Techniques for including collection items in search results

• US 20080147640A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schachter, Joshua E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Techniques are provided for including collection items in the ranked set of search results that are returned to a user in response to a search query. Collection scoring techniques are also provided for generating relevance scores for collection items in a different manner than relevance scores are generated for base items that are not collections. The collection scoring techniques may be applied to non-base collection items, base collection items, or both. Items that match the search query, including base items and collection items, are ranked in a unified ranking based on their respective relevance scores, thereby allowing searches to readily determine the relevance ranking of matching collection items relative to matching base items.

Claims

1. A method comprising performing a machine-executed operation involving instructions, wherein said instructions are instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform certain steps including:

in response to receiving a search query, identifying a set of matching items, wherein the set includes one or more base items and one or more non-base collection items;

determining a relevancy ranking for each matching item in the set relative to all other matching items in the set by generating a relevance score for each matching item in the set; and

responding to said search query by providing search results based on the set of matching items and the relevancy rankings;

wherein the machine-executed operation is at least one of (a) sending said instructions over transmission media, (b) receiving said instructions over transmission media, (c) storing said instructions onto a machine-readable storage medium, and (d) executing the instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step providing search results includes providing a ranked listing of matching items from said set, wherein said ranked listing is ordered based on said relevancy rankings.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are web pages and the non-base collection items are bookmark sets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are web pages and the non-base collection items are searches.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are web pages and the non-base collection items are alternative search queries.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are audio files and the non-base collection items are playlists.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are merchandise and the non-base collection items are wish lists.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are web pages and the non-base collection items are directories.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are travel-related items and the non-base collection items are itineraries.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the base items are tagged items and the non-base collection items are tags.

11. A method comprising performing a machine-executed operation involving instructions, wherein said instructions are instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform certain steps including:

in response to receiving a search query, identifying a set of matching items;

wherein the set includes a first item and a second item;

wherein the first item is a collection item and the second item is a base item that is not a collection item;

determining a first relevance score for the first item using a first scoring technique;

determining a second relevance score for the second item using a second scoring technique that is different than said first scoring technique; and

responding to said search query by providing a ranked set of search results that includes said first item and said second item;

wherein the first item and the second item are respectively ranked within said ranked set based on said first relevance score and said second relevance score;

wherein the machine-executed operation is at least one of (a) sending said instructions over transmission media, (b) receiving said instructions over transmission media, (c) storing said instructions onto a machine-readable storage medium, and (d) executing the instructions.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first item is a base collection item.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first item is a non-base collection item.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first scoring technique determines said first relevance score based, at least in part, on relevance scores generated for base items that belong to a collection represented by the first item.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first scoring technique determines said first relevance score based, at least in part, on information about a creator of said first item.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first scoring technique determines said first relevance score based, at least in part, on a popularity measure associated with said non-base collection item.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the first scoring technique determines said first relevance score based, at least in part, on an average relevance score of the base items that belong to the collection represented by the first item.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the step of providing a ranked set of search results includes providing a web page that has a link for said first item; and

the certain steps include, in response to selection of the link, dynamically generating a web page that includes controls for accessing base items that belong to the first item.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the step of providing a ranked set of search results includes providing a web page that has a link for said first item; and

the certain steps include, in response to selection of the link, delivering a web page that was created, by the search engine, at the time the first item was registered with the search engine;

the web page includes controls for accessing base items that belong to the first item.

20. A method comprising performing a machine-executed operation involving instructions, wherein said instructions are instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform certain steps including:

in response to receiving a search query, identifying a set of matching items;

determining a relevancy ranking for each matching item in the set relative to all other matching items in the set by generating a relevance score for each matching item in the set;

wherein the relevance score for at least one matching item is generated based, at least in part, on a characteristic of the creator of the at least one matching item; and

responding to said search query by providing search results based on the set of matching items and the relevancy rankings;

wherein the machine-executed operation is at least one of (a) sending said instructions over transmission media, (b) receiving said instructions over transmission media, (c) storing said instructions onto a machine-readable storage medium, and (d) executing the instructions.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the characteristic is a measure of the reputation of the creator of the at least one matching item.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one matching item is a collection item.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the collection item is a bookmark set;

the characteristic is a measure of the reputation of the creator of the bookmark set; and

the measure is determined based, at least in part, on how early the creator bookmarked items that were subsequently been determined to be useful.