Ranking of images in the results of a search
First Claim
1. A method of determining a ranking score for an image or group of related images among a plurality of images accessible by a search engine, such that the ranking score is usable to determine the order in which the images are presented in the results of a search conducted by the search engine, the method comprising:
- monitoring the number of times said image or said images in said group of related images are presented for viewing by predetermined users in the results of searches conducted by the search engine, monitoring a level of active interest shown by said predetermined users in said image or images presented for viewing in said search results, and determining a ranking score for said image or images based on the monitored level of active interest as a proportion of the number of times said image or images are presented for viewing by said predetermined users.
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Abstract
A method is provided for determining a ranking score for an image or group of related images among a plurality of images accessible by a search engine, such that the ranking score is usable to determine the order in which the images are presented in the results of a search conducted by the search engine. The method comprises monitoring the number of times the image (or the images in the group of related images) is presented for viewing by predetermined users in the results of searches conducted by the search engine. The level of active interest shown by the predetermined users in the image or images presented for viewing in the search results is then monitored, for example by determining the number of times that users select a thumbnail of the image for viewing on an enlarged scale. Finally a ranking score is assigned to the image or images based on the monitored level of active interest as a proportion of the number of times the image or images are presented for viewing by the predetermined users. This then enables an identified set of images to be ordered in such a manner as to take into account the ranking scores of the images, in order to enable users to access the images that they require more quickly and conveniently.
157 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining a ranking score for an image or group of related images among a plurality of images accessible by a search engine, such that the ranking score is usable to determine the order in which the images are presented in the results of a search conducted by the search engine, the method comprising:
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monitoring the number of times said image or said images in said group of related images are presented for viewing by predetermined users in the results of searches conducted by the search engine, monitoring a level of active interest shown by said predetermined users in said image or images presented for viewing in said search results, and determining a ranking score for said image or images based on the monitored level of active interest as a proportion of the number of times said image or images are presented for viewing by said predetermined users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A processor for determining the order in which images are presented in the results of a search through an image catalogue conducted by a search engine, the processor comprising:
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first monitoring means for monitoring the number of times an image or images in a group of related images are presented for viewing by predetermined users in the results of searches conducted by the search engine, second monitoring means for monitoring a level of active interest shown by said predetermined users in said image or images presented for viewing in said search results, and ranking means for determining a ranking score for said image or images based on the monitored level of active interest as a proportion of the number of times said image or images are presented for viewing by said predetermined users, the order in which the images are presented being dependent on their ranking score. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable storage medium incorporating a computer program for carrying out a method of determining a ranking score for an image or group of related images among a plurality of images accessible by a search engine, such that the ranking score is usable to determine the order in which the images are presented in the results of a search conducted by the search engine, the method comprising:
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monitoring the number of times said image or said images in said group of related images are presented for viewing by predetermined users in the results of searches conducted by the search engine, monitoring a level of active interest shown by said predetermined users in said image or images presented for viewing in said search results, and determining a ranking score for said image or images based on the monitored level of active interest as a proportion of the number of times said image or images are presented for viewing by said predetermined users.
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Specification