Pull-type searching system

Abstract

The pull-type searching system provides an effective and efficient way to navigate deals and assist the user in identifying a deal for selection. The pull-type searching system further enables identification of one or more alternative deals to present to the user when no deals are identified for the selected search criteria. The pull-type searching system includes a method and apparatus. The method includes communicating ordered selectable search criteria, the search criteria including one or more categories, subcategories and deal types based on a user profile or available deals, or redemption goals. The method further includes receiving a selection from the search criteria and searching a deals database for results associated with the selection. Further, the method includes communicating the results associated with the selection, one or more alternative categories, or one or more alternative deals. A similar apparatus is provided.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 electronically communicate, by an analytical model of a searching server, selectable search criteria;   receive, by the analytical model from a user device over a network, a selection from the search criteria, wherein the selection comprises at least a category, a keyword and a non-keyword;   distinguish, by the analytical model, between the keyword and the non-keyword, wherein the non-keyword comprises an adjective used to describe the keyword;   search, by the analytical model, a database using the keyword to obtain search results;   identify, by the analytical model, additional categories associated with the category indicated in the selection; and   electronically communicate, by the analytical model, the additional categories and the search results.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the additional categories are identified based on a user profile associated with the user device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 arrange the additional categories and the search results dependent on whether the categories and a respective type of the search results are indirectly or directly correlated.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the category and the additional categories comprise a taxonomy of classifications. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the search results comprise deals, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 vary terms of the deals comprised in the search results according to targeted users.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
 hide certain search results based on at least one of a prior browsing or a prior purchase by a user.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 electronically communicating, by an analytical model of a searching server, selectable search criteria;   receiving, by the analytical model from a user device over a network, a selection from the search criteria, wherein the selection comprises at least a category, a keyword and a non-keyword;   distinguishing, by the analytical model, between the keyword and the non-keyword, wherein the non-keyword comprises an adjective used to describe the keyword;   searching, by the analytical model, a database using the keyword to obtain search results;   identifying, by the analytical model, additional categories associated with the category indicated in the selection; and   electronically communicating, by the analytical model, the additional categories and the search results.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the additional categories are identified based on a user profile associated with the user device. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 arranging the additional categories and the search results dependent on whether the categories and a respective type of the search results are indirectly or directly correlated.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the category and the additional categories comprise a taxonomy of classifications. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the search results comprise deals, and the method further comprises:
 varying terms of the deals comprised in the search results according to targeted users.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 hiding certain search results based on at least one of a prior browsing or a prior purchase by a user.   
     
     
         14 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions to:
 electronically communicate, by an analytical model of a searching server, selectable search criteria;   receive, by the analytical model from a user device over a network, a selection from the search criteria, wherein the selection comprises at least a category, a keyword and a non-keyword;   distinguish, by the analytical model, between the keyword and the non-keyword, wherein the non-keyword comprises an adjective used to describe the keyword;   search, by the analytical model, a database using the keyword to obtain search results;   identify, by the analytical model, additional categories associated with the category indicated in the selection; and   electronically communicate, by the analytical model, the additional categories and the search results.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional categories are identified based on a user profile associated with the user device. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 arranging the additional categories and the search results dependent on whether the categories and a respective type of the search results are indirectly or directly correlated.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product according to  claim 14 , wherein the category and the additional categories comprise a taxonomy of classifications. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product according to  claim 14 , wherein the search results comprise deals, and the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 vary terms of the deals comprised in the search results according to targeted users.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions to:
 hide certain search results based on at least one of a prior browsing or a prior purchase by a user.