	US 7,519,581 B2
	Method and apparatus for performing a search
Xuejun Wang, San Jose, Calif. (US); Brian Acton, Saratoga, Calif. (US); and Manish R. Baldua, San Jose, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Yahoo! Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. (US)
Filed on May 02, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/119,637.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/567316, filed on Apr. 30, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0246332 A1, Nov. 03, 2005
Int. Cl. G06F 7/00 (2006.01); G06F 17/30 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 707—3 [707/10; 709/203]

21 Claims

1. A method performed on a processor for generating search results for a user based on category information and click information, wherein said click information is from a plurality of users, comprising:

receiving a search query;

determining category information indicative of at least one category of potential search results, wherein said at least one category is associated with said search query based in part on said click information;

determining at least one relevancy score indicative of a relevancy of said search query to said category information, wherein said at least one relevancy score is based in part on said click information;

determining at least one confidence value for said search query, wherein said at least one confidence value indicates a level of certainty of the search query being associated with a category indicated in said category information, and said at least one confidence value is a function of at least a potential search result, said category information and said click information;

determining at least one boost weight for said category information based at least in part on said at least one confidence value and said at least one relevancy score, wherein said at least one boost weight indicates increased relevance of at least one category included in said category information and is independent of said user; and

providing said category information and said at least one boost weight to said search query to generate a modified search query to generate search results for said user.