Methods and Systems to Refine Search Results

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided to refine search information. The methods and systems are for receiving a request from a mobile device, the request including an indication of a swiping motion that is applied across a touch-sensitive screen on the mobile device, the touch sensitive screen displaying search results including a first plurality of data items. The methods and systems are for retrieving a first refinement and a first value from a database entry. The methods and systems are for filtering the search results to generate refined search results including a second plurality of data items that are filtered based on the first refinement and the first value. The methods and systems are for communicating a user interface, over the network, to the mobile device, the communicating being responsive to the receiving the request, the user interface including the second plurality of data items for display on the mobile device.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a device identified by a client identifier, a request to refine a display of search results; and   responsive to receiving the request:   retrieving a refinement value from a database entry, the database entry being identified based on the client identifier;   generating refined search results by filtering the search results using the refinement value; and   causing the device to output a display of a subset of the search results.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search results include at least one item that is not included in the subset of the search results. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a different device identified by a different client identifier, a request to refine the display of search results; and   responsive to receiving the request from the different device:   retrieving a different refinement value from a different database entry, the different database entry being identified based on the different client identifier;   generating different refined search results by filtering the search results using the different refinement value; and   causing the different device to output a display of the different refined search results.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the search result include at least one item that is not included in the different refined search results and the different refined search results include at least one item that is not included in the subset of the search results. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the refinement value specifies at least one of a category, a brand, a size, a style, a condition, a price, or a location for use in filtering the search results. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the device identified by the client identifier, an indication of the refinement value prior to receiving the request to refine the display of search results and associating the refinement value with the client identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a search query from the device;   generating the search results based on the search query; and   communicating the search results to the device for display.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving, from a device identified by a client identifier, a request to refine a display of search results; and   responsive to receiving the request:   retrieving a refinement value from a database entry, the database entry being identified based on the client identifier;   generating refined search results by filtering the search results using the refinement value; and   causing the device to output a display of a subset of the search results.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the search results include at least one item that is not included in the subset of the search results. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the search results comprise a plurality of items offered for sale on a network-based marketplace. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the refinement value specifies at least one of a category, a brand, a size, a style, a condition, a price, or a location for use in filtering the search results. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising receiving, from the device identified by the client identifier, an indication of the refinement value prior to receiving the request to refine the display of search results and associating the refinement value with the client identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a search query from the device;   generating the search results based on the search query; and   communicating the search results to the device for display.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, from a different device identified by a different client identifier, a request to refine the display of search results; and   responsive to receiving the request from the different device:   retrieving a different refinement value from a different database entry, the different database entry being identified based on the different client identifier;   generating different refined search results by filtering the search results using the different refinement value; and   causing the different device to output a display of the different refined search results.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a device identified by a client identifier, a request to refine a display of search results;   responsive to receiving the request:   retrieving a refinement value from a database entry, the database entry being identified based on the client identifier;   generating refined search results by filtering the search results using the refinement value; and   causing the device to output a display of a subset of the search results;   receiving, from a different device identified by a different client identifier, a request to refine the display of search results; and   responsive to receiving the request from the different device:   retrieving a different refinement value from a different database entry, the different database entry being identified based on the different client identifier;   generating different refined search results by filtering the search results using the different refinement value; and   causing the different device to output a display of a different subset of the search results.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving, from the device identified by the client identifier, an indication of the refinement value prior to receiving the request to refine the display of search results and associating the refinement value with the client identifier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a search query from the device;   generating the search results based on the search query; and   communicating the search results to the device for display.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the search results include at least one item that is not included in the subset of the search results. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the refinement value specifies at least one of a category, a brand, a size, a style, a condition, a price, or a location for use in filtering the search results. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the search results comprise a plurality of items offered for sale on a network-based marketplace.