Computer network search engine
First Claim
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1. A method of searching a plurality of electronically accessible records, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a search query from an originator thereof;
searching said electronically accessible records using said query to identify a set of results at least indicating those ones of said records that incorporate at least one component of said search query;
analysing said records of said set to identify one or more themes underlying content of each of said records;
establishing clusters of said results, each said cluster relating a one of said identified themes with each said result being ascribed to at least one of said clusters; and
presenting the search to the originator by displaying a graphical representation of a limited number of said clusters.
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Abstract
A computer network search engine is disclosed in which search results are analyzed to identify one or more themes, and individual results are clustered according to one or more of the themes. In one aspect the user may be presented with a graphical representation of one or more cluster of results. In another aspect the search results are presented in the cluster according to a ranked list, and wherein the ranked list may be modified according to attributes of a selected search result and/or dynamically altered according to observations of the user examining the results.
249 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of searching a plurality of electronically accessible records, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a search query from an originator thereof;
searching said electronically accessible records using said query to identify a set of results at least indicating those ones of said records that incorporate at least one component of said search query;
analysing said records of said set to identify one or more themes underlying content of each of said records;
establishing clusters of said results, each said cluster relating a one of said identified themes with each said result being ascribed to at least one of said clusters; and
presenting the search to the originator by displaying a graphical representation of a limited number of said clusters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21)
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6. A method for presenting search results associated with a query of a plurality of electronically accessible documents;
- said method comprising the steps of;
(a) analysing said search results of said set to identify one or more themes underlying content of each of said records;
(b) establishing clusters of said results, each said cluster relating a one of said identified themes with each said result being ascribed to at least one of said clusters;
(c) presenting said search results associated with at least one said cluster to a user in a first ranked order of relevance and detecting a selection of one said presented search result by the user;
(d) modifying the presented ranked order of relevance of at least said one cluster according to attributes of said one selected search result; and
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) as a consequence of each selection of a further one of said presented search results. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- said method comprising the steps of;
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13. A method for presenting search results associated with a query of a plurality of electronically accessible documents;
- said method comprising the steps of;
(a) presenting said search results to a user in a first ranked order of relevance related to said query;
(b) detecting a selection of one said presented search result by the user;
(c) determining from the selection of said one search result a relevance measure of said one search result compared to others of said search results (d) modifying the presented ranked order of relevance of said search results according to said relevance measure; and
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) as a consequence of each selection of a further one of said presented search results. - View Dependent Claims (14)
- said method comprising the steps of;
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15. A method of searching a plurality of electronically accessible records, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a search query from an originator thereof;
(b) searching said electronically accessible records using said query to identify a set of results at least indicating those ones of said records that incorporate at least one component of said search query;
(c) analysing said search results of said set to identify one or more themes underlying content of each of said records;
(d) establishing clusters of said results, each said cluster relating a one of said identified themes with each said result being ascribed to at least one of said clusters;
(e) presenting the search to the originator by displaying a graphical representation of a limited number of said clusters;
(f) detecting a selection of one of said clusters and presenting said search results associated with said one cluster to the originator in a first ranked order of relevance;
(g) detecting a selection of one said presented search result by the originator;
(h) modifying the presented ranked order of relevance of at least said one cluster according to attributes of said one selected search result; and
(i) repeating steps (g) and (h) as a consequence of each selection of a further one of said presented search results.
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16. A method by which additional content, including, but not restricted to, paid listings, directory entries, and direct content of web pages, is incorporated into a display of clustered search results, based on themes common to the user'"'"'s selections.
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17. A method of searching a plurality of electronically accessible records, said method comprising the steps of:
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analysing themes within content returned by a ranked search result;
observing a behavior of a user when examining said search result;
extrapolating information from the observed behavior; and
dynamically ranking the search result according to said information.
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- 18. A method according to claim 18 wherein said analysing comprises clustering said search results and identifying themes within each said cluster, said observing comprises recording a user'"'"'s access to an individual one of said search results, and said extrapolating comprises dynamically amplifying said user'"'"'s actions by ascribing a relevance measure to each said search result, and said dynamic ranking comprises re-ranking the search result according to the corresponding relevance measure.
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22. A method of improving a user'"'"'s online information searching capabilities whilst utilizing a computer interface for information searching, the method including the steps of:
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(a) providing the user with an interface for information searching;
(b) monitoring a user'"'"'s utilization of the interface;
(c) classifying the sophistication of the monitored behavior in accordance with a series of criteria;
(d) utilizing said classification to alter the characteristics of information provision to the user of said interface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification