Method and apparatus for improved relevance of search results
Inventors
Woosley, David • Every, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8244725-B2
Publication Date
2012-08-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and system for information retrieval are provided whereby at least one search criterion is received from a user; a query is created based on the at least one search criterion; the query is executed to generate results, each of the results corresponding to a respective data entity which satisfies the at least one search criterion; the results are arranged into an order, the order being determined at least in part by a characteristic of the data entity corresponding to each result and a previous act by a user with respect to the data entity corresponding to each result; and the results are displayed to the user.
Core Innovation
The described invention relates to retrieving indicia of physical entities from data maintained in electronic file storage. A user search criterion is received, a query is created from the criterion, and the query is executed against the electronic file storage to generate results tied to respective data entities and corresponding physical entities that satisfy the search criterion.
The ordering of results is determined at least in part by a characteristic of the physical entity corresponding to each result and by a previous act by a user with respect to the physical entity. In this way, the invention combines characteristics of the physical entity with prior user behavior regarding retrieval or modification of the physical entity, and the displayed results reflect both physical-entity characteristics and user history.
The described embodiments further include representing characteristics and metadata for the data entities using additional data elements, including data elements compliant with an XML standard. The query and ordering are implemented with an electronic file storage database, including a relational database and SQL query instructions, and authorization and visibility constraints are applied by restricting which data entities are viewable by a user, including using database partitioning.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims, clm-00001 and clm-00019. Both claims cover the same core retrieval and ordering approach using an order determined by physical-entity characteristics and a previous user act, with clm-00001 directed to a computer-implemented method and clm-00019 directed to a computer-readable medium encoded with signals.
Receiving, querying, and retrieving physical-entity indicia from electronic file storage
Receiving at least one search criterion from a user, creating a query based on the at least one search criterion, and executing the query against the electronic file storage to generate results corresponding to respective data entities and respective physical entities that satisfy the at least one search criterion
Ordering results using physical-entity characteristics and a previous user act
Arranging the results into an order, the order being determined at least in part by a characteristic of the physical entity corresponding to each result and a previous act by a user with respect to the physical entity
Displaying the ordered results to the user
Displaying the results to the user
Across both independent claims, the essential claimed coverage is receiving user search criteria, executing a query against electronic file storage to retrieve results tied to physical entities, ordering the results using both physical-entity characteristics and a previous user act, and displaying the ordered results.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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