System and method for providing search results with configurable scoring formula
First Claim
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.
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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.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for generating search results, the method executed by a computer having at least one processor, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system configured to generate search results, the computer system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer storage medium including computer executable instructions for generating search results, the computer storage medium comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification