Search guidance

Abstract

A user may submit a search query to a search engine, which may process the search query and generate a set of results. Previous actions of the user or of other users may be used to identify recommended search queries. The recommended search queries may be presented to the user along with the search results for the query. The location of the recommended search queries may be fixed, set by the user, or determined on a query-by-query basis. A user interface element operable to cause the presentation of one or more recommended search queries may be presented after a delay. After an additional or independent delay, the recommended search queries may be presented automatically. The delays may be fixed, set by the user, or determined on a query-by-query basis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a search query from a user of a client machine;   identifying a set of results to the search query;   based on the search query, identifying a plurality of recommended searches;   based on the search query and by a processor of a machine, identifying a screen location for presentation of the recommended searches; and   responsive to the search query, transmitting the set of results, the plurality of recommended searches, and the screen location to the client machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the identifying of the plurality of recommended searches identifies the plurality of recommended searches based on actions of other users after submitting prior search queries similar to the search query.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the identifying of the plurality of recommended searches identifies the plurality of recommended searches based on prior actions of the user after submitting prior search queries.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a delay between a presenting of the set of results and a presenting of one or more of the identified recommended searches; and   responsive to the search query, transmitting the delay to the client machine.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the screen location indicates a predetermined number of search results to be presented by the client machine before the plurality of recommended searches. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined number of search results is based on actions of other users after submitting prior search queries similar to the search query. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined number of search results is based on prior actions of the user after submitting prior search queries. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of recommended searches is a modified version of the search query. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the modified version of the search query adds a category element to the search query. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the modified version of the search query adds a brand element to the search query. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory configured to:
 receive a search query from a user of a client machine; 
 identify a set of results to the search query; 
 based on the search query, identify a set of recommended searches; 
 based on the search query, identify a screen location for presentation of at least a subset of the set of recommended searches; and 
 responsive to the search query, transmit the set of results, the set of recommended searches, and the screen location to the client machine. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the identification of the set of recommended searches identifies the set of recommended searches based on actions of other users after submitting prior search queries similar to the search query. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the identifying of the set of recommended searches identifies the set of recommended searches based on prior actions of the user after submitting prior search queries. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify a delay between a presenting of the set of results and a presenting of the at least a subset of the set of identified recommended searches; and   responsive to the search query, transmit the delay to the client machine.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the screen location indicates a predetermined number of search results to be presented by the client machine before the set of recommended searches. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the set of recommended searches is a modified version of the search query. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify a delay between a presenting of the set of results and a presenting of a user interface element operable to cause presentation of an additional search option; and   transmit the delay to the client machine.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the delay is based on actions of other users after submitting the search query. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the delay is based on prior actions of the user after submitting other search queries. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a search query from a user of a client machine;   identifying a set of results to the search query;   based on the search query, identifying a plurality of recommended searches;   based on the search query, identifying a screen location for presentation of the recommended searches; and   responsive to the search query, transmitting the set of results, the plurality of recommended searches, and the screen location to the client machine.