Identifying items relevant to a current query based on items accessed in connection with similar queries

• US 7,050,992 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Ortega, Ruben E., Spiegel, Joel R., Linden, Greg, Bowman, Dwayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zurita, Jaime E.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,802
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3326 using relevance feedback from the user, e.g. relevance feedback on documents, documents sets, document terms or passages
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

The present invention provides a software facility for identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the facility receives a query specifying one or more query terms. In response, the facility generates a query result identifying a plurality of items that satisfy the query. The facility then produces a ranking value for at least a portion of the item identified in the query result by combining the relative frequencies with which users selected that item from the query results generated from queries specifying each of the terms specified by the query. The facility identifies as most relevant those items having the highest ranking values.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for ordering auctions, the method comprising:

maintaining by a computer system a mapping of selection specifications to auctions, the mapping indicating that users who submitted a selection specification placed a bid at an auction that was identified as satisfying the submitted selection specification;

receiving by a computer system from a user a selection specification that includes a category and a term;

identifying by a computer system auctions that satisfy the received selection specification;

ordering by a computer system the identified auctions based on whether other users who submitted selection specifications similar to the received selection specification previously placed a bid at an identified auction as indicated by the mapping; and

providing by a computer system the ordered auction for display to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 including when a user places a bid at an auction that is identified as satisfying the selection specification, updating a score for the selection specification and auction at which the bid was placed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories are arranged hierarchically.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the categories are arranged nonhierarchially.

5. the method of claim 1 wherein the ordering is based on scoring an auction in a way that weights more recently placed bids more heavily than less recently placed bids.

6. A method for ranking auctions comprising:

establishing by a computer system a relevance of auctions to selection specifications based on whether users who submitted a selection specification performed a selection action for an auction that was identified as satisfying the submitted selection specification;

receiving by a computer system from a user a selection specification that includes a category and a term;

identifying by a computer system auctions that satisfy the received selection specification;

generating by a computer system a ranking for some of the identified auctions based on the established relevance of the identified auctions to a submitted selection specification that is similar to the received selection specification; and

providing by a computer system the ranked auctions for display to the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the selection specification includes multiple terms.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the submitted selection specification is the same as the received selection specification.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the selection action includes selecting an auction.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the generated ranking is additionally based on time spent by other users viewing information displayed as a result of the selection action.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the auction is for an item and the selection action includes purchasing an item that is similar to the item of the auction.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the auction is for an item and the selection action includes adding to a shopping basket an item that is similar to the item.

13. The method of claim 6 including when a user places a bid at an auction that is identified as satisfying the selection specification updating a score for the selection specification and auction at which the bid was placed.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the categories are arranged hierarchically.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the categories are arranged nonhierarchially.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein the ranking is based on scoring an auction in a way that weights more recently placed bids more heavily than less recently placed bids.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to order auctions, by:

maintaining a mapping of queries to items, the mapping indicating that users who submitted a query placed a bid at an auction for an item that was identified as satisfying the submitted query;

receiving from a user a query that includes a category;

identifying auctions that satisfy that query;

ordering at least some of the identified auctions based on bids placed by other users at an auction for an item that was previously identified for the other users based on a submitted query that is similar to the received query as indicated by the mapping; and

providing the ordered auctions for display to the user.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 including when a user places a bid at an auction that is identified as satisfying the selection specification, updating a score for the selection specification and auction at which the bid was placed.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the ordering is based on scoring an auction in a way that weights more recently placed bids more heavily than less recently placed bids.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the query includes a term.

21. A method for identifying auctions to be associated with a selection specification comprising:

providing by a computer system mappings of a selection specification to an item that is being auctioned, a selection specification including a category, each mapping indicating that one or more users placed a bid at an auction for the item after the auction was identified to the user based on a selection specification submitted by the user that is similar to the selection specification of the mapping;

receiving by a computer system a selection specification from a user;

selecting by a computer system items to be associated with the received selection specification based on the provided mapping;

identifying by a computer system auctions for items similar to the selected items; and

providing by a computer system the identified auctions for display to the user.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the selection specification includes a term.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the selection specification includes multiple terms.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein a submitted selection specification is the same as the received selection specification.

25. A system for ranking auctions that satisfy a query that specifies a category comprising:

a component that establishes a relevance of auctions to queries based on whether users who submitted a query placed a bid at an auction that was identified as satisfying the submitted query;

an identification component that identifies auctions that satisfy a query received from a user;

a ranking component that generates a ranking for some of the identified auctions based on a bid placed by another user at an auction that was previously identified as satisfying a similar query as indicated by the established relevance; and

a component that provides the ranked auctions for display.

26. The system of claim 25 including a mapping that maps queries to auctions previously identified as a result of that query and, after the auction was identified to a user, the user placed a bid at the auction.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the generating is based on bids of multiple users.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the query includes multiple terms.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the ranking is based on scoring an auction in a way that weights more recently placed bids more heavily than less recently placed bids.

30. A method in a computer system for providing ordered auctions comprising:

receiving by a computer system selection specification from a user that includes an auction category;

receiving by a computer system an indication of the auctions that satisfy the selection specification wherein the auctions are ordered based on a bid placed by another user at an auction that was previously identified as satisfying a similar selection specification based on a mapping of selection specifications to auctions, the mapping indicating that users who submitted a selection specification placed a bid at an auction that was identified as satisfying the submitted selection specification; and

displaying the received indication of the auctions.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the selection specification includes a term.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the ordering is based on bids of multiple users.