Generating website profiles based on queries from webistes and user activities on the search results

• US 8,078,607 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Oztekin, Bilgehan Uygar, Haveliwala, Taher H., Jeh, Glen, Kamvar, Sepandar D., Klein, Adam J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil, Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKINGHAM, KELLYE DEE
• Application Number:
  US11/394,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

In a method of profiling a website, an information server receives multiple search queries from a website submitted by different users. Different search results responsive to the search queries are provided to the requesting users. The information server monitors activities of the users on the search results and generates a profile for the website using the search queries and the user activities. When the information server receives a same search query from two different websites, it identifies a plurality of information items associated with the search query. The information server uses profiles of the two websites to customize the information items into two different orders and serves the information items to the two websites in the two different orders.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing search results, comprising:

at a server associated with a search engine;

receiving from first and second websites distinct from the search engine, a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first website from a first client and by a second user visiting the second website from a second client;

identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

responsive to the search query received from the first website, providing to the first user visiting the first website from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order, and responsive to the search query received from the first website, providing to the second user visiting the second website from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order,

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first website profile associated with the first website and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second website profile associated with the second website,

wherein the first website profile is associated with a first website identifier of the first website and the search query received from the first website is associated with the first website identifier, and the second website profile is associated with a second website identifier of the second website that is distinct from the first website identifier, and the search query received from the second website is associated with the second website identifier,

wherein the first website profile is related to a search history of the first website, the search history of the first website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first website on the search results, and the second website profile is related to a search history of the second website, the search history of the second website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second website on the search results.

2. The method of claim 1, including generating the first and second website profiles for the first and second websites in accordance with their respective search histories.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

8. The method of claim 1, including

generating the first website profile for the first website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first website, wherein the generated first website profile is associated with the first website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first website in response to future search queries from the first website, and

generating the second website profile for the second website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second website, wherein the generated second website profile is associated with the second website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second website in response to future search queries from the second website.

4. A computer-implemented method of providing search results, comprising:

at a server associated with a search engine;

receiving from first and second webpages of a website distinct from the search engine, multiple ones of a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first webpage from a first client and by a second user visiting the second webpage from a second client;

identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

responsive to the search query received from the first webpage, providing to the first user visiting the first webpage from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order, and responsive to the search query received from the first webpage, providing to the second user visiting the second webpage from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order;

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first webpage profile associated with the first webpage and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second webpage profile associated with the second webpage;

wherein the first webpage profile is associated with a first webpage identifier of the first webpage and the search query received from the first webpage is associated with the first webpage identifier, and the second profile is associated with a second webpage identifier of the second webpage that is distinct from the first webpage identifier, and the search query received from the second webpage is associated with the second webpage identifier;

wherein the first webpage profile is related to a search history of the first webpage, the search history of the first webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first webpage on the search results, and the second webpage profile is related to a search history of the second webpage, the search history of the second webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second webpage on the search results.

5. The method of claim 4, including generating the first and second webpage profiles for the first and second webpages in accordance with their respective search histories.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

7. The method of claim 4, including

generating the first webpage profile for the first webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first webpage, wherein the generated first webpage profile is associated with the first webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first webpage in response to future search queries from the first webpage, and

generating the second webpage profile for the second webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second webpage, wherein the generated second webpage profile is associated with the second webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second webpage in response to future search queries from the second webpage.

9. A computer system associated with a search engine for providing search results, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs, stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including;

instructions for receiving from first and second websites distinct from the search engine, a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first website from a first client and by a second user visiting the second website from a second client;

instructions for identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

instructions for responding to the search query received from the first website by providing to the first user visiting the first website from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order and responding to the search query received from the second website by providing to the second user visiting the second website from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order;

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first website profile associated with the first website and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second website profile associated with the second website,

wherein the first website profile is associated with a first website identifier of the first website and the search query received from the first website is associated with the first website identifier, and the second website profile is associated with a second website identifier of the second website that is distinct from the first website identifier, and the search query received from the second website is associated with the second website identifier,

wherein the first website profile is related to a search history of the first website, the search history of the first website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first website on the search results, and the second website profile is related to a search history of the second website, the search history of the second website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second website on the search results.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for generating the first and second website profiles for the first and second websites in accordance with their respective search histories.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for generating the first website profile for the first website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first website, wherein the generated first website profile is associated with the first website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first website in response to future search queries from the first website, and

instructions for generating the second website profile for the second website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second website, wherein the generated second website profile is associated with the second website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second website in response to future search queries from the second website.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a computer system associated with a search engine, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by the computer system, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for receiving from first and second websites distinct from the search engine, a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first website from a first client and by a second user visiting the second website from a second client;

instructions for identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

instructions for responding to the search query received from the first website by providing to the first user visiting the first website from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order and responding to the search query received from the second website by providing to the second user visiting the second website from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order;

