System, method, and program for ranking search results using user category weighting
First Claim
1. A method for identifying files available over a network, the method comprising:
- receiving a search query from a user, wherein the user is associated with a user category; and
providing search results to the user, wherein the search results are ranked in accordance with the user category.
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Abstract
In a system, method and program for ordering search results of files available over a network, search results obtained by a search engine server may be ranked by associating user category weights with each file indexed in a search database. Search results may be provided to a user ranked in accordance with one or more user categories. The search results may augment additional search results ranked in accordance with additional ranking criteria. A system for implementing the ranking of search results may include a search engine server. The search engine server may interface with a plurality of network clients and information content servers. The search engine server may include one or more storage devices containing program instructions and data to perform the methods described herein. The program instructions and data may be included on a carrier medium, which may be a transmission medium or a storage medium.
613 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for identifying files available over a network, the method comprising:
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receiving a search query from a user, wherein the user is associated with a user category; and
providing search results to the user, wherein the search results are ranked in accordance with the user category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 22. A system for identifying files available over a network, the system comprising a search engine server adapted to receive a search query from a user associated with a user category and provide search results to the user, wherein the search results are ranked in accordance with the user category.
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29. A system for identifying files available over a network, the system comprising a search engine server, wherein the search engine server comprises search instructions stored on one or more storage devices for receiving a search query from a user and for providing search results to the user, wherein the search results are ranked in accordance with a category of the user.
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36. A computer-usable carrier medium comprising:
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first program instructions executable on a computational device for receiving a search query from a user, wherein the user is associated with a user category; and
second program instruction executable on a computational device for providing search results to the user, wherein the search results are ranked in accordance with the user category.
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45. A computer-usable carrier medium, comprising:
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first program instructions executable on a computational device for associating a user category weight to each file indexed in a search database; and
second program instructions executable on a computational device for generating a search result list, wherein the search results are ranked starting with the file having the highest category weight value and ending with the file having the lowest category weight value.
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Specification