Real-time search tuning

• US 9,760,608 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cavanagh, Gary Liam, Castro, Pablo Martin, Shvets, Eugene, Kothari, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Binh V
• Application Number:
  US14/070,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 707723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to dynamically tuning search result rankings to control how the search results are presented in a user interface and to dynamically updating search result rankings based on tuning inputs. In one scenario, a computer system receives search results with associated search result attributes. The search results are displayed within a user interface according to each search result'"'"'s determined ranking. The computer system then receives a tuning input at the user interface. The tuning input indicates that a search result ranking model is to be adjusted for various specified search result attributes. Moreover, the search result ranking model determines how each search result is ranked. The computer system then dynamically updates the displayed search results as the search result ranking model is tuned for the specified search result attributes. The dynamic updating includes repositioning, adding and removing search results according to the determined ranking for each search result.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following;

requesting a search for a first user;

receiving one or more search results for the search, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, the search results being displayed within a user interface to the first user according to each search result'"'"'s determined ranking, each search result having an associated search result attribute;

receiving a tuning input at the user interface from the first to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the search result ranking model divides the specified search result attributes into weights and scoring functions, and further divides the scoring functions into one or more of freshness, or magnitude, wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the displayed search results as the search result ranking model is tuned for the specified search result attributes, the dynamic updating including at least one of repositioning, adding or removing search results according to the determined ranking for each search result; and

causing the tuning profile to be stored and applied to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.

2. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following:

receiving at least one search attribute at the user interface; and

sending the received search attribute to a second computer system that is configured to process the search, wherein the search results are received from the second computer system.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the tuning input modifies the search result ranking model such that weight is added to or removed from search results according to the tuning input.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the search results are based on a specified search attribute, and wherein the search result ranking is associated with the specified search attribute.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the tuning input is applied to a value associated with the search attribute.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides at least one of a dial or slider bar for tuning the specified search result attributes within the search result ranking model.

7. The computer system of claim 1, the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following:

determining that a search attribute has been received for which the tuning profile has been stored; and

accessing the stored tuning profile to apply the stored search result ranking model settings to the received search attribute.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein tuning profile is applied to searches received from a specified user or from a specified group of users.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the tuning profile applies to a plurality of different search attributes.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the subsequent searches by one or more other users are provided by at least one of a user, a computer system or a software application.

11. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following;

receiving a request for a search from a first user;

providing one or more search results for the search to the first user, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, the search results being ranked according to a search results ranking model, each search result having an associated search result attributes;

receiving a tuning input from the first user to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the tuning input comprising input selecting one or more columns to prioritize over other columns, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the provided search results according to the updated ranking based on the tuning input, such that the user interface displaying the search results is dynamically updated to reflect the changed search results rankings;

storing the tuning profile; and

applying the tuning profile to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.

12. The computer system of claim 11, the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following:

receiving a search attribute for which the search results are to be provided;

determining that one or more stored tuning profiles is associated with the received search attribute; and

applying the tuning profiles associated with the received search attribute to the search results resulting from the received search attribute.

13. The computer system of claim 11 the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to map the tuning input to one or more search algorithms, such that the search is performed using the tuning input.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein dynamically updating the provided search results according to the updated ranking comprises at least one of repositioning, adding or removing search results from the user interface according to the determined ranking for each search result.

15. The computer system of claim 11, the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to provide one or more suggested changes to a search user based on context information associated with the user.

16. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the tuning input defines interpolations for one or more search result attributes, the interpolations indicating the rate at which search result ranking change based on the tuning input.

17. The computer system of claim 11, wherein one or more associated search result attributes are automatically updated upon changing another related search result attribute.

18. At a computer system including at least one processor and a memory, a computer-implemented method for dynamically tuning search result rankings to control how the search results are presented in a user interface, the method comprising:

requesting a search for a first user;

receiving one or more search results for the search, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, the search results being displayed within a user interface to the first user according to each search result'"'"'s determined ranking, each search result having an associated search result attribute;

receiving a tuning input at the user interface from the first user to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the tuning input comprising input selecting one or more columns to prioritize over other columns, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the displayed search results as the search result ranking model is tuned for the specified search result attributes, the dynamic updating including at least one of repositioning, adding or removing search results according to the determined ranking for each search result; and

causing the tuning profile to be stored and applied to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.

19. A method for dynamically tuning search result rankings to control how the search results are presented in a user interface, the method comprising:

requesting a search for a first user;

receiving one or more search results for the search, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, the search results being displayed within a user interface to the first user according to each search result'"'"'s determined ranking, each search result having an associated search result attribute;

receiving a tuning input at the user interface from the first user to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the search result ranking model divides the specified search result attributes into weights and scoring functions, and further divides the scoring functions into one or more of freshness, or magnitude, wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the displayed search results as the search result ranking model is tuned for the specified search result attributes, the dynamic updating including at least one of repositioning, adding or removing search results according to the determined ranking for each search result; and

causing the tuning profile to be stored and applied to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.

20. A computer program product for implementing a method for dynamically updating search result rankings based on tuning inputs, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a search from a first user;

providing one or more search results for the search to the first user, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, the search results being ranked according to a search results ranking model, each search result having an associated search result attribute;

receiving a tuning input from the first user to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the search result ranking model divides the specified search result attributes into weights and scoring functions, and further divides the scoring functions into one or more of freshness, or magnitude, wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the provided search results according to the updated ranking based on the tuning input, such that the user interface displaying the search results is dynamically updated to reflect the changed search results rankings;

storing the tuning profile; and

applying the tuning profile to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.

21. A computer system comprising the following:

one or more processors;

system memory;

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform the following;

receiving a request for a search from a first user;

providing one or more search results for the search to the first user, the search results having been generated and ranked using a search ranking model, each search result having an associated search result attribute;

receiving a tuning input from the first user to create a tuning profile that adjusts the search ranking model, the tuning input indicating that the search result ranking model is to be adjusted for one or more specified search result attributes, the search result ranking model determining how each search result is ranked, wherein the search result ranking model divides the specified search result attributes into weights and scoring functions, and further divides the scoring functions into one or more of freshness, or magnitude, and wherein the tuning profile corresponds to a specified search attribute;

dynamically updating the provided search results according to the updated ranking based on the tuning input, such that the user interface displaying the search results is dynamically updated to reflect the changed search results rankings;

storing the tuning profile; and

applying the tuning profile to subsequent searches by one or more other users, including users other than the first user, to generate subsequent search results each having a subsequent search result attribute, such that the tuning profile ranks each search result according to the tuned search result ranking model and the specified search result attributes.