Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying entities that are related to an entity to which a search query is directed. One of the methods includes receiving a search query, wherein the search query has been determined to relate to a first entity of a first entity type, and wherein one or more entities of a second entity type have a relationship with the first entity; receiving search results for the search query; determining that a count of search results identifying a resource containing a reference to the first entity satisfies a first threshold value; determining that a count of search results identifying a resource having the second entity type as a relevant entity type satisfies a second threshold value; and transmitting information identifying the one or more entities of the second entity type as part of the response to the search query.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying answer boxes for presentation to a user. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of, while receiving an input entered in a search engine query input field by a first user, and before the first user has submitted the input as a search request, obtaining content for an answer box for the input and presenting the answer box to the first user. The answer box can be an answer box associated with a dominant query for the input, or can be an answer box identified from historical answer box data for the input.