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GooglePatent applicationAI & softwareInterest 6/10

Google patents system to auto-approve or deny requests to hide search results

This filing describes a method for search engines to handle user requests to remove specific results from their personal search history. The system uses a classifier to automatically approve, deny, or send these requests to human reviewers based on the query, the result, and user account details. It also suggests expanding approved removals to similar queries or results.

Why it mattersThis could improve how users manage their digital privacy by automating the review process for hiding unwanted search results.

In the filing’s own words

Implementations relate to determining whether and/or how to implement a user request to prevent a particular search result from being provided in response to a search query. Some of those implementations grant or deny the request based on processing of the particular search result, the search query, and/or account information for a user submitting the user request. For example, some implementations process such information utilizing a classifier in determining whether to automatically deny the request, automatically approve the request, or to provide the request for manual review. Some additional or alternative implementations at least selectively automatically expand (or suggest for automatic expansion) an approval of a request to search result(s) and/or to one or more search queries that are not specified in the request.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method implemented by one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving, responsive to one or more user interface inputs provided by a user at a client device, a request to prevent at least a particular search result, that is currently provided by a search engine responsive to a search query, from being provided by the search engine responsive to the search query, wherein the particular search result is for a corresponding web document, and wherein the request includes indications of the search query, the particular search result, and account information of the user; determining, based on processing the request, whether to (i) automatically approve the request, (ii) automatically deny the request, or (iii) transmit the request to one or more reviewing client devices for manual review; and in response to determining to (i) automatically approve the request: preventing the particular search result from being provided by the search engine responsive to future submissions of the search query; in response to determining to (ii) automatically deny the request: bypass preventing the particular search result from being provided by the search engine responsive to future submissions of the search query; and in response to determining to (iii) transmit the request to one or more reviewing client devices for manual review: transmitting the request to the one or more reviewing client devices for manual review; and determining, based on one or more instances of feedback user interface inputs from the one or more reviewing client devices, whether to prevent the particular search result from being provided by the search engine responsive to future submission of the search query.

Facts

Company
Google (GOOGLE LLC)
Official title
DETERMINING WHETHER AND/OR HOW TO IMPLEMENT REQUEST TO PREVENT PROVISION OF SEARCH RESULT(S)
Publication number
US20260259949A1
Application number
19652675
Filed
Apr 20, 2026
Published
Sep 3, 2026
Inventors
9
Claims
20

Classified under

G06F 16/957 Physics & computingG06F 16/953 Physics & computingG06F 16/986 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.