Abstract: Architecture that utilizes server-based signals (e.g., past engagement, application popularity, spell-correction, mined search patterns, machine learning models, etc.) to improve relevance of search results for local applications and settings. The architecture works for any operating system (OS) and any client device that has local settings or applications installed. The architecture also covers instances where server-signals are being used to improve queries on devices where settings are searched but no applications are installed or will not be installed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for adjusting presentation characteristics of a search engine results page (SERP) by a client device based on a query intent of a user. The client may forward a search prefix to a search service and in response receive one or more query suggestions and one or more machine learning algorithms configured to each query suggestion. The user executes a search query comprising the query intent by selecting one of the query suggestions. The client device computes scores for each result group using the machine learning algorithm configured for the selected query suggestion. At least one presentation characteristic of the SERP is adjusted so that at least one result group is emphasized over another based on the respective result group scores representing a relevance to the query intent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for clarifying a computer user's intent with regard to one or more query terms of a search query are presented. Often, one or more query terms of a search query are ambiguous and/or unclear. As presented herein, upon identifying a query term in the search query that is unclear, clarification data is obtained and presented to the computer user by way of a clarification user interface. The computer user is able to identify one or more aspects of the computer user's intent, intent clarifications, with regard to the query term through the clarification user interface. Upon instruction by the computer user, the search query, along with the intent clarifications, is submitted to a search engine and the search results obtained from the search engine are presented to the computer user.