suggestion associated with the user-selectable element of interest;   displaying, via the graphical interface, at least a portion of individuals of the set of refined search results in a preview area;   determining that the pointer is positioned outside of the user-selectable element of interest; and   removing the preview area from the graphical interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pre-fetching a second set of refined search results based on a second search suggestion associated with a second user-selectable element.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that the pointer is positioned within the second user-selectable element; and   displaying, via the graphical interface, at least a portion of the second set of refined search results in a second preview area.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pre-fetching the set of refined search results includes:
 causing a search service to execute a search that includes the search refinement suggestion term associated with the user-selectable element.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of search results is displayed in a first portion of the graphical interface and the user-selectable elements are displayed in a second portion of the graphical interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the preview window is displayed at least partially covering the first portion of the graphical interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preview window includes at least one selectable element that is associated with one of the refined search results. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one selectable element is an image. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one selectable element is a navigation link. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user-selectable elements are navigation links. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a selection of the at least one selectable element; and   updating the graphical interface to display product information related to a product associated with the selectable element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the user-selectable element of interest; and   replace the search results with the refined search results.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 receive a search query;   determine a set of search results and a set of search refinement suggestions relevant to the received search query;   display, via a graphical interface, the set of search results and user-selectable elements, individual user-selectable elements corresponding to a search refinement suggestion;   determine that a pointer is positioned within a user-selectable element of interest of the user-selectable elements;   pre-fetch a set of refined search results based on the search refinement suggestion associated with the user-selectable element of interest;   display, via the graphical interface, at least a portion of individuals of the set of refined search results in a preview area;   determine that the pointer is positioned outside of the user-selectable element of interest; and   remove the preview area from the graphical interface.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions to pre-fetch the set of refined search results further includes instructions to:
 cause a search service to execute a search that includes the search refinement suggestion term associated with the user-selectable element.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the set of search results is displayed in a first portion of the graphical interface and the user-selectable elements are displayed in a second portion of the graphical interface. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the preview window is displayed at least partially covering the first portion of the graphical interface. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the preview window includes at least one selectable element that is associated with one of the refined search results. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive a search query; 
 determine a set of search results and a set of search refinement suggestions relevant to the received search query; 
 display, via a graphical interface, the set of search results and user-selectable elements, individual user-selectable elements corresponding to a search refinement suggestion; 
 determine that a pointer is positioned within a user-selectable element of interest of the user-selectable elements; 
 pre-fetch a set of refined search results based on the search refinement suggestion associated with the user-selectable element of interest; 
 display, via the graphical interface, at least a portion of individuals of the set of refined search results in a preview area; 
 determine that the pointer is positioned outside of the user-selectable element of interest; and 
 remove the preview area from the graphical interface. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the set of search results is displayed in a first portion of the graphical interface and the user-selectable elements are displayed in a second portion of the graphical interface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the preview window is displayed at least partially covering the first portion of the graphical interface.