Method, system, and program for ordering search results using a popularity weighting

• US 6,480,837 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu M
• Application Number:
  US09/464,850
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/7, 707/10, 707/513, 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 709/202, 709/217, 709/226, 709/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/953 Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Disclosed is a method, system, program, and data structures for ordering electronic files subject to searching. At least one keyword is associated with each file. A physical location of each file is identified by a file address, such as a URL. A popularity weight is associated with at least one file address and key word pair such that a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair. In response to executing a search query including search keywords, file address search results are received that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query. The search results are ordered according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword. A document is then coded to include the file address search results such that the document will display the file address search results according to the ordering.

Claims

1. A method for ordering electronic files subject to searching, comprising:

associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair, wherein the popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair indicates a frequency of selection of the file address in response to searches including the associated keyword, and wherein the popularity weights associated with multiple keywords associated with one file address are capable of being different;

executing a search query including search keywords;

receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query, and

ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pad whose keyword matches the search keyword.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising coding a document to include the file address search results, wherein the document will display the file address search results according to the ordering.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a server having a server URL executes the search and generates the document, wherein the file address search results comprise search result URLs denoting the location of files distributed at servers over an Internet, wherein generating the document including the file address search results comprises:

combining the server URL with each search result URL into a combined URL for each search result;

coding the document to display each search result with the combined URL, wherein issuing a request to the combined URL is directed to the server;

receiving a request to the combined URL;

adjusting upward each popularity weight associated with each search result URL in the combined URL and keyword pair matching the search keywords; and

redirecting the request to the search result URL.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

receiving a request to access at least one of the file address search results displayed in the document; and

adjusting the popularity weights upward for the at least one requested file address search result and keyword pair matching the search keywords.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting the popularity weights downward for those file address and keyword pairs matching the search keywords that were not requested.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results from the document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating multiple documents to include all the file address search results when the search results cannot all be included in a single document, wherein each document displays the file address search results according to the ordering.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results within one document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results within one document.

9. A method for ordering electronic files subject to searching, comprising:

associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair;

executing a search query including search keywords;

receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query; and

ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword; and

determining multiple popularity weights associated with at least one file address search result for those search results having multiple associated keywords that match the search keyword; and

averaging the determined multiple popularity weights to determine an averaged popularity weight for the file address search results having determined multiple popularity weights, wherein the search results are ordered according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result having only one associated keyword that matches the search keywords and the averaged popularity weight for each file address search result having only multiple associated keywords that matches the search keywords.

10. A system for ordering electronic files subject to searching, comprising:

means for associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

means for associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair, wherein the popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair indicates a frequency of selection of the file address in response to searches including the associated keyword, and wherein the popularity weights associated with multiple keywords associated with one file address are capable of being different;

means for executing a search query including search keywords;

means for receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query, and

means for ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for coding a document to include the file address search results, wherein the document will display the file address search results according to the ordering.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a server having a server URL executes the search and generates the document, wherein the file address search results comprise search result URLs denoting the location of files distributed at servers over an Internet, wherein the means for generating the document including the file address search results comprises:

means for combining the server URL with each search result URL into a combined URL for each search result;

means for coding the document to display each search result with the combined URL, wherein issuing a request to the combined URL is directed to the server;

means for receiving a request to the combined URL;

means for adjusting upward each popularity weight associated with each search result URL in the combined URL and keyword pair matching the search keywords; and

means for redirecting the request to the search result URL.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising;

means for receiving a request to access at least one of the file address search results displayed in the document; and

means for adjusting the popularity weights upward for the at least one requested file address search result and keyword pair matching the search keywords.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for adjusting the popularity weights downward for those file address and keyword pairs matching the search keywords that were not requested.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results from the document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for generating multiple documents to include all the file address search results when the search results cannot all be included in a single document, wherein each document displays the file address search results according to the ordering.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results within one document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results within one document.

18. A system for ordering electronic files subject to searching, comprising:

means for associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

means for associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair;

means for executing a search query including search keywords;

means for receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query; and

means for ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword;

means for determining multiple popularity weights associated with at least one file address search result for those search results having multiple associated keywords that match the search keyword; and

means for averaging the determined multiple popularity weights to determine an averaged popularity weight for the file address search results having determined multiple popularity weights, wherein the search results are ordered according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result having only one associated keyword that matches the search keywords and the averaged popularity weight for each file address search result having only multiple associated keywords that matches the search keywords.

19. An article of manufacture for ordering electronic files subject to searching, the article of manufacture comprising computer useable media accessible to a computer, wherein the computer usable media includes at least one computer program that is capable of causing the computer to perform:

associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair, wherein the popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair indicates a frequency of selection of the file address in response to searches including the associated keyword, and wherein the popularity weights associated wit. multiple keywords associated with one file address are capable of being different;

executing a search query including search keywords;

receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query; and

ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising coding a document to include the file address search results, wherein the document will display the file address search results according to the ordering.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein a server having a server URL executes the search and generates the document, wherein the file address search results comprise search result URLs denoting the location of files distributed at servers over an Internet, wherein generating the document including the file address search results comprises:

combining the server URL with each search result URL into a combined URL for each search result;

coding the document to display each search result with the combined URL, wherein issuing a request to the combined URL is directed to the server;

receiving a request to the combined URL;

adjusting upward each popularity weight associated with each search result URL in the combined URL and keyword pair matching the search keywords; and

redirecting the request to the search result URL.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising;

receiving a request to access at least one of the file address search results displayed in the document; and

adjusting the popularity weights upward for the at least one requested file address search result and keyword pair matching the search keywords.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, further comprising adjusting the popularity weights downward for those file address and keyword pairs matching the search keywords that were not requested.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results from the document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising generating multiple documents to include all the file address search results when the search results cannot all be included in a single document, wherein each document displays the file address search results according to the ordering.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the adjustment to the popularity weight is determined by a number of previously requested file address search results within one document, wherein later requested file address search results have a relatively lower priority weight adjustment than earlier requested file address search results within one document.

27. An article of manufacture for ordering electronic files subject to searching, the article of manufacture comprising computer useable media accessible to a computer, wherein the computer usable media includes at least one computer program that is capable of causing the computer to perform:

associating at least one keyword with each file, wherein a physical location of each file is identified by a file address;

associating a popularity weight with at least one file address and key word pair, wherein a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair;

executing a search query including search keywords;

receiving file address search results that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query;

ordering the search results according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword;

determining multiple popularity weights associated with at least one file address search result for those search results having multiple associated keywords that match the search keyword; and

averaging the determined multiple popularity weights to determine an averaged popularity weight for the file address search results having determined multiple popularity weights, wherein the search results are ordered according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result having only one associated keyword that matches the search keywords and the averaged popularity weight for each file address search result having only multiple associated keywords that matches the search keywords.