Identifying items relevant to a current query based on items accessed in connection with similar queries
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for ranking search results, comprising:
- under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,obtaining an initial set of search results and a query used to generate the initial set of search results, each search result corresponding to an instance of content, the query including at least one term;
for each term in the query, determining a frequency with which users previously performed a selection action with respect to an instance of content in response to prior search results presented for a prior query that included the term;
combining the determined frequency for each term of the query, with respect to each of a plurality of instances of content having frequency information for at least one term of the query, to generate a ranking value for each of at least a portion of the instances of content;
generating an updated set of search results including at least a portion of the initial set of search results with a ranking based at least in part upon the determined ranking values; and
providing the updated set of search results to a source of the query,wherein the updated set of search results is capable of including additional search results, corresponding to one or more instances of content not included in the initial set of search results, based at least in part upon a determined ranking value for each of the additional instances of content.
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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 items 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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for ranking search results, comprising:
under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, obtaining an initial set of search results and a query used to generate the initial set of search results, each search result corresponding to an instance of content, the query including at least one term; for each term in the query, determining a frequency with which users previously performed a selection action with respect to an instance of content in response to prior search results presented for a prior query that included the term; combining the determined frequency for each term of the query, with respect to each of a plurality of instances of content having frequency information for at least one term of the query, to generate a ranking value for each of at least a portion of the instances of content; generating an updated set of search results including at least a portion of the initial set of search results with a ranking based at least in part upon the determined ranking values; and providing the updated set of search results to a source of the query, wherein the updated set of search results is capable of including additional search results, corresponding to one or more instances of content not included in the initial set of search results, based at least in part upon a determined ranking value for each of the additional instances of content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for ranking search results, comprising:
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a processor; and memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; obtain an initial set of search results and a query used to generate the initial set of search results, each search result corresponding to an instance of content, the query including at least one term; for each term in the query, determine a frequency with which users previously performed a selection action with respect to an instance of content in response to prior search results presented for a prior query that included the term; utilize the determined frequency for each term of the query, with respect to each of a plurality of instances of content having frequency information for at least one term of the query, to generate a ranking value for each of at least a portion of the instances of content; generate an updated set of search results including at least a portion of the initial set of search results with a ranking based at least in part upon the determined ranking values; and provide the updated set of search results to a source of the query, wherein the updated set of search results is capable of including additional search results, corresponding to one or more instances of content not included in the initial set of search results, based at least in part upon a determined ranking value for each of the additional instances of content. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions for ranking search results, the instructions when executed causing a processor to perform steps comprising:
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obtaining an initial set of search results and a query used to generate the initial set of search results, each search result corresponding to an instance of content, the query including at least one term; for each term in the query, determining a frequency with which users previously performed a selection action with respect to an instance of content in response to prior search results presented for a prior query that included the term; utilizing the determined frequency for each term of the query, with respect to each of a plurality of instances of content having frequency information for at least one term of the query, to generate a ranking value for each of at least a portion of the instances of content; generating an updated set of search results including at least a portion of the initial set of search results with a ranking based at least in part upon the determined ranking values; and providing the updated set of search results to a source of the query, wherein the updated set of search results is capable of including additional search results, corresponding to one or more instances of content not included in the initial set of search results, based at least in part upon a determined ranking value for each of the additional instances of content. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification