Ranking of business objects for search engines

• US 20050080774A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Irle, Klaus, Janssen, Tatjana, Kindsvogel, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods, systems and products are provided for calculating a ranking value for business objects. Creating the ranking value for business objects may comprise calculating the number of references a business object is referenced to, mapping the business object together with the number of references of the business object into a document structure, and providing a ranking value according to the number of references.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a ranking value of a business object according to its relevance for a search query, said method comprising:

determining a number of references value according to a number of references to said business object within other business objects;

mapping the business object into a document structure;

mapping said number of references value into said document structure;

indexing said document structure for use in a search engine; and

calculating said ranking value based on said number of references to said business object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein attributes of said business object are mapped into attributes of said document structure.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein business objects are searched for references to other business objects and, in case of a reference from another business object, said number of references value within said referenced business object is increased.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein business partner attributes of business objects are mapped into said document structure, and said ranking value is calculated further depending on said business partner attributes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said ranking value is calculated further depending on the completeness of said business partner attributes.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said business object comprises an environmental sustainability tag, said environmental sustainability tag is mapped into said document structure, and said ranking value is calculated further depending on said environmental sustainability tag.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said business object comprises a delete tag, said delete tag is mapped into said document structure, and said ranking value is calculated further depending on said delete tag.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said ranking value is a value between 0 and 1.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said ranking value (Ref_Value(T)) is calculated as a quotient between the number of references to said business object (Num_Ref(T)) and a maximum number of references to a business object (Max_Num_Ref(T)).

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein a new ranking value is calculated depending on the addition of ranking values calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein a new ranking value is calculated depending on the multiplication of a ranking value calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein business objects are dedicated to certain business object types, and said number of references to said business objects are calculated within the same type.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said number of references value is mapped into said document structure for each business object type, separately.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said ranking value is calculated by adding the number of references to said business object for each business object type, respectively.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the number of references to said business object for each business object type is divided by the maximum number of references to business objects of the respective type.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each user is characterized by a role, and said ranking value is calculated based on said number of references to said business object and said role of said user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein references to a business object are weighted according to said role of said user and wherein said ranking value is calculated based on said weighted number of references.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each business object comprises attributes and wherein at least parts of said attributes are mapped into said document structure.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein attributes relevant for said ranking value are mapped into said document structure.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said business objects are master data and/or dynamic data.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each business object comprises generic and/or specific attributes.

22. A computer program product with a program stored for creating a ranking value of a business object according to its relevance for a search query, the program comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to:

determine a number of references value according to a number of references to said business object within other business objects;

map the business object into a document structure;

map said number of references value into said document structure;

index said document structure for use in a search engine; and

calculate said ranking value based on said number of references to said business object.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map the attributes of said business object into attributes of said business objects.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to search business objects for references to other business objects, and increase said number of references value within said referenced business object in case of a reference from another business object.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map business partner attributes into said document structure, and calculate said ranking value depending on said business partner attributes.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to calculate said ranking value based on the completeness of said business partner attributes.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map an environmental sustainability tag into said document structure, and calculate said ranking value further depending on said environmental sustainability tag.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map a delete tag into said document structure, and calculate said ranking value further depending on said delete tag.

29. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to create said ranking value between 0 and 1.

30. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to calculate said ranking value (Ref_Value(T)) as a quotient between the number of references to said business object (Num_Ref(T)) and a maximum number of references to a business object (Max_Num_Ref(T)).

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to calculate a new ranking value based on the addition of a ranking value calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to calculate a new ranking value based on the multiplication of a ranking value calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

33. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to dedicate business objects to certain business object types, and calculate said number of references to said business object within the same type.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map said number of references value into said document structure for each business object type, separately.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to calculate said ranking value by adding the number of references value to said business object for each business object type.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to divide the number of references to said business object for each business object type by the maximum number of references to business objects of the respective type.

37. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to characterize each user by a role, and calculate said ranking value based on said number of references to said business object and said role of said user.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to weight references to a business object according to said role of said user and calculate said ranking value based on said weighted number of references.

39. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map at least parts of attributes of business objects into said document structure.

40. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the instructions are operable to cause the processor to map attributes relevant for said ranking value into said document structure.

41. A computer for creating a ranking value of a business object according to its relevance for a search query comprising:

determination means for determining a number of references value according to a number of references to said business object within other business objects;

mapping means for mapping the business object into a document structure and mapping said number of references value into said document structure;

indexing means for indexing said document structure for use in a search engine; and

calculation means for calculating said ranking value depending on said number of references to said business object.

42. The computer of claim 41, further comprising searching means for searching business objects for references to other business objects, and means for increasing said number of references value within said referenced business object in case of a reference from another business object.

43. The computer of claim 41, further comprising mapping means for mapping business partner attributes into said document structure, and wherein said calculating means calculate said ranking value depending on said business partner attributes.

44. The computer of claim 41, wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value depending on the completeness of said business partner attributes.

45. The computer of claim 41, wherein said mapping means map an environmental sustainability tag into said document structure, and wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value further depending on said environmental sustainability tag.

46. The computer of claim 41, wherein said mapping means map a delete tag into said document structure, and wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value further depending on said delete tag.

47. The computer of claim 41, wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value (Ref_Value(T)) as a quotient between the number of references to said business object (Num_Ref(T)) and a maximum number of references to a business object (Max_Num_Ref(T)).

48. The computer of claim 47, wherein said calculation means calculate a new ranking value depending on the addition of a ranking value calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

49. The computer of claim 41, wherein said calculation means calculate a new ranking value depending on the multiplication of a ranking value calculated by said search engine and said quotient ranking value.

50. The computer of claim 41, wherein said calculation means calculate a number of references to a business object within business objects of a same type.

51. The computer of claim 50, wherein said mapping means map said references value into said document structure for each business object type, separately.

52. The computer of claim 50, wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value by adding the number of references to said business object for each business object type, separately.

53. The computer of claim 50, wherein said calculation means divide the number of references to said business object for each business object type by the maximum number of references to business objects of the respective type.

54. The computer of claim 41, wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value depending on a number of references to said business object and a role of said user.

55. The computer of claim 54, wherein weighting means weight said references to a business object according to said role of said user and wherein said calculation means calculate said ranking value depending on said weighted number of references.

56. The computer of claim 41, wherein said mapping means map least parts of attributes of business objects into said document structure.

57. The computer of claim 41, wherein said mapping means map attributes relevant for said ranking value into said document structure.