Systems and Methods for Guided Construction of a Search Query in an Electronic Commerce Environment

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a search query from a user through a user interface of a user computing device, identifying a search term within the search query, the search term including at least a portion of the search query, generating, based at least in part on the search term, one or more alternative search terms that are each different from the search term, and sending, over the communication network, the one or more alternative search terms to the user computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method of constructing a search query in an electronic commerce environment, the method comprising:
 receiving, over a communications network, a search term of a search query from a user through a user interface of a user computing device;   generating, based at least in part on the search query, a set of alternative search phrases that are each different from the search term;   sending, over the communication network, the set of alternative search phrases to the user computing device for presentation in a search results page generated responsive to the search term, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the search results page;   receiving, over the communications network, an indication that a given search phrase in the set of alternative search phrases was selected at the user computing device; and   generating a second search results page with search results identified using a combination of the search term and the given search phrase.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the set of alternative search phrases comprises generating an alternative search term that, in response to a single interaction with the search results page by the user, causes the search query to be modified by adding the at least one search term to the search query. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term; and   in response to determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term, modifying search results presented in the search results page using search results identified using the alternative search term.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 generating the search results page to include instructions that:
 present an initial view of the search results page, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the initial view of the search results page; and 
 in response to a specified interaction with the initial view of the search results page, update the search results page to present the set of alternative search phrases that were previously hidden from view. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating the search results page comprises generating the search results page to further update the search results page to show more or different alternative search phrases in response to a given interaction by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, in response to user interaction with one of the alternative search phrases, a different search query that includes at least one term not included in the search query;   generating different search results responsive to the different search query;   generating a new set of alterative search phrases based on one or more attributes of items responsive to the different search query; and   providing, responsive to the different search query and within an updated search results page, the different search results and the new list of alternative search phrases, wherein the search results page is configured to (i) hide the new list of alternative search phrases from view until user interaction with the updated search results page and cause presentation of one or more alternative search phrases in the search results page in response to the user interaction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising generating a plurality of search category selectors based, at least in part, on the search query, each of the plurality of search category selectors being categorically representative, at least in part, of one or more properties of items identified using the search query and representing lists of additional search terms in different categories of search terms, search terms in each list of additional search terms being distinct from the search category selector representing the list of additional search terms, the plurality of search category selectors being simultaneously displayed to the user in the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 at least one memory device; and   one or more processors coupled to the memory device and configured to execute instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, over a communications network, a search term of a search query from a user through a user interface of a user computing device; 
 generating, based at least in part on the search query, a set of alternative search phrases that are each different from the search term; 
 sending, over the communication network, the set of alternative search phrases to the user computing device for presentation in a search results page generated responsive to the search term, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the search results page; 
 receiving, over the communications network, an indication that a given search phrase in the set of alternative search phrases was selected at the user computing device; and 
 generating a second search results page with search results identified using a combination of the search term and the given search phrase. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein generating the set of alternative search phrases comprises generating an alternative search term that, in response to a single interaction with the search results page by the user, causes the search query to be modified by adding the at least one search term to the search query. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term; and   in response to determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term, modifying search results presented in the search results page using search results identified using the alternative search term.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 generating the search results page to include instructions that:
 present an initial view of the search results page, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the initial view of the search results page; and 
 in response to a specified interaction with the initial view of the search results page, update the search results page to present the set of alternative search phrases that were previously hidden from view. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein generating the search results page comprises generating the search results page to further update the search results page to show more or different alternative search phrases in response to a given interaction by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving, in response to user interaction with one of the alternative search phrases, a different search query that includes at least one term not included in the search query;   generating different search results responsive to the different search query;   generating a new set of alterative search phrases based on one or more attributes of items responsive to the different search query; and   providing, responsive to the different search query and within an updated search results page, the different search results and the new list of alternative search phrases, wherein the search results page is configured to (i) hide the new list of alternative search phrases from view until user interaction with the updated search results page and cause presentation of one or more alternative search phrases in the search results page in response to the user interaction.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising generating a plurality of search category selectors based, at least in part, on the search query, each of the plurality of search category selectors being categorically representative, at least in part, of one or more properties of items identified using the search query and representing lists of additional search terms in different categories of search terms, search terms in each list of additional search terms being distinct from the search category selector representing the list of additional search terms, the plurality of search category selectors being simultaneously displayed to the user in the user interface. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium, storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, over a communications network, a search term of a search query from a user through a user interface of a user computing device;   generating, based at least in part on the search query, a set of alternative search phrases that are each different from the search term;   sending, over the communication network, the set of alternative search phrases to the user computing device for presentation in a search results page generated responsive to the search term, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the search results page;   receiving, over the communications network, an indication that a given search phrase in the set of alternative search phrases was selected at the user computing device; and   generating a second search results page with search results identified using a combination of the search term and the given search phrase.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein generating the set of alternative search phrases comprises generating an alternative search term that, in response to a single interaction with the search results page by the user, causes the search query, to be modified by adding the at least one search term to the search query. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term; and   in response to determining that the user interacted with the alternative search term, modifying search results presented in the search results page using search results identified using the alternative search term.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising:
 generating the search results page to include instructions that:
 present an initial view of the search results page, wherein the set of alternative search phrases are hidden from view until user interaction with the initial view of the search results page; and 
 in response to a specified interaction with the initial view of the search results page, update the search results page to present the set of alternative search phrases that were previously hidden from view. 
   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein generating the search results page comprises generating the search results page to further update the search results page to show more or different alternative search phrases in response to a given interaction by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform operations further comprising generating a plurality of search category selectors based, at least in part, on the search query, each of the plurality of search category selectors being categorically representative, at least in part, of one or more properties of items identified using the search query and representing lists of additional search terms in different categories of search terms, search terms in each list of additional search terms being distinct from the search category selector representing the list of additional search terms, the plurality of search category selectors being simultaneously displayed to the user in the user interface.