Methods and systems for endorsing local search results
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server that processes digital data, first endorsement information characterizing a first member'"'"'s rating of a first local product or service provider, wherein the first member is in a member network and is provided with a financial incentive to endorse the first local product or service provider;
receiving, from a second member in the member network, a local search query comprising information identifying one or more items to be found and a geographic locale to be searched, wherein the local search query is received at the server over a data communication network;
identifying, using a member network engine available to the server, that there is an association between the first member and the second member, wherein the association comprises an explicit relationship between the first member and the second member or a common membership of the first member and the second member in a community of the member network, wherein the first member is explicitly related to at least one other member in the member network;
ranking items responsive to the local search query based on a type of the association between the second member and the first member in the member network; and
responding, over the data communication network, to the local search query with information describing a result set responsive to the local search query, the response set including the ranked items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for improving user search experience with a search engine by providing a way for associated users to create and share personalized lists of local search results and/or advertisements through endorsements of such local search results and/or ads. Local search endorsements can be used to personalize the search engine'"'"'s ranking of local search results by offering a way for users to re-rank the results for themselves and for those who trust them.
103 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a server that processes digital data, first endorsement information characterizing a first member'"'"'s rating of a first local product or service provider, wherein the first member is in a member network and is provided with a financial incentive to endorse the first local product or service provider; receiving, from a second member in the member network, a local search query comprising information identifying one or more items to be found and a geographic locale to be searched, wherein the local search query is received at the server over a data communication network; identifying, using a member network engine available to the server, that there is an association between the first member and the second member, wherein the association comprises an explicit relationship between the first member and the second member or a common membership of the first member and the second member in a community of the member network, wherein the first member is explicitly related to at least one other member in the member network; ranking items responsive to the local search query based on a type of the association between the second member and the first member in the member network; and responding, over the data communication network, to the local search query with information describing a result set responsive to the local search query, the response set including the ranked items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27, 28, 29, 34, 36, 37, 41)
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13. An article comprising one or more computer readable media on which is encoded program code operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations, the operations comprising:
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receiving information characterizing explicit relationships between a first member, a second member, and a third member in a member network; receiving a first search query submitted by the first member; responding to the first search query with a) first links to a collection of articles in a result set responsive to the first search query, and b) one or more second links for receiving input characterizing the first member'"'"'s ratings of local product or service providers identified in the result set responsive to the first search query; receiving the first member'"'"'s selection of a second link for receiving input characterizing the first member'"'"'s rating of a first of the local product or service providers identified in the result set; storing first endorsement information characterizing the first member'"'"'s rating at a data storage device; receiving a third search query submitted by the third member; responding to the third search query with a) third links to a collection of articles in a result set responsive to the third search query, and b) one or more second links for receiving input characterizing the third member'"'"'s ratings of local product or service providers identified in the result set responsive to the third search query; receiving the third member'"'"'s selection of a second link for receiving input characterizing the third member'"'"'s rating of a second of the local product or service providers identified in the result set; storing second endorsement information characterizing the third member'"'"'s rating at a data storage device; receiving, from a second member in the member network, a local search query comprising information identifying one or more items to be found and a geographic locale to be searched; determining a result set responsive to the local search query; identifying that there is an association between the first member and the second member, wherein the association comprises an explicit relationship between the first member and the second member or a common membership of the first member and the second member in a community of the member network, wherein the first member is explicitly related to at least one other member in the member network; ranking items responsive to the local search query based on a type of the association between the second member and the first member in the member network and on a type of the association between the second member and the third member in the member network; and responding to the local search query with information describing a result set responsive to the local search query, the response set including the ranked items, the identity of the first member, the availability of the first endorsement information, the identity of the third member, and the availability of the second endorsement information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 35, 38, 39, 42)
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26. A method comprising:
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receiving information characterizing explicit relationships between a first member, a second member, and a third member in a member network; receiving a first search query submitted by the first member; responding to the first search query with a) first links to a collection of articles in a result set responsive to the first search query, and b) one or more second links for receiving input characterizing the first member'"'"'s ratings of local product or service providers identified in the result set responsive to the first search query; receiving the first member'"'"'s selection of a second link for receiving input characterizing the first member'"'"'s rating of a first of the local product or service providers identified in the result set; storing the information characterizing the first member'"'"'s rating at a data storage device; receiving a third search query submitted by the third member; responding to the third search query with a) third links to a collection of articles in a result set responsive to the third search query, and b) one or more second links for receiving input characterizing the third member'"'"'s ratings of local product or service providers identified in the result set responsive to the third search query; receiving the third member'"'"'s selection of a second link for receiving input characterizing the third member'"'"'s rating of a second of the local product or service providers identified in the result set; storing the information characterizing the third member'"'"'s rating at a data storage device; receiving a local search query submitted by the second member, wherein the second local search query comprises information identifying one or more items to be found and a geographic locale to be searched; determining a result set responsive to the local search query; ranking items in the result set based on a degree of the relationship between the first member and the second member and on a degree of the relationship between the third member and the second member; and based on the relationship between the first member and the second member and on the relationship between the third member and the second member, providing the second member with information describing the second result set, the identity of the first member, the availability of the information characterizing the first member'"'"'s rating, the identity of the third member, and the availability of the information characterizing the third member'"'"'s rating. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 40)
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Specification