TECHNIQUES FOR RANKING SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20090119261A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collarity Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Collarity Incorporated
• Inventors: Ismalon, Emil
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/355 Class or cluster creation or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided, which includes presenting to a user (30) a range of levels of personalization of search results, including a personalized level, a global level that is not personalized, and a community level between the personalized level and the global level. An indication (550) of a desired one of the levels, and a search query (52) consisting of one or more query terms, are received from the user (30). Responsively to the search query, a search result listing (54) is generated. At least a portion of the search result listing (54) is ranked at least in part responsively to the indication (550), and at least a portion of the ranked search result (54) listing is presented to the user (30). Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting to a user a range of levels of personalization of search results, including a personalized level, a global level that is not personalized, and a community level between the personalized level and the global level;

receiving from the user an indication of a desired one of the levels;

receiving from a user a search query consisting of one or more query terms;

responsively to the search query, generating a search result listing;

ranking at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the indication; and

presenting at least a portion of the ranked search result listing to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the desired level of personalization includes the personalized level,

wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving the indication of the personalized level, and

wherein ranking comprises:

constructing a personal profile for the user that represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the user with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the user during the previous searches;

calculating respective correlation scores between the personal profile and a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing; and

ranking the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the personal profile includes a personal association graph (PAG), wherein each of the previous searches includes one or more previous query terms, and wherein constructing the personal profile comprises constructing the PAG including at least a portion of the previous query terms as vertices.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the user is one of a plurality of users,

wherein the desired level of personalization includes the community level,

wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving the indication of the community level, and

wherein ranking comprises:

constructing a topic profile that represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the plurality of users within a single topic;

calculating respective correlation scores between the topic profile and a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing; and

ranking the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the topic profile includes a topic association graph (TAG), wherein each of the previous searches includes one or more previous query terms, and wherein constructing the topic profile comprises constructing the TAG including at least a portion of the previous query terms as vertices.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the user is one of a plurality of users,

wherein the desired level of personalization includes the community level,

wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving the indication of the community level, and

wherein ranking comprises:

constructing a plurality of personal profiles for respective users in the plurality of users, each of which personal profiles represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by one of the users with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the one of the users during the previous searches;

identifying a subset of the personal profiles as correlated with one another;

constructing a group profile by combining at least a portion of each of the personal profiles in the subset;

calculating respective correlation scores between the group profile a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing; and

ranking the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the personal profiles include respective personal association graph (PAGs),

wherein each of the previous searches includes one or more first query terms,

wherein constructing the personal profiles comprises constructing the PAGs including at least a portion of the first query terms as vertices,

wherein the group profile includes a group association graph (GRAG), and

wherein constructing the group profile comprises constructing the GRAG by combining at least a portion of each of the PAGs in the subset.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein generating the search result listing comprises generating the search result listing responsively to the query terms and at least one of the previous query terms in the GRAG linked to all of the query terms in the GRAG.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is one of a plurality of users, and wherein ranking comprises:

constructing a plurality of document profiles associated with a respective plurality of search result documents, each of which document profiles represents interactions of (a) a plurality of previous searches conducted by the plurality of users with (b) the respective search result document associated with the document profile; and

ranking the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the indication and respective correlation scores between the query terms and at least a portion of the document profiles.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of document profiles includes a respective plurality of document association graphs (DAGs), wherein the previous searches include one or more respective previous query terms, and wherein constructing the plurality of document profiles comprises constructing the plurality of DAGs, each of which includes one or more of the previous query terms as vertices.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

16-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from a plurality of users a respective plurality of first search queries, each of which consists of one or more first query terms, wherein the plurality of users includes a plurality of first users, and a second user;

constructing a topic association graph (TAG) that represents interactions of a portion of the users with (a) a portion of the first queries conducted within a single topic and (b) respective first search result listings generated responsively to the portion of the first search queries, and includes as vertices at least a portion of the first query terms;

receiving from the second user a second search query, which consists of one or more second query terms included in a portion of the vertices of the TAG;

responsively to the second search query, generating a second search result listing including a plurality of documents;

ranking at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to a comparison between (a) the TAG and (b) at least a portion of the documents of the second search result listing; and

presenting at least a portion of the ranked second search result listing to the second user.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein constructing the TAG comprises:

constructing respective personal profiles for each of the users of the portion of the users, each of which profiles represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the user with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the user during the previous searches; and

combining respective portions of the personal profiles, which portions are associated with the topic, to form the TAG.

