Compensating for bias in search results
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A search engine computing device comprising:
- one or more communication connections;
one or more processors; and
memory communicatively coupled to the one or more communication connections and the one or more processors, the memory storing a ranking algorithm and instructions that, when executed, configure the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;
receiving a search query from a client device via the one or more communication connections;
obtaining search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on the ranking algorithm, the search results including multiple entries;
detecting potential bias in at least one entry of the multiple entries based at least in part on a first term in a caption of the at least one entry, the first term previously determined to be biasing;
modifying the search results to generate modified search results that at least partially compensate for the potential bias in the at least one entry, wherein generating the modified search results includes replacing the first term of the caption with a second term, the second term previously determined to be non-biasing; and
outputting the modified search results via the one or more communication connections for presentation at the client device.
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Abstract
Biases in search and retrieval (i.e., situations where searchers seek or are presented with information that significantly deviates from the truth) may be detected by comparison to one or more authoritative sources. Once bias or potential bias is detected, techniques may be applied to indicate and/or compensate for the bias. Such techniques may allow users to more easily assess the veracity of search results, and increase the chances that users will locate accurate answers to their questions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A search engine computing device comprising:
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one or more communication connections; one or more processors; and memory communicatively coupled to the one or more communication connections and the one or more processors, the memory storing a ranking algorithm and instructions that, when executed, configure the one or more processors to perform operations comprising; receiving a search query from a client device via the one or more communication connections; obtaining search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on the ranking algorithm, the search results including multiple entries; detecting potential bias in at least one entry of the multiple entries based at least in part on a first term in a caption of the at least one entry, the first term previously determined to be biasing; modifying the search results to generate modified search results that at least partially compensate for the potential bias in the at least one entry, wherein generating the modified search results includes replacing the first term of the caption with a second term, the second term previously determined to be non-biasing; and outputting the modified search results via the one or more communication connections for presentation at the client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
under control of one or more search engine computing devices; receiving a search query from a client device; selecting at least one of a first ranking algorithm and a second ranking algorithm based on at least one of a subject of the search query and a user-specified preference; based on a result of the selecting, performing at least one of; obtaining first search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on the first ranking algorithm, and obtaining second search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on the second ranking algorithm, the second ranking algorithm differing from the first ranking algorithm, and wherein one of the first ranking algorithm or the second ranking algorithm compensates for bias of search results; and outputting the first search results and the second search results for presentation at the client device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
under control of one or more search engine computing devices; receiving a search query from a client device; obtaining first search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on a first ranking algorithm; obtaining second search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on a second ranking algorithm, the second ranking algorithm differing from the first ranking algorithm, and wherein one of the first ranking algorithm or the second ranking algorithm compensates for bias of search results; and outputting the first search results and the second search results for presentation at the client device, wherein outputting both the first search results and the second search results for presentation at the client device comprises outputting both the first search results and the second search results in a composite format for presentation concurrently, and wherein the composite format comprises a blended format in which entries of the first search results are interleaved with entries of the second search results.
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15. One or more computer-readable media storage devices storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors of one or more search engine computing devices configure the one or more search engine computing devices to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a search query from a client device; obtaining search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on a ranking algorithm implemented by the one or more processors of the one or more search engine computing devices, the search results including multiple entries; detecting, from among the multiple entries, at least one entry that is potentially biased in the search results; annotating the search results by associating the detected at least one entry, with an indication identifying that the detected at least one entry is potentially biased in the search results; and outputting the search results for presentation at the client device along with the associated indication, such that the detected at least one entry is presented at the client device in association with the indication to identify that the detected at least one entry is potentially biased in the search results. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. One or more computer-readable media storage devices storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors of one or more search engine computing devices configure the one or more search engine computing devices to perform operations comprising:
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receiving a search query from a client device; obtaining search results responsive to the search query based at least in part on a ranking algorithm implemented by the one or more processors of the one or more search engine computing devices, the search results including multiple entries; detecting one or more potentially biased entries from among the multiple entries; annotating the search results with an indication of the one or more potentially biased entries; and outputting the search results for presentation at the client device along with the indication of the one or more potentially biased entries, wherein; the search query relates to diagnosing a condition; and the indication of the one or more potentially biased entries comprises one or more normative base rates, each normative base rate indicating a likelihood of the condition given one or more symptoms.
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Specification