Systems and methods for improved searching

• US 8,521,725 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Mark, Tong, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/726,345
• Time in Patent Office: 3,555 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 7, 707/722
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for improved searching are described. In one of the described methods, a user enters a search query, and in response, a search engine receives a substantially complete initial search result set having a plurality of ranked article identifiers. The search engine automatically selects at least one of the article identifiers and provides a final result set in which the selected article identifier is ranked higher than in the initial search result set.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

obtaining, in a server device, a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query comprising the first search query and a synonym of a term in the first search query;

obtaining a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within the threshold number of the highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original position; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the original position of the particular first search result is in a lower tier of the first search results and the second position is in a higher tier of the first search results.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second search query is related temporally to the first search query.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on information received after providing the plurality of first search results, whether the particular first search result has a higher relevance to the first search query than the relevance indicated by the original position.

4. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

obtaining, in a server device, a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query by adding a term to the first search query, the second search query being different from the first search query;

obtaining, in the server device, a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within the threshold number of the highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original position; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second search query includes a synonym of a term in the first search query.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the second search query includes all of the first search query and the term.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second search query is related temporally to the first search query.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the temporal relationship is determined by analyzing log files.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, based on information received after providing the plurality of first search results, whether the particular first search result has a higher relevance to the first search query than the relevance indicated by the original position.

9. A computer program product, encoded on one or more non-transitory computer storage media, comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

obtaining, in a server device, a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query comprising the first search query and a synonym of a term in the first search query;

obtaining a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within the threshold number of the highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original position; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining, based on information received after providing the plurality of first search results, whether the particular first search result has a higher relevance to the first search query than the relevance indicated by the original position.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the original position of the particular first search result is in a lower tier of the first search results and the second position is in a higher tier of the first search results.

10. A computer program product, encoded on one or more non-transitory computer storage media, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more data processing apparatus cause the one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query by adding a term to the first search query, the second search query being different from the first search query;

obtaining a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within the threshold number of the highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original position; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

determining, based on information received after providing the plurality of first search results, whether the particular first search result has a higher relevance to the first search query than the relevance indicated by the original position.

16. A system comprising:

one or more data processing apparatus; and

a computer-readable storage device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more data processing apparatus, cause the one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

obtaining a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query comprising the first search query and a synonym of a term in the first search query;

obtaining a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within the threshold number of the highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original position; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the original position of the particular first search result is in a lower tier of the first search results and the second position is in a higher tier of the first search results.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second search query is related temporally to the first search query.

19. A system comprising:

one or more data processing apparatus; and

a computer-readable storage device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more data processing apparatus, cause the one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

obtaining a plurality of first search results responsive to a first search query, the plurality of first search results being ranked in an order;

generating a second search query by adding a term to the first search query, the second search query being different from the first search query;

obtaining a plurality of second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that a particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query;

determining that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query;

in response to determining that the particular first search result responsive to the first search query appears within a threshold number of highest-ranked second search results responsive to the second search query and that the particular first search result in the first search results responsive to the first search query is not within a threshold number of highest-ranked first search results of the first search results responsive to the first search query, modifying the order of the plurality of first search results by moving the particular first search result within the plurality of first search results from an original position in the order to a second, different position in the order, wherein the second position is higher than the original; and

providing the modified plurality of first search results in response to the first search query.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second search query includes a synonym of a term in the first search query.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the second search query includes all of the first search query and the term.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the second search query is related temporally to the first search query.