58-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A computer-implemented method comprising:

constructing a plurality of personal profiles for a respective plurality of users, each of which personal profiles represents interactions of a plurality of first searches conducted by one of the users with a respective plurality of first search result documents presented to the user during the first searches;

identifying a subset of the personal profiles as correlated with one another;

constructing a group profile by combining at least a portion of each of the personal profiles in the subset;

receiving a second search query from one of the users whose personal profile is included in the subset;

responsively to the second search query, generating a search result listing;

calculating respective correlation scores between the group profile and a plurality of second search result documents of at least a portion of the second search result listing;

ranking the at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores; and

presenting the ranked second search result listing to the one of the users.

76. The method according to claim 75,

wherein the personal profiles include respective personal association graph (PAGs),

wherein each of the first searches includes one or more first query terms,

wherein constructing the personal profiles comprises constructing the PAGs including at least a portion of the first query terms as vertices,

wherein the group profile includes a group association graph (GRAG), and

wherein constructing the group profile comprises constructing the GRAG by combining at least a portion of each of the PAGs in the subset.

77. Apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a user; and

a processor, which is configured to present to the user, via the interface, a range of levels of personalization of search results, including a personalized level, a global level that is not personalized, and a community level between the personalized level and the global level;

receive from the user, via the interface, an indication of a desired one of the levels;

receive from a user, via the interface, a search query consisting of one or more query terms;

responsively to the search query, generate a search result listing;

rank at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the indication; and

present at least a portion of the ranked search result listing to the user via the interface.

78. The apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the desired level of personalization includes the personalized level, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the personalized level, construct a personal profile for the user that represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the user with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the user during the previous searches, calculate respective correlation scores between the personal profile and a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing, and rank the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

82. The apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the user is one of a plurality of users, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of users, wherein the desired level of personalization includes the community level, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the community level, construct a topic profile that represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the plurality of users within a single topic, calculate respective correlation scores between the topic profile and a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing, and rank the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

84. The apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the user is one of a plurality of users, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of users, wherein the desired level of personalization includes the community level, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the community level;

construct a plurality of personal profiles for respective users in the plurality of users, each of which personal profiles represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by one of the users with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the one of the users during the previous searches;

identify a subset of the personal profiles as correlated with one another;

construct a group profile by combining at least a portion of each of the personal profiles in the subset;

calculate respective correlation scores between the group profile a plurality of search result documents of the at least a portion of search result listing; and

rank the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores.

90. The apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the user is one of a plurality of users, wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of users, and wherein the processor is configured to construct a plurality of document profiles associated with a respective plurality of search result documents, each of which document profiles represents interactions of (a) a plurality of previous searches conducted by the plurality of users with (b) the respective search result document associated with the document profile, and rank the at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the indication and respective correlation scores between the query terms and at least a portion of the document profiles.

79-81. -81. (canceled)

83. (canceled)

85-89. -89. (canceled)

91-131. -131. (canceled)

132. Apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a plurality of users, which includes a plurality of first users, and a second user; and

a processor, configured to receive from the plurality of users, via the interface, a respective plurality of first search queries, each of which consists of one or more first query terms;

construct a topic association graph (TAG) that represents interactions of a portion of the users with (a) a portion of the first queries conducted within a single topic and (b) respective first search result listings generated responsively to the portion of the first search queries, and includes as vertices at least a portion of the first query terms;

receive from the second user, via the interface, a second search query, which consists of one or more second query terms included in a portion of the vertices of the TAG;

responsively to the second search query, generate a second search result listing including a plurality of documents;

rank at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to a comparison between (a) the TAG and (b) at least a portion of the documents of the second search result listing; and

presenting at least a portion of the ranked second search result listing to the second user via the interface.

