How to set up a search similar to Amazon recommended product search?

Question

I am trying to do something similar to Amazon recommended product search. For instance, if I have a database of products and when the user searches for a particular product then the database should also be able to show related products.

I am not sure how to go about the whole issue. Any suggestions on what I should be reading, books, tutorials, websites?

Edit:

Do Hidden Markov Models play a role in designing such searches? Thanks!

Answer 1

There is a YCombinator startup doing this. They are called Directed Edge You could search hacker news for articles about them, and find out, in general what they are doing.

Answer 2

Chapter 2 of the book Programming Collective Intelligence: Building Smart Web 2.0 Applications
is about Making Recommendations.

In my opinion it is an excellent book. Check it out.