Systems and methods to generate and utilize a synonym dictionary

Abstract

Systems and methods to identify synonyms are described. The system generates demand information based on a first plurality of queries, identifies a first synonym set based on an association map that comprises a first plurality of constraints identified from the first cluster of queries, stores the first synonym set in a synonym dictionary, receives a query, over a network, from a client machine, retrieves the first synonym from the synonym dictionary, and expands a constraint in the query received from the client machine based on the first synonym.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system to generate a synonym dictionary, the system comprising:
 a computer processor;   a memory coupled to the computer processor has instructions stored therein which, when executed by the computer processor, causes the computer processor to execute:   a receiving module configured to generate demand information based on a first plurality of queries, the demand information includes an association between a first query and a first product; and   a processing module configured to identify a second plurality of queries from the first plurality of queries as a first cluster of queries based on the demand information, the first cluster of queries is associated with a first plurality of search results that are associated with selections that identify items that are identified as the first product,   the processing module further configured to identify a first synonym set based on an association map that comprises a first plurality of constraints identified from the first cluster of queries,   the processing module further configured to store the first synonym set in a synonym dictionary, the synonym set includes a first synonym,   the processing module further configured to receive a query, over a network, from a client machine, the query is received at an information storage and retrieval platform,   the processing module further configured to retrieve the first synonym from the synonym dictionary,   the processing module further configured to expand a constraint in the query received from the client machine based on the first synonym.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving module is further configured to identify a first set of search results based on the first query, the first set of search results is included in the first plurality of search results and includes a first item, the receiving module is further configured to receive a selection over a network that identifies the first item in the first set of search results. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the receiving module is further configured to identify the first item as the first product, and wherein the receiving module is further configured to store the association between the first query and the first product, wherein the association between the first query and the first product is an instance of the demand information. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing module is configured to identify the first product is associated with the first cluster of queries. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first cluster of queries comprises the first query and wherein the first query comprises a first and second constraint and wherein the processing module is configured to generate a distance matrix that identifies a distance between the first and second constraint. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processing module is configured to identify a first constraint of the first query as included in the first plurality of constraints based on a position of the first constraint in the distance matrix and wherein the processing module is further configured to identify a second constraint of the first query as not included in the first plurality of constraints based on a position of the second constraint in the distance matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing module is configured to utilize the association map to identify at least one constraint in a second query that matches at least one constraint in a third query. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first synonym set comprises a first constraint and a second constraint that are synonyms. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing module is configured to identify a second set of search results based on the query that is expanded, the second set of search results identifies listings that are stored in a database, the listings describe items that are offered for sale on a network-based marketplace, the processing module is configured to communicate the second set of search results to the client machine. 
     
     
         11 . A method to generate a synonym dictionary, the method comprising:
 generating demand information based on a first plurality of queries, the demand information including an association between a first query and a first product, the generating the demand information being performed by using a computer processor;   identifying a second plurality of queries from the first plurality of queries as a first cluster of queries based on the demand information, the first cluster of queries is associated with a first plurality of search results that are associated with selections that identify items that are identified as the first product; and   identifying a first synonym set based on an association map that comprises a first plurality of constraints identified from the first cluster of queries;   storing the first synonym set in a synonym dictionary, the synonym set including a first synonym;   receiving a query, over a network, from a client machine, the query being received at an information storage and retrieval platform;   retrieving the first synonym from the synonym dictionary; and   expanding a constraint in the query received from the client machine based on the first synonym.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the generating the demand information further comprises:
 identifying a first set of search results based on the first query, the first set of search results being included in the first plurality of search results and including a first item;   receiving a selection over a network that identifies the first item in the first set of search results.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the generating the demand information further comprises:
 identifying the first item as the first product; and   storing the association between the first query and the first product, wherein the association between the first query and the first product is an instance of the demand information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second plurality of queries includes a second query that includes at least two constraints and wherein the second plurality of queries includes a third query that includes at least two constraints. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the identifying the second plurality of queries as the first cluster of queries from the first plurality of queries comprises identifying the first product that is associated with the first cluster of queries. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first cluster of queries comprises the first query and wherein the first query comprises a first and second constraint and wherein the identifying the first synonym set comprises generating a distance matrix that identifies a distance between the first and second constraint. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the identifying the first synonym set comprises identifying the first constraint of the first query as included in the first plurality of constraints based on a position of the first constraint in the distance matrix and identifying the second constraint of the first query as not included in the first plurality of constraints based on a position of the second constraint in the distance matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the identifying the first synonym set includes utilizing the association map to identify at least one constraint in a second query that matches at least one constraint a the third query. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first synonym set comprises a first constraint and a second constraint that are synonyms. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying a second set of search results based on the query that is expanded, the second set of search results identifying listings that are stored in a database, the listings describing items that are being offered for sale on a network-based marketplace; and   communicating the second set of search results to the client machine.   
     
     
         21 . A machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor to perform actions that comprise:
 generate demand information based on a first plurality of queries, the demand information includes an association between a first query and a first product;   identify a second plurality of queries from the first plurality of queries as a first cluster of queries based on the demand information, the first cluster of queries is associated with a first plurality of search results that are associated with selections that identify items that are identified as the first product; and   identify a first synonym set based on an association map that comprises a first plurality of constraints identified from the first cluster of queries;   store the first synonym set in a synonym dictionary, the synonym set including a first synonym;   receive a query, over a network, from a client machine, the query being received at an information storage and retrieval platform;   retrieve the first synonym from the synonym dictionary; and   expand a constraint in the query received from the client machine based on the first synonym.