Search Result Annotation with Domain Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in discerning the relevance of search results and performing local searches within specific websites, as existing search engines lack visual cues and intuitive methods for filtering results by domain.
Innovation Solution
The method involves obtaining and associating images with websites, annotating search results with these images, and allowing users to select images to initiate local searches within the corresponding website domain, enhancing visual recognition and user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If search results are presented with traditional text links, then the search engine can maintain simple structure, but users find it difficult to discern relevance and perform local searches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses website logos or favicon images as visual copies of the website identity, replacing or supplementing text links. These image copies enable users to recognize and identify websites visually, improving relevance discernment without requiring complex search result structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages visual characteristics of images (colors, shapes, patterns) to convey website identity and relevance. By presenting images with distinct visual properties, users can quickly differentiate between websites and assess relevance based on visual recognition, enhancing ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If users need to perform local searches within specific websites, then comprehensive search coverage is achieved, but users unfamiliar with query syntax struggle to execute searches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables websites to serve themselves by displaying their own logos or images as clickable elements in search results. When users click a website's image, the system automatically initiates a local search within that website's domain, eliminating the need for users to manually enter complex query syntax.
Solution Approach 2:
The search engine acts as an intermediary between the user and the website. Instead of requiring users to directly query website-specific searches using complex syntax, the search engine translates the visual selection into an automated local search request, simplifying the user interface while maintaining comprehensive search coverage.
3Ease of operation
If images are obtained and associated with websites, then visual recognition of search results is enabled, but additional processing and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent retrieves and stores simplified visual representations (logos, favicons) of websites rather than full webpage content. These image copies are lightweight and sufficient for visual recognition purposes, reducing storage requirements while enabling effective visual search result identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-obtains and pre-processes website images during the indexing phase, associating them with website domains before user queries are received. This preliminary action ensures that images are ready for immediate display in search results, reducing real-time processing requirements and improving visual recognition speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for annotating search results. Images associated with a plurality of different websites are obtained and associated with respective domains of the websites. Search results are then annotated with the obtained images according to their domains. User selection of an annotated search result's image will cause a local search of the website associated with the image based on the query.