METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING RELEVANCE OF WEB CONTENT

• US 20130006977A1
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: AGRAWAL, Ashvin, SOBTI, Ankit, MALAKAR, Arup
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering

Abstract

A method and system for improving relevance of web content. The method includes receiving a search query from a user. The method also includes processing the search query by generating a list of web content results based on the search query. The search query is also processed by determining a plurality of click counts for the list of web content results. Each click count of the plurality of click counts is generated by one or more contacts in a social network of the user. The search query is further processed by mapping each click count to a corresponding web content result in the list of web content results. The method further includes displaying the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts. Each click count of the plurality of click counts is displayed with the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results.

Claims

1. A method of improving relevance of web content, the method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

processing the search query by generating a list of web content results based on the search query;

determining a plurality of click counts for the list of web content results, each click count of the plurality of click counts being generated by one or more contacts in a social network of the user, wherein demographic similarity and a higher click count indicate a higher relevance of a result of the search query;

mapping each click count to a corresponding web content result in the list of web content results; and

displaying the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts, each click count of the plurality of click counts being displayed with the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts is displayed in one window.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

displaying the list of web content results in a first window; and

displaying the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts in a second window.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

providing a second plurality of search queries to the user.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein providing the second plurality of search queries comprises

mining the second plurality of search queries from a first plurality of search queries.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first plurality of search queries are created by the one or more contacts in the social network of the user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the list of web content results comprises

ranking the list of web content results using a search algorithm.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the list of web content results comprises one or more of search results, search suggestions, links and advertisements.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises a computer program product that when executed by a processor, performs a method of improving relevance of web content, comprising:

receiving a search query from a user;

processing the search query by

generating a list of web content results based on the search query;

determining a plurality of click counts for the list of web content results, each click count of the plurality of click counts being generated by one or more contacts in a social network of the user, wherein demographic similarity and a higher click count indicate a higher relevance of a result of the search query;

mapping each click count to a corresponding web content result in the list of web content results; and

displaying the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts, each click count of the plurality of click counts being displayed with the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results.

10. The computer program product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts is displayed in one window.

11. The computer program product as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising:

displaying the list of web content results in a first window; and

displaying the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts in a second window.

12. The computer program product as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising:

providing a second plurality of search queries to the user.

13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12, wherein providing the second plurality of search queries comprises

mining the second plurality of search queries from a first plurality of search queries.

14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first plurality of search queries is created by the one or more contacts in the social network of the user.

15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 9, wherein generating the list of web content results comprises

ranking the list of web content results using a search algorithm.

16. The computer program product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the list of web content results comprises one or more of search results, search suggestions, links and advertisements.

17. A system for improving relevance of web content, the system comprising:

one or more electronic devices;

a communication interface in electronic communication with the one or more electronic devices;

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor responsive to the instructions to

receive a search query from a user;

process the search query by

generating a list of web content results based on the search query;

determine a plurality of click counts for the list of web content results, each click count of the plurality of click counts being generated by one or more contacts in a social network of the user, wherein demographic similarity and a higher click count indicate a higher relevance of a result of the search query;

map each click count to a corresponding web content result in the list of web content results; and

display the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts, each click count of the plurality of click counts being displayed with the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising

an electronic storage device that stores the list of web content results, a first plurality of search queries, and a second plurality of search queries.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the processor is further responsive to the instructions to

mine the second plurality of search queries from the first plurality of search queries;

and

provide the second plurality of search queries to the user.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first plurality of search queries is created by the one or more contacts in the social network of the user.

21. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processor comprises:

a first processor responsive to the instructions to

receive the search query from the user; and

process the search query by

generating the list of web content results based on the search query; and

a second processor responsive to the instructions to

determine the plurality of click counts for the list of web content results, each click count of the plurality of click counts being generated by the one or more contacts in the social network of the user;

map each click count to the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results; and

display the list of web content results along with the plurality of click counts, each click count of the plurality of click counts being displayed with the corresponding web content result in the list of web content results.