Method for organizing records of database search activity by topical relevance
First Claim
1. A method of improving search of a database, the method comprising:
- monitoring user search activity in a user population;
extracting search sessions, defined by search queries and paths, from user search activity;
determining groups of semantically related queries or paths based on search session data;
determining probabilities that records in the database are relevant for each query or path group;
maintaining a table associating an index for each record in the database with the probability that the record is relevant for each query or path group; and
, supplementing search results with information regarding records from the database with tabulated relevance probabilities.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for organizing records of a database by topical relevance generates statistics on relevance by monitoring search terms used and search paths traversed by a database user community. Records reviewed most often in relation to a given search term are assumed to be most relevant to that search term in the eyes of members of the user community. Additionally, a record reviewed in relation to a plurality of search terms is determined to be related by topical relevance to other records reviewed in relation to that plurality of search terms. Again, a probability is calculated, based on a frequency of record review and search terms used, as a measure of this record topical relevance. An embodiment directed toward Internet searches provides for seeding the probability calculations with information from labeled data available from open source Internet directories. The activities of the user community are monitored, for example, at a proxy server, or by reviewing proxy server logs. Other monitoring points are contemplated.
530 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of improving search of a database, the method comprising:
-
monitoring user search activity in a user population;
extracting search sessions, defined by search queries and paths, from user search activity;
determining groups of semantically related queries or paths based on search session data;
determining probabilities that records in the database are relevant for each query or path group;
maintaining a table associating an index for each record in the database with the probability that the record is relevant for each query or path group; and
,supplementing search results with information regarding records from the database with tabulated relevance probabilities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of improving search of a database, the method comprising:
-
monitoring user search activity in a user population;
extracting search sessions, defined by search queries and paths, from user search activity;
determining groups of semantically related paths based on search session data;
determining probabilities that records in the database are relevant for each path group;
maintaining a table associating an index for each record in the database with the probability that the record is relevant for each path group; and
,supplementing search results with information regarding records from the database with tabulated relevance probabilities.
-
-
22. A method of improving search of a database, the method comprising:
-
monitoring user search activity in a user population;
extracting search sessions, defined by search queries and paths, from user search activity;
determining groups of semantically related queries based on search session data;
determining probabilities that records in the database are relevant for each query group;
maintaining a table associating an index for each record in the database with the probability that the record is relevant for each query group; and
,supplementing search results with information regarding records from the database with tabulated relevance probabilities.
-
Specification