Automatic identification and contextual reformulation of implicit device-related queries

Abstract

System and methods for performing automatic identification and contextual reformulation of implicit device-related queries are described. In some examples, a query server may receive a query from an electronic device, receive data associated with the electronic device, determine that the query is related to the electronic device, generate a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device, retrieve results related to the new query, and send the results related to the new query to the electronic device. In some examples, determining that the query is related to the electronic device includes determining that the query is a semi-implicit device query or a fully implicit device query. The data associated with the electronic device can include a model name of the electronic device, an operating platform for the electronic device, and/or additional data related to the electronic device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 receiving a query from an electronic device, the query comprising an indicator phrase that indicates that the query relates to the electronic device from which the query is received; 
 receiving, from the electronic device, data associated with the electronic device; 
 determining, based on the indicator phrase included in the query, that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received; 
 generating a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device at least by replacing the indicator phrase within the query with at least part of the data associated with the electronic device; 
 retrieving results related to the new query; and 
 sending, to the electronic device, the results related to the new query. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the data associated with the electronic device includes at least one of:
 a model name of the electronic device,   an operating platform of the electronic device,   a configuration setting associated with the electronic device,   a network associated with the electronic device,   a manifest of software applications stored on the electronic device, or   a physical characteristic of the electronic device.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , the acts further comprising re-ranking the retrieved search results using the data associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the retrieved search results are re-ranked based on how frequently the search results are selected by other electronic devices that are similar to the electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , the acts further comprising retrieving results related to the received query, and sending the results related to the received query to the electronic device in combination with the results related to the new query. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein determining that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received comprises detecting the indicator phrase in the query utilizing a phrase database. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the data associated with the electronic device comprises multiple items of information, and wherein at least two new queries are generated using at least two of the items of information, and wherein results are retrieved for each of the at least two items of information. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein retrieving the results comprises at least one of searching the World Wide Web or mining data in a database or directory. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising, at a server computing device:
 receiving a query from an electronic device, the query comprising an indicator phrase that indicates that the query relates to the electronic device from which the query is received;   receiving, from the electronic device, data associated with the electronic device;   determining, based on the indicator phrase included in the query, that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received;   generating a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device at least by replacing the indicator phrase within the query with at least part of the data associated with the electronic device;   retrieving results related to the new query; and   sending, to the electronic device, the results related to the new query.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with the electronic device includes at least one of:
 a model name of the electronic device,   an operating platform of the electronic device,   a configuration setting associated with the electronic device,   a network associated with the electronic device,   a manifest of software applications stored on the electronic device, or   a physical characteristic of the electronic device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising re-ranking the retrieved search results using the data associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the retrieved search results are re-ranked based on how frequently the search results are selected by other electronic devices that are similar to the electronic device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising retrieving results related to the received query, and sending the results related to the received query to the electronic device in combination with the results related to the new query. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein determining that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received comprises detecting the indicator phrase in the query utilizing a phrase database. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the data associated with the electronic device comprises multiple items of information, and wherein at least two new queries are generated using at least two of the items of information, and wherein results are retrieved for each of the at least two items of information. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein retrieving the results comprises at least one of searching the World Wide Web or mining data in a database or directory. 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 receiving a query from an electronic device, the query comprising an indicator phrase that indicates that the query relates to the electronic device from which the query is received;   receiving, from the electronic device, data associated with the electronic device;   determining, based on the indicator phrase included in the query, that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received;   generating a new query based at least in part on the query and the data associated with the electronic device at least by replacing the indicator phrase within the query with at least part of the data associated with the electronic device;   retrieving results related to the new query; and   sending, to the electronic device, the results related to the new query.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the data associated with the electronic device includes at least one of:
 a model name of the electronic device,   an operating platform of the electronic device,   a configuration setting associated with the electronic device,   a network associated with the electronic device,   a manifest of software applications stored on the electronic device, or   a physical characteristic of the electronic device.   
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , the acts further comprising re-ranking the retrieved search results using the data associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein determining that the query is related to the electronic device from which the query is received comprises detecting the indicator phrase in the query utilizing a phrase database.