Apple Inc.

Catherine Anne Edwards

Natalia Hernandez-Gardiol

Marcel Van Os

Bradford Allen Moore

Christopher Blumenberg

Patrice Olivier Gautier

Sarah G Barbour

Eva Hohei Mok

Natalia Hernandez Gardiol

Alexander F Braunstein

Topic-based language models for an application search engine enable a user to search for an application based on the application's function rather than title. To enable a search based on function, information is gathered and processed, including application names, descriptions and external information. Processing the information includes filtering the information, generating a topic model and supplementing the topic model with additional information.

Generation of topic-based language models for an app search engine

A user can input a search query. By assessing terms in the search query, the search query can be categorized (e.g., as a navigational, functional or browse query). The categorization can depend on an analysis of terms in the search query, a preliminary search, and/or empirical data tied to previous and similar searches. For example, searches estimated to be directed to finding a specific app can be categorized as navigational, based on capitalized letters, quotation marks, a short number of words in the query, and a tight distribution of apps typically downloaded subsequent to viewing results from the search. Based on the categorization, a search strategy can be identified. Search strategies can differentially weight and/or use text-based strategies.

Application search query classifier

A set of potential search-query terms can be identified based on empirical queries for apps. For each potential search-query term, a subset of documents within a set of documents can be identified based on apps that users were likely to click on or download following entry of a search query with a comparable or same term. One or more other indicator terms can be identified as being related to the potential search-query term based on the one or more second indicator terms being prevalent within the subset of documents. Upon receipt of a subsequent search query, a search can then be performed using both a term within the search query and one or more related other indicator terms.

Application query conversion

A method of selectively displaying maps on a mobile device. The method sends a map application, which had been displaying a first map, to the background. The method then returns the map application to the foreground. The method then determines whether to redisplay the previous map or display a map surrounding the then current location of the device. The determination is based on various factors including user interaction, time that the map application has been in the background and distance traveled while the map application is in the background.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Catherine Anne Edwards