Location-Aware Query Completion for Mobile Search Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search engines provide query suggestions that are agnostic of the user's location, making it difficult for users with disabilities or on small mobile devices to enter accurate search queries efficiently, especially when typing is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A search engine system that provides query completions based on a prefix and location, ranking suggestions based on proximity and popularity, allowing users to select preferred search options before completing their queries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional search engines provide query suggestions based on query frequency, then users can receive suggestions quickly, but the suggestions are not ranked based on location and may include entities from locations far from the user's current location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ranking query suggestions based on their proximity to the user's current location. Instead of treating all suggestions equally, the system differentiates suggestions according to their spatial relationship with the user, prioritizing locally relevant entities such as nearby businesses, landmarks, and points of interest. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining fast response speeds while significantly improving location relevance accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If users manually type complete search queries on small mobile devices, then accurate search intent can be conveyed, but typing is difficult due to small keypads, small fonts, and user disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing query suggestions as users type, allowing them to select from pre-generated options before completing their query. The system anticipates potential search intents by offering relevant suggestions based on the prefix entered and user location, enabling users to complete their search with minimal typing. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining search accuracy while dramatically improving input usability on mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by automatically generating and updating query suggestions as the user types, without requiring manual selection or additional input. The suggestions adapt dynamically to the user's input and location, allowing the system to serve the user's information needs with minimal user effort. This resolves the usability challenge by making the search interface intuitive and responsive.
3Productivity
If query suggestions are provided based on query frequency alone, then suggestions can be generated quickly, but the suggestions do not account for user location and may not be relevant to the user's current context
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ranking criteria—query frequency and location proximity—into a unified suggestion ranking system. By combining these factors, the system generates suggestions that are both efficient to produce and highly relevant to the user's current context. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining generation efficiency while preventing the loss of location context information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the traditional query suggestion system. Instead of ranking suggestions solely by frequency (one dimension), the system incorporates geographic proximity as an additional dimension, creating a two-dimensional ranking framework. This resolves the contradiction by efficiently integrating location context without sacrificing suggestion generation productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that return query completions are provided. A user of a computing device like a mobile phone may enter a prefix. In turn, the prefix and location information associated with the device are transmitted to a server device. The server device receives the prefix and location information. The prefix and the location information are matched with names and locations of entities stored in a database connected to the server device. The server device transmits query completion data to the mobile device. The query completion data includes one or more names that complete the received prefix. The names provided by the server device may be associated with entities that are within a threshold radius of the location information.