Systems and methods for contextual personalized searching

Abstract

A method for providing highly relevant answers in response to a user's request uses contextual information pertaining to a user's request. A semantic entity is selected from content on the device and contextual information pertaining to the selected entity is transmitted to a server. The server constructs a query corresponding to the selected entity and translates the query into a set of simple queries; submits the simple queries to a relevant subset of a plurality of search, content and monetization sources; receives a plurality of results returned from the relevant subset of search, content and monetization sources in response to the simple queries; prioritizes the received results based on elements of the selected entity, the user, context about the selected entity, time and date, original location of the user, and aspects of the application on which the entity was selected; and presents a prioritized list of the results to the user on the client device.

1 . A method for providing contextual information regarding semantic entities included in content, the method comprising:
 receiving input at a client device indicating a desire to receive contextual information regarding a selected entity included in content on the device;   transmitting, to a server, metadata contextual information pertaining to the selected entity;   constructing a query corresponding to the selected entity and translating the query into a set of simple queries;   submitting the simple queries to a relevant subset of a plurality of search, content and monetization sources;   receiving, a plurality of search results returned from the relevant subset of search, content and monetization sources in response to the simple queries;   prioritizing the received results based on elements of the selected entity, the user, context about the selected entity and user, time and date, original location of the user, and aspects of the application on which the entity was selected; and   presenting a prioritized list of the results received from the server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising highlighting the selected entity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received user input is received in the form of touch-screen input. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the received user input is received in the form of mouse input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising suspending the default user interface behavior of the application or device presenting the content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising suspending the default user interface behavior of the application or device presenting the content in response to user input comprising a dragging movement. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising gathering metadata information pertaining to the selected entity from the content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 gathering user profile information; and   transmitting, to a server, metadata information pertaining to the selected entity and the gathered user profile information.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disambiguating the selected entity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising submitting the simple queries to a local or location-based information source. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising including in the received plurality of search results one or more results from information stored locally at the client device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , furthering comprising filtering the result received from the submitted simple queries by removing duplicate results. 
     
     
         13 . A system for providing contextual information regarding semantic entities included in content, the method comprising:
 means for receiving input at a client device indicating a desire to receive contextual information regarding a selected entity included in content on the device;   means for transmitting, to a server metadata information pertaining to the selected entity;   means for constructing a query corresponding to the selected entity and translating the query into a set of simple queries;   means for submitting the simple queries to a relevant subset of a plurality of search, content and monetization sources;   means for receiving, a plurality of search results returned from the relevant subset of search, content and monetization sources in response to the simple queries;   means for prioritizing the received results based on elements of the selected entity, the user, context about the selected entity and user, time and date, original location of the user, and aspects of the application on which the entity was selected; and   means for presenting a prioritized list of the results received from the server.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for highlighting the selected entity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the means for receiving user input comprises a touch-screen. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the means for receiving user input comprises a mouse. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for suspending the default user interface behavior of the application or device presenting the content. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising means for suspending the default user interface behavior of the application or device that is responsive to user input comprising a dragging movement. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for gathering metadata information pertaining to the selected entity from the content. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising means for gathering user profile information. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for disambiguating the selected entity. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for submitting the simple queries to a local or location-based information source. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for receiving the plurality of search results includes one or more results from information stored locally at the client device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 11 , furthering comprising means for filtering the result received from the submitted simple queries.