Search Results Using Intonation Nuances

Abstract

Systems and methods for responding to an audio query are presented. More particularly, vocalization nuances of a vocalized search query (audio query) are identified are utilized in responding to the audio query. In addition to converting the audio query to a textual representation, vocalization nuances of the audio query are identified. Search results are identified according to the textual representation of the audio query and in light of the vocalization nuances. A search results presentation is prepared in response to the audio query, where the search results presentation is based on the identified search results and also based on the vocalization nuances. The search results presentation is returned in response to the audio query.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for responding to an audio query from a computer user, the method comprising:
 receiving an audio query from a computer user;   identifying a vocalization nuance corresponding to the computer user from the audio query;   determining a risk value associated with the identified vocalization nuance, the risk value corresponding to the risk of providing offensive content to the computer user of search results selected in conjunction with the identified vocalization nuance irrespective of whether the vocalization nuance accurately reflects some attribute of the computer user;   identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query, and further according to the identified vocalization nuance and determined risk value; and   generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results; and   returning the search results presentation to the computer user in response to receiving the audio query.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query, and further according to the identified vocalization nuance and determined risk value comprises:
 determining whether the determined risk value falls within predetermined acceptable thresholds; and   upon determining that the determined risk value falls within predetermined acceptable thresholds, identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query and further according to the identified vocalization nuance and the determined risk value.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a confidence value associated with the identified vocalization nuance, the confidence value corresponding to the confidence that the identified vocalization nuance is correct, and wherein the determined confidence value and the determined risk value comprise a confidence/risk value pair. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query, and further according to the identified vocalization nuance and determined risk value comprise identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query, and further according to the identified vocalization nuance and the confidence/risk value pair. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results comprises generating an audio presentation of at least some of the identified search results. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3  further comprising identifying an advertisement to be included with the search results presentation, the advertisement being selected according to the identified vocalization nuance; and
 wherein generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results comprises generating a visual presentation based on the identified plurality of search results and the identified advertisement. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified vocalization nuance comprises a nuance corresponding to any one of gender, age, mood, emotion, urgency, ethnicity, country or region of origin, and social class. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying a vocalization nuance associated with the audio query comprises obtaining the vocalization nuance associated with the audio query from a third party service. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor on a computing system, carry out a method for responding to an audio query from a computer user, the method comprising:
 receiving an audio query from a computer user;   obtaining vocalization nuances associated with the audio query;   determining a risk value associated with a first vocalization nuance of the obtained vocalization nuances, the risk value corresponding to the risk of providing offensive content to the computer user of search results selected in conjunction with the first vocalization nuance irrespective of whether the first vocalization nuance accurately reflects an attribute of the computer user;   identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and determined risk value;   generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results; and   returning the search results presentation to the computer user in response to receiving the audio query.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and determined risk value comprises:
 determining whether the determined risk value falls within predetermined acceptable thresholds; and   upon determining that the determined risk value falls within predetermined acceptable thresholds, identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query and further according to the identified vocalization nuances and the determined risk value.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises obtaining a confidence value associated with the first vocalization nuance, the confidence value corresponding to the confidence that the first vocalization nuance is correct, and wherein the determined confidence value and the determined risk value comprise a confidence/risk value pair corresponding to the first vocalization nuance. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and determined risk value comprises identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and the confidence/risk value pair. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein obtaining confidence value associated with the first vocalization nuance comprises accessing an external service to obtain confidence value associated with the first vocalization nuance. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 obtaining a textual translation of the audio query; and   wherein identifying a plurality of search results according to the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and determined risk value comprises identifying a plurality of search results according to the textual translation of the audio query based, at least in part, on the obtained vocalization nuances and determined risk value.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein obtaining a textual translation of the audio query comprises accessing an external translation service to obtain the textual translation of the audio query. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein obtaining vocalization nuances associated with the audio query comprises accessing an external service to obtain the vocalization nuances associated with the audio query. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results comprises generating an audio presentation of at least some of the identified search results. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying an advertisement to be included with the search results presentation, the advertisement being selected according to at least one of the vocalization nuances; and   wherein generating a search results presentation based on the identified plurality of search results comprises generating a visual presentation based on the identified plurality of search results and the identified advertisement.   
     
     
         19 . A computer system for responding to an audio query, the system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor executes instructions of one or more executable components stored in memory to respond to receiving an audio query from a computer user, causing the computer system to:
 receive an audio query from a computer user;   identify a plurality of vocalization nuances of the audio query;   determine a risk value for a first vocalization nuance of the plurality of vocalization nuances, wherein risk value for the first vocalization nuance represents a risk that content selected based on the first vocalization nuance may be offensive to the computer user irrespective of whether the first vocalization nuance accurately reflects some attribute of the computer user; and   identify a plurality of search results in response to the audio query based, in part, on the plurality of vocalization nuances and the risk value; and   generate a search results presentation for the computer user based on the identified plurality of search results.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to:
 generate a confidence value for the first vocalization nuance, wherein the confidence value represents a confidence that the corresponding first vocalization nuance is correct; and   identify the plurality of search results in response to receiving the audio query based, in part, on the plurality of vocalization nuances, the risk value and the confidence value.