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first website profile associated with the first website and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second website profile associated with the second website,

wherein the first website profile is associated with a first website identifier of the first website and the search query received from the first website is associated with the first website identifier, and the second website profile is associated with a second website identifier of the second website that is distinct from the first website identifier, and the search query received from the second website is associated with the second website identifier,

wherein the first website profile is related to a search history of the first website, the search history of the first website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first website on the search results, and the second website profile is related to a search history of the second website, the search history of the second website including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second website from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second website on the search results.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further including instructions for generating the first and second website profiles for the first and second websites in accordance with their respective search histories.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for generating the first website profile for the first website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first website, wherein the generated first website profile is associated with the first website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first website in response to future search queries from the first website, and

instructions for generating the second website profile for the second website using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second website, wherein the generated second website profile is associated with the second website identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second website in response to future search queries from the second website.

17. A computer system associated with a search engine for providing search results, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more programs, stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including;

instructions for receiving from first and second webpages of a website distinct from the search engine, multiple ones of a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first webpage from a first client and by a second user visiting the second webpage from a second client;

instructions for identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

instructions for responding to the search query received from the first webpage by providing to the first user visiting the first webpage from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order and responding to the search query received from the second webpage by to the second user visiting the second webpage from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order;

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first webpage profile associated with the first webpage and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second webpage profile associated with the second webpage;

wherein the first webpage profile is associated with a first webpage identifier of the first webpage and the search query received from the first webpage is associated with the first webpage identifier, and the second profile is associated with a second webpage identifier of the second webpage that is distinct from the first webpage identifier, and the search query received from the second webpage is associated with the second webpage identifier;

wherein the first webpage profile is related to a search history of search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first webpage from respective clients and the second webpage profile is related to a search history of search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second webpage from respective clients

wherein the first webpage profile is related to a search history of the first webpage, the search history of the first webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first webpage on the search results, and the second webpage profile is related to a search history of the second webpage, the search history of the second webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second webpage on the search results.

18. The computer system of claim 17, further generating the first and second webpage profiles for the first and second webpages in accordance with their respective search histories.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for generating the first webpage profile for the first webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first webpage, wherein the generated first webpage profile is associated with the first webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first webpage in response to future search queries from the first webpage, and

instructions for generating the second webpage profile for the second webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second webpage, wherein the generated second webpage profile is associated with the second webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second webpage in response to future search queries from the second webpage.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a computer system associated with a search engine, the computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by the computer system, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions for receiving from first and second webpages of a website distinct from the search engine, multiple ones of a same search query, wherein the search query is submitted by a first user visiting the first webpage from a first client and by a second user visiting the second webpage from a second client;

instructions for identifying a plurality of information items associated with the search query; and

instructions for responding to the search query received from the first webpage by providing to the first user visiting the first webpage from the first client a first subset of the information items in a first order and responding to the search query received from the second webpage by to the second user visiting the second webpage from the second client a second subset of the information items in a second order distinct from the first order;

wherein the first order is determined, at least in part, by a first webpage profile associated with the first webpage and the second order is determined, at least in part, by a second webpage profile associated with the second webpage;

wherein the first webpage profile is associated with a first webpage identifier of the first webpage and the search query received from the first webpage is associated with the first webpage identifier, and the second profile is associated with a second webpage identifier of the second webpage that is distinct from the first webpage identifier, and the search query received from the second webpage is associated with the second webpage identifier;

wherein the first webpage profile is related to a search history of the first webpage, the search history of the first webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the first webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the first webpage on the search results, and the second webpage profile is related to a search history of the second webpage, the search history of the second webpage including search queries submitted by multiple users visiting the second webpage from respective clients, search results responsive to the search queries, and user activities by the multiple users visiting the second webpage on the search results.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further generating the first and second webpage profiles for the first and second webpages in accordance with their respective search histories.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the information items include at least one advertisement.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for generating the first webpage profile for the first webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the first webpage, wherein the generated first webpage profile is associated with the first webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the first webpage in response to future search queries from the first webpage, and

instructions for generating the second webpage profile for the second webpage using user activities on search results responsive to the search queries submitted by the multiple users visiting the second webpage, wherein the generated second webpage profile is associated with the second webpage identifier and is used by the search engine to rank search results provided to respective users of the second webpage in response to future search queries from the second webpage.