SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REFINING SEARCH QUERIES

摘要

A search engine is disclosed which suggests related terms to the user to all ow the user to refine a search. The related terms are generated using query ter m correlation data which reflects the frequencies with which specific terms ha ve previously appeared within the same query. The correlation data is generated and stored in a look-up table (137) using an off-line process (136) which parses a query log file (135). The table (137) is regenerated periodically from the most recent query submissions (e.g., the last two weeks of query submissions), and thus strongly reflects the current preferences of users. Each related term is presented to the user via a respective hyperlink (910) which can be selected by the user to submit a modified query. In one embodiment, the related terms are added to and selected from the table (137) so as to guarantee that the modified queries will not produce a NULL query result.