Displaying Search Results According to Object Types and Relationships

Abstract

A user query including one or more references to objects of various types and/or text keywords is received from a user and processed into sub-queries. Information sources execute the sub-queries and returns search results matching text keywords and/or relating to objects referenced in the user queries. The search results are organized based on their object types and relationships, and displayed in a manner exposing their relationships to the user.

1 . A computer-implemented method of displaying search results of a relationship-based search, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of search result objects of a plurality of different types in response to a query referencing a query object;   organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories responsive to the different types of search result objects;   grouping a plurality of categorized search result objects organized into a category into a plurality of different buckets responsive to relationships of the categorized search result objects with the query object;   displaying the search result objects of the plurality of different categories on a plurality of different tabbed pages, wherein the categorized search result objects organized into the category are displayed on a same tabbed page; and   displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects displayed on the same tabbed page under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects comprises:
 displaying a plurality of headings, each heading summarizing a particular relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object; and   displaying subsets of the categorized search result objects under respective headings of the plurality of headings, each subset of the categorized search result objects displayed under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects in the subset to the query object.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories comprises organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of predefined categories; and   grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects organized into the category into the plurality of different buckets comprises grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects into a plurality of predefined buckets.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the search result objects of the plurality of different categories on a plurality of different tabbed pages comprises:
 displaying a dashboard listing the plurality of different categories; and   highlighting, in the dashboard, a category for which a tabbed page is currently being displayed.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to selection of a displayed search result object, providing a plurality of applicable action options to be performed against the selected search result object, the plurality of applicable actions determined responsive to a type of the selected search result object;   receiving, on a user client displaying the search results, a selection of an applicable action from among the plurality of applicable action options; and   executing an application on the user client responsive to the selection of the applicable action.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input from a user comprising a text phrase;   determining a plurality of query objects that may be referenced by the text phrase;   displaying the plurality of query objects to the user for selection;   responsive to a user selection of one of the plurality of query objects, adding a reference to the selected query object to the query; and   transmitting the query having the reference to the selected query object to a search service.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different categories comprise:
 a first category comprising a first subset of search result objects having a first search result type; and   a second category comprising a second subset of search result objects having a second search result type.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first subset of search result objects in the first category are grouped into respective buckets, the respective buckets comprising:
 a first bucket comprising a first further subset of search result objects in the first category having a first type of relationship with the query object; and   a second bucket comprising a second further subset of search result objects in the first category having a second type of relationship with the query object.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for displaying search results of a relationship-based search, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:
 receiving a plurality of search result objects of a plurality of different types in response to a query referencing a query object;   organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories responsive to the different types of search result objects;   grouping a plurality of categorized search result objects organized into a category into a plurality of different buckets responsive to relationships of the categorized search result objects with the query object;   displaying the search result objects of the plurality of different categories on a plurality of different tabbed pages, wherein the categorized search result objects organized into the category are displayed on a same tabbed page; and   displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects displayed on the same tabbed page under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects comprises:
 displaying a plurality of headings, each heading summarizing a particular relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object; and   displaying subsets of the categorized search result objects under respective headings of the plurality of headings, each subset of the categorized search result objects displayed under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects in the subset to the query object.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein:
 organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories comprises organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of predefined categories; and   grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects organized into the category into the plurality of different buckets comprises grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects into a plurality of predefined buckets.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:
 responsive to selection of a displayed search result object, providing a plurality of applicable action options to be performed against the selected search result object, the plurality of applicable actions determined responsive to a type of the selected search result object;   receiving, on a user client displaying the search results, a selection of an applicable action from among the plurality of applicable action options; and   executing an application on the user client responsive to the selection of the applicable action.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:
 receiving an input from a user comprising a text phrase;   determining a plurality of query objects that may be referenced by the text phrase;   displaying the plurality of query objects to the user for selection;   responsive to a user selection of one of the plurality of query objects, adding a reference to the selected query object to the query; and   transmitting the query having the reference to the selected query object to a search service.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the plurality of different categories comprise a first category comprising a first subset of search result objects having a first search result type, and a second category comprising a second subset of search result objects having a second search result type; and   the first subset of search result objects in the first category are grouped into respective buckets, the respective buckets comprising a first bucket comprising a first further subset of search result objects in the first category having a first type of relationship with the query object, and a second bucket comprising a second further subset of search result objects in the first category having a second type of relationship with the query object.   
     
     
         15 . A system for displaying search results of a relationship-based search, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable by the one more processors, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:
 receiving a plurality of search result objects of a plurality of different types in response to a query referencing a query object; 
 organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories responsive to the different types of search result objects; 
 grouping a plurality of categorized search result objects organized into a category into a plurality of different buckets responsive to relationships of the categorized search result objects with the query object; 
 displaying the search result objects of the plurality of different categories on a plurality of different tabbed pages, wherein the categorized search result objects organized into the category are displayed on a same tabbed page; and 
 displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects displayed on the same tabbed page under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein displaying the plurality of categorized search result objects comprises:
 displaying a plurality of headings, each heading summarizing a particular relationship of the categorized search result objects to the query object; and   displaying subsets of the categorized search result objects under respective headings of the plurality of headings, each subset of the categorized search result objects displayed under a heading summarizing a relationship of the categorized search result objects in the subset to the query object.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of different categories comprises organizing the plurality of search result objects into a plurality of predefined categories; and   grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects organized into the category into the plurality of different buckets comprises grouping the plurality of categorized search result objects into a plurality of predefined buckets.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:
 responsive to selection of a displayed search result object, providing a plurality of applicable action options to be performed against the selected search result object, the plurality of applicable actions determined responsive to a type of the selected search result object;   receiving, on a user client displaying the search results, a selection of an applicable action from among the plurality of applicable action options; and   executing an application on the user client responsive to the selection of the applicable action.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:
 receiving an input from a user comprising a text phrase;   determining a plurality of query objects that may be referenced by the text phrase;   displaying the plurality of query objects to the user for selection;   responsive to a user selection of one of the plurality of query objects, adding a reference to the selected query object to the query; and   transmitting the query having the reference to the selected query object to a search service.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of different categories comprise a first category comprising a first subset of search result objects having a first search result type, and a second category comprising a second subset of search result objects having a second search result type; and   the first subset of search result objects in the first category are grouped into respective buckets, the respective buckets comprising a first bucket comprising a first further subset of search result objects in the first category having a first type of relationship with the query object, and a second bucket comprising a second further subset of search result objects in the first category having a second type of relationship with the query object.