Generating relevance scores for keywords

• US 10,496,662 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kenthapadi, Krishnaram, Hoang, Huan Van, Liu, Yan, Roth, Zachary Mason
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Eliyah S.
• Application Number:
  US14/856,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 707728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A search engine optimization system is provided with an on-line social network system. The on-line social network system includes or is in communication with a search engine optimization (SEO) system that is configured to prioritize keywords (potential search terms) based on their respective predicted contribution to the ranking of JSERPs. The value of a job-related keyword is expressed as a priority score assigned to that keyword. The SEO system generates priority scores for different keywords, using a probabilistic model that takes into account a value expressing how likely the keyword is to be included in a search query as a search term and/or a value expressing how likely is a search that includes the keyword as a search term is to produce relevant results.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing a set of search results produced by a search engine in response to a search request that includes a subject keyword, each entry in the set of search results assigned by the search engine a respective quality score, the set of search results including one or more relevant entries that originate from an on-line social network system, the search engine and the on-line social network system provided by different entities;

calculating a relevance score for the subject keyword as the sum of respective quality scores assigned to the entries in the set of search results that originate from the on-line social network system;

executing by at least one processor a probabilistic model that takes into account the relevance score to generate a priority score for the subject keyword;

based on the priority score, selectively including the subject keyword in a web page generated by the on-line social network system; and

causing presentation of the web page on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each item from the one or more relevant entries is a job posting maintained by the on-line social network system.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting the set of search results to access in response to determining that the search request includes an indicator term in addition to the subject keyword, the indicator term indicating that the search request is a job-related search request.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising using one or more further signals, in addition to the combination of respective quality scores assigned to the relevant entries in the set of search results, to generate the relevance score.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a signal from the one or more further signals is a count of the relevant entries.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

monitoring user engagement signals with respect to any of the relevant entries; and

adjusting the relevance score based on result of the monitoring.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the priority score comprises using, in addition to the relevance score, a popularity score generated for the subject keyword, the popularity score indicating how likely the subject keyword is to be included in a job-related search query as a search term.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising adjusting the priority score based on frequency of appearance of the subject keyword in certain fields of member profiles maintained by the on-line social network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is a job search directory page.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page represents a member profile maintained by the on-line social network system.

11. A computer-implemented system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by the one or processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

accessing a set of search results produced by a search engine in response to a search request that includes a subject keyword, each entry in the set of search results assigned by the search engine a respective quality score, the set of search results including one or more relevant entries that originate from an on-line social network system, the search engine and the on-line social network system provided by different entities;

calculating a relevance score for the subject keyword as the sum of respective quality scores assigned to the entries in the set of search results that originate from the on-line social network system;

executing a probabilistic model that takes into account the relevance score to generate a priority score for the subject keyword;

selectively including the subject keyword in a web page generated by the on-line social network system, based on the priority score; and

causing presentation of the web page on a display device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each item from the one or more relevant entries is a job posting maintained by the on-line social network system.

13. The system of claim 11, comprising selecting the set of search results to access in response to determining that the search request includes an indicator term in addition to the subject keyword, the indicator term indicating that the search request is a job-related search request.

14. The system of claim 11, comprising using one or more further signals, in addition to the combination of respective quality scores assigned to the relevant entries in the set of search results, to generate the relevance score.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a signal from the one or more further signals is a count of the relevant entries.

16. The system of claim 11, comprising monitoring user engagement signals with respect to any of the relevant entries and adjusting the relevance score based on result of the monitoring.

17. The system of claim 11, comprising calculating, in addition to the relevance score, a popularity score for the subject keyword, the popularity score indicating how likely the subject keyword is to be included in a job-related search query as a search term.

18. The system of claim 11, comprising adjusting the priority score based on frequency of appearance of the subject keyword in certain fields of member profiles maintained by the on-line social network.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the web page is a job search directory page or a member profile maintained by the on-line social network system.

20. A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium having instruction data executable by a machine to cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

accessing a set of search results produced by a search engine in response to a search request that includes a subject keyword, each entry in the set of search results assigned by the search engine a respective quality score, the set of search results including one or more relevant entries that originate from an on-line social network system, the search engine and the on-line social network system provided by different entities;

calculating a relevance score for the subject keyword as the sum of respective quality scores assigned to the entries in the set of search results that originate from the on-line social network system,

executing a probabilistic model that takes into account the relevance score to generate a priority score for the subject keyword;

based on the priority score, selectively including the subject keyword in a web page generated by the on-line social network system; and

causing presentation of the web page on a display device.