133. The apparatus according to claim 132, wherein the processor is configured to construct the TAG by:

constructing respective personal profiles for each of the users of the portion of the users, each of which profiles represents interactions of a plurality of previous searches conducted by the user with a respective plurality of previous search result documents presented to the user during the previous searches; and

combining respective portions of the personal profiles, which portions are associated with the topic, to form the TAG.

134-150. -150. (canceled)

151. Apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with a plurality of users; and

a processor, configured to construct a plurality of personal profiles for the respective plurality of users, each of which personal profiles represents interactions of a plurality of first searches conducted by one of the users with a respective plurality of first search result documents presented to the user during the first searches;

identify a subset of the personal profiles as correlated with one another;

construct a group profile by combining at least a portion of each of the personal profiles in the subset;

receive, via the interface, a second search query from one of the users whose personal profile is included in the subset;

responsively to the second search query, generate a search result listing;

calculate respective correlation scores between the group profile and a plurality of second search result documents of at least a portion of the second search result listing;

rank the at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores; and

present the ranked second search result listing to the one of the users via the interface.

152. The apparatus according to claim 151, wherein the personal profiles include respective personal association graph (PAGs), wherein each of the first searches includes one or more first query terms, wherein the processor is configured to construct the personal profiles by constructing the PAGs including at least a portion of the first query terms as vertices, wherein the group profile includes a group association graph (GRAG) (GAG), and wherein the processor is configured to construct the group profile by constructing the GRAG GAG by combining at least a portion of each of the PAGs in the subset.

153. A computer software product for executing a process, the product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to present to a user a range of levels of personalization of search results, including a personalized level, a global level that is not personalized, and a community level between the personalized level and the global level;

receive from the user an indication of a desired one of the levels;

receive from a user a search query consisting of one or more query terms;

responsively to the search query, generate a search result listing;

rank at least a portion of the search result listing at least in part responsively to the indication; and

present at least a portion of the ranked search result listing to the user.

154-207. -207. (canceled)

208. A computer software product for executing a process, the product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to receive from a plurality of users a respective plurality of first search queries, each of which consists of one or more first query terms, wherein the plurality of users includes a plurality of first users, and a second user;

construct a topic association graph (TAG) that represents interactions of a portion of the users with (a) a portion of the first queries conducted within a single topic and (b) respective first search result listings generated responsively to the portion of the first search queries, and includes as vertices at least a portion of the first query terms;

receive from the second user a second search query, which consists of one or more second query terms included in a portion of the vertices of the TAG;

responsively to the second search query, generate a second search result listing including a plurality of documents;

rank at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to a comparison between (a) the TAG and (b) at least a portion of the documents of the second search result listing; and

presenting at least a portion of the ranked second search result listing to the second user.

209-226. -226. (canceled)

227. A computer software product for executing a process, the product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to construct a plurality of personal profiles for the respective plurality of users, each of which personal profiles represents interactions of a plurality of first searches conducted by one of the users with a respective plurality of first search result documents presented to the user during the first searches;

identify a subset of the personal profiles as correlated with one another;

construct a group profile by combining at least a portion of each of the personal profiles in the subset;

receive a second search query from one of the users whose personal profile is included in the subset;

responsively to the second search query, generate a search result listing;

calculate respective correlation scores between the group profile and a plurality of second search result documents of at least a portion of the second search result listing;

rank the at least a portion of the second search result listing at least in part responsively to the correlation scores; and

present the ranked second search result listing to the one of the users.

228. (canceled)