Systems and Methods for Accessing Applications in Grouped Search Results

Abstract

A user device includes a computing device. The computing device transmits a search query from the user device and receives a first grouped set of search results based on the search query. The first grouped set corresponds to a first application. The first grouped set includes a header and at least two search results. The header includes a first access mechanism corresponding to a first state of the first application. Each of the search results (i) corresponds to a respective second state of the first application responsive to the search query and (ii) includes a respective second access mechanism corresponding to the respective second state. A display displays (i) the first grouped set of search results and (ii) a header link corresponding to the header. In response to the header link being selected, the computing device accesses the first state of the application using the first access mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user device comprising:
 a computing device that:
 transmits a search query from the user device; 
 receives a first grouped set of search results based on the search query, wherein the first grouped set corresponds to a first application, and wherein the first grouped set includes:
 a header, wherein the header includes a first access mechanism corresponding to a first state of the first application; and 
 at least two search results, wherein each of the search results (i) corresponds to a respective second state of the first application responsive to the search query and (ii) includes a respective second access mechanism corresponding to the respective second state; and 
 
   a display that displays (i) the first grouped set of search results and (ii) a header link corresponding to the header,   wherein, in response to the header link being selected, the computing device accesses the first state of the application using the first access mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the first access mechanism corresponds to a default access mechanism of the first application, and wherein the first state corresponds to a default state of the first application. 
     
     
         3 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the at least two search results include a first search result and a second search result, and wherein the respective second states corresponding to the first search result and the second search result are different. 
     
     
         4 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the display displays an installation state of the first application, the installation state indicating whether a native application edition of the first application is installed on the user device. 
     
     
         5 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the display displays respective selectable links corresponding to each of the at least two search results, and wherein, in response to one of the respective selectable links being selected, the computing device accesses a corresponding one of the respective second states. 
     
     
         6 . The user device of  claim 5  wherein:
 the display displays an expansion element associated with the header, wherein the expansion element has an expanded state and a collapsed state; 
 when the expansion element is in the expanded state, a first amount of the respective selectable links is displayed; and 
 when the expansion element is in the collapsed state, a second amount of the respective selectable links is displayed, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount. 
 
     
     
         7 . The user device of  claim 6  wherein, in response to a request by a user to transition the expansion element to the expanded state:
 the computing device (i) generates a request for additional individual search results corresponding to the first application and (ii) receives the additional individual search results; and 
 the display displays additional respective selectable links corresponding to the additional individual search results. 
 
     
     
         8 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein (i) the first grouped set of search results includes an advertisement associated with the first application and (ii) the display displays the advertisement with the first grouped set of search results. 
     
     
         9 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the header link includes a name of the first application. 
     
     
         10 . The user device of  claim 1  wherein the search results indicate a plurality of native applications installable and executable on the user device, and wherein the first access mechanism is configured to, in response to selection of the header link, perform at least one of the following: (i) open the corresponding native application on the user device to a default state and (ii) download and install the corresponding native application onto the user device and subsequently open the corresponding native application on the user device to the default state. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a search query from a user device;   receiving, at the user device, a first grouped set of search results based on the search query, wherein the first grouped set corresponds to a first application, and wherein the first grouped set includes:
 a header, wherein the header includes a first access mechanism corresponding to a first state of the first application; and 
 at least two search results, wherein each of the search results (i) corresponds to a respective second state of the first application responsive to the search query and (ii) includes a respective second access mechanism corresponding to the respective second state; 
   displaying, on a display, (i) the first grouped set of search results and (ii) a header link corresponding to the header; and   in response to the header link being selected, accessing the first state of the application using the first access mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first access mechanism corresponds to a default access mechanism of the first application, and wherein the first state corresponds to a default state of the first application. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least two search results include a first search result and a second search result, and wherein the respective second states corresponding to the first search result and the second search result are different. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising displaying an installation state of the first application, wherein the installation state indicates whether a native application edition of the first application is installed on the user device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 displaying respective selectable links corresponding to each of the at least two search results; and 
 in response to one of the respective selectable links being selected, accessing a corresponding one of the respective second states. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 displaying an expansion element associated with the header, wherein the expansion element has an expanded state and a collapsed state; 
 in response to the expansion element being in the expanded state, displaying a first amount of the respective selectable links is displayed; and 
 in response to the expansion element being in the collapsed state, displaying a second amount of the respective selectable links, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising, in response to a request by a user to transition the expansion element to the expanded state:
 generating a request for additional individual search results corresponding to the first application; 
 receiving the additional individual search results; and 
 displaying additional respective selectable links corresponding to the additional individual search results. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 including an advertisement associated with the first application in the first grouped set of search results; and 
 displaying the advertisement with the first grouped set of search results. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising including a name of the first application in the header link. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising stored computer program instructions that, when executed on a user device, cause one or more processors to:
 transmit a search query from the user device;   receive, at the user device, a first grouped set of search results based on the search query, wherein the first grouped set corresponds to a first application, and wherein the first grouped set includes:
 a header, wherein the header includes a first access mechanism corresponding to a first state of the first application; and 
 at least two search results, wherein each of the search results (i) corresponds to a respective second state of the first application responsive to the search query and (ii) includes a respective second access mechanism corresponding to the respective second state; 
   display, on a screen, (i) the first grouped set of search results and (ii) a header link corresponding to the header; and   in response to the header link being selected, access the first state of the application using the first access mechanism.