Search annotation and personalization services

Abstract

Various features are disclosed for storing and providing access to event data reflective of user-generated events, including events associated with search query submission of users. One such feature enables users to annotate search results, to later recall and view these annotations, and to publish the annotations to other users. Another feature involves recording event data reflective of search result viewing events of users, and using this event data to personalize search results pages for particular users.

1 . A system that provides functionality for conducting searches, the system comprising:
 a search engine system that is responsive to search queries received over a network from user computing devices of users by generating and returning search results pages listing corresponding search results, said search results including uniform resource locators of responsive resources, said search engine system providing functionality, including a user interface, that enables users to annotate particular search results, and to subsequently recall such annotations for viewing; and   a server that persistently stores event data in association with particular users of the search engine system, said event data comprising search result annotations created by particular users, said server including a query interface that enables the search engine system to selectively retrieve the persistently stored event data associated with particular users.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search engine system additionally provides functionality for the users to publish their respective search result annotations to other users. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes functionality for users to view and organize their respective event histories. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to store a search result annotation submitted by a user as an event object that is separately retrievable via the query interface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the event object includes an event type identifier and an event timestamp. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is additionally configured to store event data descriptive of search result viewing events, and the search engine system is configured to personalize search results page for a user with annotations indicative of when the user previously viewed particular search results, said annotations based on the event data descriptive of search result viewing events. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server stores event data for each of a plurality of defined event types, including an annotation event type. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the query interface provides functionality for selectively retrieving the event data based on at least user ID, event type, and event time-of-occurrence. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server comprises at least one persistent storage layer machine that persistently stores the event data, and comprises a plurality of cache layer machines that cache event data of particular users during browsing sessions of such users, wherein the search engine system is configured to send queries to the cache layer machines to request event data. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a search query submission from a user computing device associated with a user;   executing the search query to identify a plurality of search results that are responsive to the search query;   outputting a representation of the search results to the user computing device for presentation to the user;   providing an option for the user to annotate the search results, and receiving a resulting search result annotation submitted by the user;   persistently storing the search result annotation in association with the user;   subsequently retrieving the persistently stored search result annotation by execution of a query; and   outputting the search result annotation for display to the user;   said method performed in its entirety by a computer-implemented system that comprises a plurality of server machines.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, by said computer-implemented system, providing an option for the user to publish the search result annotation to other users. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, by said computer-implemented system, publishing the search query annotation to other users. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein persistently storing the search result annotation comprises persistently storing, on a server, an event object that includes at least the search result annotation and an event timestamp. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein retrieving the search result annotation comprises receiving said query from an application, and, in response to the query, returning the event object to the application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising recording, in association with the user, event data that identifies specific search result URLs selected by the user for viewing, and using said event data to personalize search results pages for the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-implemented system is a web site system that hosts a web site that provides functionality for conducting Internet searches. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising
 a computer system comprising a plurality of servers, said computer system configured to perform a process that comprises:
 receiving a search query submission from a user computing device associated with a user; 
 executing the search query to identify a plurality of search results that are responsive to the search query; 
 outputting a representation of the search results to the user computing device for presentation to the user; 
 providing an option for the user to annotate the search results, and receiving a resulting search result annotation submitted by the user; 
 persistently storing the search result annotation in association with the user; 
 subsequently retrieving the persistently stored search result annotation; and 
 outputting the search result annotation for display to the user. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the computer system is additionally configured to provide an option for the user to publish the search result annotation to other users. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the computer system is additionally configured to publish the search query annotation to other users.