SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RANKING DOCUMENTS

• US 20110179024A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RELX Inc. (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: LexisNexis Group Inc. (RELX PLC)
• Inventors: Seitter, Jeff A., Stiver, Mark C., Miller, Euphemia H., Koul, Vimal
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for ranking documents. An exemplary method includes receiving a plurality of queries from a user that are related to a search topic. The queries are compared to a plurality of documents stored in a database to identify candidate documents that match one or more of the queries. The number of matching queries is determined for the candidate documents. The candidate documents are ranked, using a computer processor, for relevance to the search topic based at least on the number of matching queries for each respective candidate document.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for ranking documents, comprising:

receiving a plurality of queries from a user, the plurality of queries being related to a search topic;

comparing the queries to a plurality of documents stored in a database to identify candidate documents, each of the candidate documents matching one or more of the queries;

determining, for the candidate documents, the number of matching queries; and

ranking, using a computer processor, the candidate documents for relevance to the search topic based at least on the number of matching queries for each respective candidate document.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for one of the candidate documents; and

transmitting the requested candidate document in response to the request.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the documents relate to court cases.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the ranking of the candidate documents is updated as the new queries are received from the user.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, further comprising updating a visual indicator of progress as new queries are received from the user.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a reset icon for the user to reset a search session; and

resetting the number of matching queries for the candidate documents to zero when the user selects the reset icon.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a relevance score for each candidate document and query, the relevance score indicating the degree to which each candidate document matches each query,

wherein the documents are ranked based at least on the relevance scores.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user inputs specifying weights for each of the queries, wherein the documents are ranked based at least on the weights.

9. A system for ranking documents, comprising:

a processor for executing program instructions; and

a computer-readable medium storing the program instructions, the program instructions, when executed by the processor, performing a method to;

receive a plurality of queries from a user, the plurality of queries being related to a search topic;

compare the queries to a plurality of documents stored in a database to identify candidate documents, each of the candidate documents matching one or more of the queries;

determine, for the candidate documents, the number of matching queries; and

rank the candidate documents for relevance to the search topic based at least on the number of matching queries for each respective candidate document.

10. A computer-readable medium storing program instructions for performing a method executed by a processor, the method for ranking documents and comprising steps performed by the processor of:

receive a plurality of queries from a user, the plurality of queries being related to a search topic;

compare the queries to a plurality of documents stored in a database to identify candidate documents, each of the candidate documents matching one or more of the queries;

determine, for the candidate documents, the number of matching queries; and

rank the candidate documents for relevance to the search topic based at least on the number of matching queries for each respective candidate document.

11. A computer-implemented method for ranking documents, comprising:

providing, to a user, a representation of a plurality of queries previously executed by the user, the queries being executed on a database comprising a plurality of documents to determine a set of candidate documents matching at least one of the queries;

receiving a user selection of a subset of the queries;

determining the number of the selected queries that match the candidate documents; and

ranking, using a computer processor, the candidate documents based at least on the number of matching selected queries.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the representation comprises a history tree including query icons representing the previously executed queries.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 12, wherein the history tree comprises select query icons displayed in association with the query icons, and the user selection is performed using the select query icons.

14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 13, wherein the history tree includes filter icons displayed in association with the query icons, the filter icons representing filters applied to the results of the associated queries.

15. The computer-implemented method according to claim 14, further comprising:

providing the user with a selectable option for each query to rank the candidate documents based on filtered or unfiltered query results.

16. The computer-implemented method according to claim 15, wherein a first one of the queries has a first filter and a second filter, the method further comprising:

providing the user with a selectable option for the first query to rank the candidate results based at least on query results filtered by the first filter but not the second filter.

17. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the documents include cases issued by a plurality of courts, and the ranking includes weighting the cases based at least on which of the plurality of courts issued each case.

18. The computer-implemented method according to claim 11, further comprising:

suggesting a search term to the user based on the previously-executed queries.

19. A system for ranking documents, comprising:

a processor for executing program instructions; and

a computer-readable medium storing the program instructions, the program instructions, when executed by the processor, performing a method to;

provide, to a user, a representation of a plurality of queries previously executed by the user, the queries being executed on a database comprising a plurality of documents to determine a set of candidate documents matching at least one of the queries;

receive a user selection of a subset of the queries;

determine the number of the selected queries that match the candidate documents; and

rank the candidate documents based at least on the number of matching selected queries.

20. A computer-readable medium storing program instructions for performing a method executed by a processor, the method for ranking documents and comprising steps performed by the processor of:

providing, to a user, a representation of a plurality of queries previously executed by the user, the queries being executed on a database comprising a plurality of documents to determine a set of candidate documents matching at least one of the queries;

receiving a user selection of a subset of the queries;

determining the number of the selected queries that match the candidate documents; and

ranking the candidate documents based at least on the number of matching selected queries.