System and method for providing search results with configurable scoring formula

• US 7,505,961 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Finger, James Charles II
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Yicun
• Application Number:
  US11/368,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 707 2- 4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A system and method for scoring documents in a search, wherein the scoring algorithm may be reconfigured dynamically. When a query is submitted, a score data structure is created for each document to be scored, which contains fields of information about how a given document compares to a query. A ranker object embodies a formula that derives a scalar score from the information contained in a score data structure. Scoring software is configured to apply the formula embodied in a ranker object to the values in the score data structure. Thus, the scoring formula can be dynamically changed without recompiling the scoring software by providing a new ranker object. Preferably, ranker objects are organized into rank sets, where each rank set contains a different ranker object for each class of document to be scored.

Claims

1. A method for generating search results, the method executed by a computer having at least one processor, the method comprising:

receiving a query;

comparing the query to either;

(a) a plurality of documents, or (b) information representative of said plurality of documents;

creating, for at least a first document of the plurality, a score data structure which comprises a plurality of fields of information containing numerical values regarding a plurality of aspects of how the first document compares to the query;

selecting, based on a function, a first rank set from a plurality of rank sets, wherein each of the rank sets comprises a plurality of formulas, each formula including at least one different weighted value and each formula operable to compute a scalar score based on score data structures;

selecting, for at least the first document of the plurality, a specific formula from the first rank set, the specific formula selected in accordance with a document type associated with the first document;

computing a scalar score for at least said first document by applying the specific formula selected from the plurality of formulas in said first rank set to said score data structure; and

generating a ranking for at least the first document based at least in part on the computed scalar score.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said function randomly selects one of said plurality of rank sets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rank sets includes at least said first rank set and a second rank set, said first rank set representing a primary scoring strategy and said second rank set representing a scoring strategy that is being tested, and wherein said function selects a proportion of searches to be computed using said second rank set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a weighted total of said plurality of fields.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a mathematical function of said plurality of fields.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a ranking further comprises:

generating a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page comprising an identification of at least said first document.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting said Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page to a computer associated with said user.

8. A computer system configured to generate search results, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

a computer storage medium operatively coupled to the processor, the computer storage medium including;

instructions for receiving a query;

instructions for comparing the query to either;

(a) a plurality of documents, or (b) information representative of said plurality of documents;

instructions for creating, for at least a first document of the plurality, a score data structure which comprises a plurality of fields of information containing numerical values regarding a plurality of aspects of how the first document compares to the query;

instructions for selecting, based on a function, a first rank set from a plurality of rank sets, wherein each of the rank sets comprises a plurality of formulas, each formula including at least one different weighted value and each formula operable to compute a scalar score based on score data structures;

instructions for selecting, for at least the first document of the plurality, a specific formula from the first rank set, the specific formula selected in accordance with a document type associated with the first document;

instructions for computing a scalar score for at least said first document by applying the specific formula selected from the plurality of formulas in said first rank set to said score data structure; and

instructions for generating a ranking for at least the first document based at least in part on the computed scalar score.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the instructions for selecting a rank set include instructions for randomly selecting a rank set from the plurality of rank sets.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of rank sets includes at least said first rank set and a second rank set, said first rank set representing a primary scoring strategy and said second rank set representing a scoring strategy that is being tested, and wherein said function selects a proportion of searches to be computed using said second rank set.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a weighted total of said plurality of fields.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a mathematical function of said plurality of fields.

13. A computer storage medium including computer executable instructions for generating search results, the computer storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving a query;

instructions for comparing the query to either;

(a) a plurality of documents, or (b) information representative of said plurality of documents;

instructions for creating, for at least a first document of the plurality, a score data structure which comprises a plurality of fields of information containing numerical values regarding a plurality of aspects of how the first document compares to the query;

instructions for selecting, based on a function, a first rank set from a plurality of rank sets, wherein each of the rank sets comprises a plurality of formulas, each formula including at least one different weighted value and each formula operable to compute a scalar score based on score data structures;

instructions for selecting, for at least the first document of the plurality, a specific formula from the first rank set, the specific formula selected in accordance with a document type associated with the first document;

instructions for computing a scalar score for at least said first document by applying the specific formula selected from the plurality of formulas in said first rank set to said score data structure; and

instructions for generating a ranking for at least the first document based at least in part on the computed scalar score.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for selecting a rank set include instructions for randomly selecting a rank set from the plurality of rank sets.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein said plurality of rank sets includes at least said first rank set and a second rank set, said first rank set representing a primary scoring strategy and said second rank set representing a scoring strategy that is being tested, and wherein said function selects a proportion of searches to be computed using said second rank set.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a weighted total of said plurality of fields.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a mathematical function of said plurality of fields.