New Google Patent Might Make Finding That Lost Webpage Easier

Summary: Google has filed for a new patent that describes a system that can search a user’s personal browsing history and emails to find specific information. Queries using this system could be interpreted as text or voice.

Google has reportedly filed for a new patent that would let users search their browsing history to find things. The patent, labeled as Generating Query Answers From A User’s History, details Google’s vision of enabling people to search their browsing and email history to find specific information. This is a relatively broad description of the system Google has envisioned.

More specifically, it would allow a person to use natural language to search for something in their browsing history that they were trying to pinpoint, such as a specific page or article. Have you ever tried to find a webpage you visited in the past week but couldn’t remember exactly when you visited or what the site was? This new system would be able to assist you in that sort of situation.

For example, if you were looking at pizza places for a place to eat, but couldn’t remember anything other than the fact that the page had to do with pizza, you could type in a query asking, “what was the website of that pizza place I looked at last week?” and you would, in theory, be given the results you were looking for. The same thing could be done with email. This capability in email could be especially useful for anyone whose inbox has grown to what feels like unmanageable levels.

The Google browsing history patent would work off of typed or spoken queries

According to the patent, initially spotted by Search Engine Journal, users would be able to type or speak their queries to find what they’re looking for. The system is smart enough to know that you’re looking for content you’ve seen before. Thus leading to delivering the results that were requested. It’s also noted that it can understand vague language to show specific past interactions.

The system can also apply filters to find a close match

Something rather unique to this search system is the filters it can apply. The patent states that, for example, users could apply a filter for searching within a specific time parameter. Like “the last few days” or “the past week.”

It then uses this vague language to expand the search over a longer period of time. Other filters can include parameters like the topic or the device. If the topic is about RTX 50-series GPUs, for example, then you can mention that in your query. The system would then use that as a filter. And if the article you read about this topic was on a mobile device, you can mention that as well, and it’ll narrow the search down to find matches that were on mobile. At least, based on the way the patent describes the system.

Since this isn’t something that’s currently available, real-world functionality could shift. Assuming Google ever rolls something like this out. In terms of what’s searched, the patent describes things as being limited to a user’s personal history. Such as browsing history or emails.