Search Query Merging for Navigational Intent Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiencies when searching for products online due to the need to navigate multiple search engines with different interfaces and capabilities, and often end up searching for products that may not be available on the selected website, especially when they have limited information about the product or website URL.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses recent search queries to supplement search results for navigational queries by predicting the items a user may intend to search for on a specific website, allowing the server to perform an alternate query with the search terms and navigational query, and merging the results for efficient display to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users perform multiple searches across different search engines to find products, then they can access more information and options, but the time required and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple search operations into a single unified search process. When a user enters a navigational query for a shopping site, the system automatically combines this with recent search terms to perform multiple searches simultaneously across different engines and the target site, consolidating results into one comprehensive response that eliminates the need for sequential searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically executing alternate searches based on recent search history before the user even completes their navigational query. The server predicts what products the user wants to search for and pre-performs these searches on the target shopping site, so results are ready immediately when the user navigates to that site.
2Reliability
If users navigate to a shopping site and manually search for products using on-site search tools, then they can access the site's specific catalog, but they must adapt to limited search capabilities and re-enter search terms
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically transferring relevant search terms from the user's recent search history to the target shopping site's search function. The server identifies which recent searches are relevant to the navigational query and automatically performs these searches on the destination site, eliminating the need for users to manually re-enter search terms and adapting the search to the site's specific capabilities.
3Loss of information
If users perform informational searches first to identify products, then they can make informed decisions, but they must perform additional navigational searches to find where to purchase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines informational and navigational search functions into a single integrated process. When users perform informational searches and then navigate to a shopping site, the system automatically merges the recent informational search terms with the navigational query, executing both types of searches in one operation and presenting unified results that show both product information and purchase availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for using recent search queries for inserting relevant search results for navigational queries. At a server, multiple first queries including one or more search terms are received from a first user of a client. At least a subset of the first queries is stored in memory. A navigational query is received from the first user. The navigational query includes a first identifier of a first web site. An alternate query including one or more of the search terms is performed at the server. The search results for the alternate query are transmitted to the client for display to the first user.