Integrating applications within search results

摘要

Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing methods are provided for implicitly discovering applications using a query or search results, where the query does not explicitly target a particular application. A search engine is used to receive a user-initiated query and to employ a keyword of the query to generate an initial set of search results. Characteristics of the search results are identified and applications that are relevant to the characteristics are determined. The determination of relevant applications include: accessing an application manifest that manages a mapping between applications and predefined characteristics; comparing the characteristics of the search results against the predefined characteristics of the application manifest to determine a match; and, when a match exists between the search-result characteristics and the predefined characteristics, identifying applications mapped to the matched characteristics as being relevant to the search results. These identified applications are presented in response to the query.

主权项

1. One or more computer-readable media having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that are executed to perform a method for surfacing one or more applications as a function of search results, the method comprising:
receiving a query submitted at a search engine; employing a term or phrase of the query to generate an initial set of search results; selecting a subject result of the initial set of search results; identifying one or more characteristics of the subject result of the initial set of search results, wherein the one or more characteristics of the subject result represent attributes of a website that is associated with the subject result; determining at least one application that is relevant to the one or more characteristics of the subject result such that the one or more characteristics of the subject result associate the website with the at least one application, the at least one application being software designed to perform one or more tasks desired by a user; and presenting the at least one application on a user-interface (UI) display in response to the query.