Autocompletion of Partial Search Query with Return of Predicted Search Results

Abstract

A set of ordered predicted completion strings are presented to a user as the user enters text in a text entry box (e.g., a browser or a toolbar). The predicted completion strings can be in the form of URLs or query strings. The ordering may be based on any number of factors (e.g., a query's frequency of submission from a community of users). URLs can be ranked based on an importance value of the URL. Privacy is taken into account in a number of ways, such as using a previously submitted query only when more than a certain number of unique requestors have made the query. The sets of ordered predicted completion strings is obtained by matching a fingerprint value of the user's entry string to a fingerprint to table map which contains the set of ordered predicted completion strings.

1 . A computer-implemented method for processing query information, comprising:
 at a server system:
 receiving a partial search query from a client system, the receiving including receiving the partial search query from the client system prior to receiving from the client system a search request on a complete search query that includes the partial search query; 
 responding to receiving the partial search query by:
 obtaining a set of historical complete search queries, the set of historical complete search queries corresponding to the partial search query and ordered in accordance with a ranking criteria; 
 obtaining predicted search results corresponding to one or more search queries of the set of historical complete search queries; and 
 conveying the predicted search results to the client system. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results are conveyed to the client system prior to receiving from the client system the search request on the complete search query that includes the partial search query. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query associated with subjects, concepts, or categories of information that are of interest to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query previously submitted by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results are formatted for display in a portion of a non-persistent window. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results include snippets of content from one or more documents identified by the predicted search results. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results include thumbnails of content from one or more documents identified by the one or more predicted search results. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted search results include thumbnails of one or more web pages identified by the one or more predicted search results. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conveying to the client system along with the predicted search results, the set of historical complete search queries.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predicted search results and the set of historical complete search queries are formatted for display in single display window. 
     
     
         11 . A search engine system, for processing query information, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;   the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving a partial search query from a client system, the receiving including receiving the partial search query from the client system prior to receiving from the client system a search request on a complete search query that includes the partial search query; 
 responding to receiving the partial search query by:
 obtaining a set of historical complete search queries, the set of historical complete search queries corresponding to the partial search query and ordered in accordance with a ranking criteria; 
 obtaining predicted search results corresponding to one or more search queries of the set of historical complete search queries; and 
 conveying the predicted search results to the client system. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 conveying the predicted search results to the client system prior to receiving from the client system the search request on the complete search query that includes the partial search query.   
     
     
         13 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query associated with subjects, concepts, or categories of information that are of interest to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query previously submitted by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 formatting the predicted search results for display in a portion of a non-persistent window.   
     
     
         16 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results include snippets of content from one or more documents identified by the predicted search results. 
     
     
         17 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 conveying to the client system along with the predicted search results, the set of historical complete search queries.   
     
     
         18 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 formatting the predicted search results and the set of historical complete search queries for display in single display window.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving a partial search query from a client system, the receiving including receiving the partial search query from the client system prior to receiving from the client system a search request on a complete search query that includes the partial search query;   responding to receiving the partial search query by:
 obtaining a set of historical complete search queries, the set of historical complete search queries corresponding to the partial search query and ordered in accordance with a ranking criteria; 
 obtaining predicted search results corresponding to one or more search queries of the set of historical complete search queries; and 
 conveying the predicted search results to the client system. 
   
     
     
         20 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 conveying the predicted search results to the client system prior to receiving from the client system the search request on the complete search query that includes the partial search query.   
     
     
         21 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query associated with subjects, concepts, or categories of information that are of interest to the user. 
     
     
         22 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results correspond to a predicted search query previously submitted by the user. 
     
     
         23 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 formatting the predicted search results for display in a portion of a non-persistent window.   
     
     
         24 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , wherein the predicted search results include snippets of content from one or more documents identified by the predicted search results. 
     
     
         25 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 conveying to the client system along with the predicted search results, the set of historical complete search queries.   
     
     
         26 . The search engine system of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
 formatting the predicted search results and the set of historical complete search queries for display in single display window.