Search engine that applies feedback from users to improve search results
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of ranking document returned in a results list in response to a search query, comprisingentering a search query;
- displaying a results list of documents returned in response to the search query;
receiving and storing input from the user indicating the relevance to the user of a document in the results list of documents;
modifying the weight of previous input from the user indicating the relevance of the document to the user;
associating the user input indicating the relevance to the user of the document in the results list with the search query and with the document;
determining a relevance formula having variables and parameters, the relevance formula for computing a relevance score for the document and the search query, wherein the variables comprise a plurality of features, a feature of the plurality of features comprises one of;
a frequency of occurrence of a term in the document, a frequency of hyperlinks containing a term in the document, and a frequency of occurrence of a term in an abstract of the document, and the parameters comprise a plurality of weighting factors corresponding to each of the features;
ranking the document based on the relevance score, wherein the relevance score is dependent on the user input associated with the document and the search query; and
presenting the ranked results list of documents to the user.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods of and systems for ranking results returned by a search engine. A method in accordance with the invention comprises determining a formula having variables and parameters, wherein the formula is for computing a relevance score for a document and a search query, and ranking the document based on the relevance score. Preferably, determining the formula comprises tuning the parameters based on user input. Preferably, the parameters are determined using a machine learning technique, such as one that includes a form of statistical classification.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of ranking document returned in a results list in response to a search query, comprising
entering a search query; -
displaying a results list of documents returned in response to the search query; receiving and storing input from the user indicating the relevance to the user of a document in the results list of documents; modifying the weight of previous input from the user indicating the relevance of the document to the user; associating the user input indicating the relevance to the user of the document in the results list with the search query and with the document; determining a relevance formula having variables and parameters, the relevance formula for computing a relevance score for the document and the search query, wherein the variables comprise a plurality of features, a feature of the plurality of features comprises one of;
a frequency of occurrence of a term in the document, a frequency of hyperlinks containing a term in the document, and a frequency of occurrence of a term in an abstract of the document, and the parameters comprise a plurality of weighting factors corresponding to each of the features;ranking the document based on the relevance score, wherein the relevance score is dependent on the user input associated with the document and the search query; and presenting the ranked results list of documents to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for ranking documents returned in a results list of documents returned in response to a search query, the system comprising a computing system, including:
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an input system configured to receive a search query; a display system configured to display the results list of documents returned in response to the search query; the input system is further configured to receive input from the user indicating the relevance to the user of a document in the results list of documents; a storage medium configured to store the input from the user indicating the relevance to the user of the document; a processor coupled to a memory programmed with processor executable instructions to; reduce the weight of previous input from the user indicating the relevance of the document to the user; associate the user input indicating the relevance to the user of the document with the search query and with the document; determine a relevance formula having variables and parameters, the relevance formula for computing a relevance score for the document and the search query, wherein the variables comprise a plurality of features, the parameters comprise a plurality of weighting factors corresponding to each of the features, and a feature of the plurality of features comprises one of a frequency of occurrence of a term in one of the document, a link text of the document, an abstract of the document, a summary of the document, and an anchor text in the document; and rank the document based on the relevance score, wherein the relevance score is dependent of the user input associated with the document and the search query; wherein the display system is further configured to the present the ranked results list of documents to the user.
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Specification