Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Keith Alan Regier

Daniel Marantz

Tejas Girish Nadkarni

Diana Hsu

Brian W MacDonald

Steven William Macbeth

Christina Marie Koehn

Rajeev Kumar Chand

Rodney Coleman Edwards

Javier Garcia Flynn

Sarvesh Nagpal

Steven Tullis

Darwin Kengo Yamamoto

Alec John Berntson

Robert James Barber

Sarah K Berrier

Craig J Miller

Steve Ballon

Stephanie S Horstmanshof

Marcela Sobrinho Pereira

Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for maximizing information associated with content items on a search engine results page are provided. A total number of pixels available on the search engine results page is determined, and content items are received in response to a search query. Templates are selected from a set of pre-generated templates, and the content items are initially assigned to the templates such that a number of content items is maximized on the search engine results page. Next, and starting with the highest-ranked content item, an optimal size is determined for each of the templates such that the content-item-per-pixel is maximized within each template. After resizing the templates to the optimal size, the content items are presented on the search engine results page.

Maximizing content item information on a search engine results page

Search results are provided with rich content in defined display areas defined via a border, background, other like graphical elements, or combinations thereof. Within the defined display area, search results content is formatted to evoke a particular theme or concept appropriate for the information identified by the search result. Additionally, within the defined display area, a graphical preview of the search result is provided in an animated manner evocative of user scrolling. Collections of search results are arranged in grids, like tiles. Search results are reviewed on a grid-by-grid basis, with small portions of prior, or subsequent, grids being displayed at the edges of the display, thereby visually indicating that further, or subsequent, grids are accessible. Alternatively, other grids can represent different types of search results. The quantity in a grid, and their size, are dynamically adjusted based on the size of the display.

Presentation of rich search results in delineated areas

Computer-storage media, methods, and systems for formatting and surfacing a badge are provided. The badge represents a graphical region presented in visual association with a search result on a web-results page. The format of the badge is initially dictated by a template that is automatically generated. Upon collecting performance information, a website owner is granted permission to alter the template and appearance of the badge, via a publisher portal. During interaction with the publisher portal, the website owner is prompted to provide feedback in order to manage parameters of the badge, such as uploading a visual representation of a logo, trademark, or other branded element, or specifying a type of metadata to be imported to the graphical region. Accordingly, the badge operates to improve a users' ability to distinguish between search results on the web-results page and assists users in confidently deciding upon and selecting a relevant search result.

Aiding search-result selection using visually branded elements

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting video as at least a portion of the background of search engine home pages are provided. Upon receiving a request for presentation of a search engine home page, a static image is transmitted for presentation as at least a portion of the background for the search engine home page. Also transmitted is a video file. The static image may or may not be associated with the video file. After a predetermined amount of time, play of the video file is initiated without user action, the video file replacing the static image as at least a portion of the background of the search engine home page. In this way, the user receives a seamless transition from a static image to a video presentation and is provided a rich, immersive experience at the search engine home page.

Presenting video as a background on a search engine home page

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Keith Alan Regier