Methods and techniques for adaptive search

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an adaptive search user interface is provided. An interface is provided that returns search results upon receiving each alphanumeric character of a search query term. Correlations of prefixes of alphanumeric characters and search results selected from previous searches are stored in a correlation matrix. Based upon the correlations in the correlation matrix, relevance rankings for search results with respect to the prefixes of alphanumeric characters are updated. Search results may be grouped based upon one or more common traits. Relevance rankings are also updated based upon the rate of change of selections recorded for a search result.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method comprising:
 receiving a prefix;   retrieving, based on the prefix, a plurality of search results;   determining, for each of the plurality of search results, a respective relevance ranking based on a correlation matrix, the correlation matrix comprising:
 i) a first correlation between a first selection of a first one of the plurality of search results retrieved based on the prefix during at least one previous browsing session; and 
 ii) a second correlation between a second selection of a second one of the search results retrieved based on the prefix during at least one previous browsing session; and 
   generating, for display, the plurality of search results in an order based at least in part on the respective relevance ranking for each of the plurality of search results.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a particular search result of the plurality of search results during a current browsing session; and   in response to receiving the selection, updating the respective relevance ranking in the correlation matrix for the particular search result.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the respective relevance ranking comprises a value corresponding to a rate of change of recorded selections of the particular search result. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein updating the respective relevance ranking comprises updating the respective relevance ranking based on data corresponding to selections of the particular content item during a predefined time period. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the predefined time period is specified by a selected setting. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving an input command at an end-user device that corresponds to an interest level of a user in the particular search result. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving the selection of the particular search result, generating for display at least one indicator corresponding to at least one content provider that have the particular search result available for user access.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein generating for display the at least one indicator corresponding to the at least one content provider comprises:
 determining if each of the at least one content provider corresponds to a user preference; and   in response to the determination that at least one of the at least one content provider corresponds to the user preference, generating instructions for display of the at least one of the at least one content provider that has the particular search result available for user access.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 determining, for each of the plurality of search results, a respective content type; and   generating, for each of the plurality of search result, a respective graphical indicator, wherein the respective graphical indicator corresponds to the respective content type of a respective search result of the plurality of search results.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 determining, for each of the plurality of search results, a date of initial availability;   comparing the date of initial availability to a current date; and   in response to determining a difference between the date of initial availability and the current date, modifying the relevance ranking based on the difference.   
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 input/output circuitry; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive a prefix; 
 retrieve, based on the prefix, a plurality of search results; 
 determine, for each of the plurality of search results, a respective relevance ranking based on a correlation matrix, the correlation matrix comprising:
 i) a first correlation between a first selection of a first one of the plurality of search results retrieved based on the prefix during at least one previous browsing session; and 
 ii) a second correlation between a second selection of a second one of the search results retrieved based on the prefix during at least one previous browsing session; and 
 
 generate, for display, the plurality of search results in an order based at least in part on the respective relevance ranking for each of the plurality of search results. 
   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive a selection of a particular search result of the plurality of search results during a current browsing session; and   in response to receiving the selection, update the respective relevance ranking in the correlation matrix for the particular search result.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the control circuitry configured to update the respective relevance ranking is further configured to update the respective relevance ranking comprising a value corresponding to a rate of change of recorded selections of the particular search result. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the control circuitry configured to update the respective relevance ranking is further configured to update the respective relevance ranking based on data corresponding to selections of the particular content item during a predefined time period. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve the predefined time period from a selected setting. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the selection is further configured to receive an input command at an end-user device that corresponds to an interest level of a user in the particular search result. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 in response to receiving the selection of the particular search result, generate for display at least one indicator corresponding to at least one content provider that have the particular search result available for user access.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the control circuitry configured to generate for display the at least one indicator corresponding to the at least one content provider is further configured to:
 determine if each of the at least one content provider corresponds to a user preference; and   in response to the determination that at least one of the at least one content provider corresponds to the user preference, generate instructions for display of the at least one of the at least one content provider that has the particular search result available for user access.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine, for each of the plurality of search results, a respective content type; and   generate, for each of the plurality of search result, a respective graphical indicator, wherein the respective graphical indicator corresponds to the respective content type of a respective search result of the plurality of search results.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine, for each of the plurality of search results, a date of initial availability;   compare the date of initial availability to a current date; and   in response to determining a difference between the date of initial availability and the current date, modify the relevance ranking based on the difference.