Algorithmic Content Ranking for Branded and Unbranded Sources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional web applications prioritize sponsored or branded content over relevance, leading to suboptimal search results that fail to meet user needs and long-term monetization goals, as they struggle to accurately select relevant content modules from multiple sources, including branded and un-branded sources, especially considering geo-location and user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented algorithm that computes module performance indicators for content modules from both branded and un-branded sources, dynamically updates their relevance based on user interactions, and selects the most relevant content for rendering, ensuring optimal user satisfaction and revenue through a balanced ranking of content modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional web applications prioritize sponsored or branded content, then immediate monetary returns are improved, but user satisfaction and long-term monetization deteriorate due to reduced relevance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmediate monetary returnsVSAvoiduser satisfaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the ranking parameters from brand-centric metrics to relevance-based metrics computed through the algorithm. The system dynamically adjusts content ranking by computing relevance scores based on query analysis, content matching, and user interaction patterns, thereby shifting the optimization target from immediate monetary returns to user satisfaction while maintaining monetization through relevant branded content placement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where user interactions with content modules are tracked and used to dynamically update the ranking algorithm. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from user behavior and continuously improve content relevance, ensuring that both user satisfaction and long-term monetization are enhanced through data-driven optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If only un-branded content modules are chosen, then branded content bias is eliminated, but content optimality and user satisfaction deteriorate due to limited source quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebranded content biasVSAvoidcontent optimality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal content selection system that evaluates both branded and un-branded sources using the same relevance-based algorithm. The system does not discriminate against branded content but also does not prefer it; instead, it universally applies relevance metrics to all content sources, allowing the algorithm to objectively determine optimality based on query matching rather than source type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The relevance computation algorithm acts as an intermediary between content sources and users, mediating the selection process by evaluating content from all sources through a unified relevance framework. This intermediary layer eliminates direct bias by introducing objective computational criteria that assess content quality and relevance independently of whether the source is branded or un-branded

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If manually tagged topics are used without considering geo locations, then tagging simplicity is maintained, but content relevance deteriorates due to location-specific information needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetagging simplicityVSAvoidcontent relevance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts content selection based on user geo-location without requiring manual tagging updates. The algorithm automatically adjusts content relevance based on location-specific factors such as local news, regional interests, and geo-contextual query patterns, maintaining tagging simplicity while improving relevance through dynamic, location-aware computation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Area of stationary object

If content modules are ranked higher based on brand reputation rather than query relevance, then branded content visibility is improved, but user intent satisfaction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebranded content visibilityVSAvoiduser intent satisfaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional ranking approach by prioritizing query relevance over brand reputation. Instead of ranking branded content higher due to brand authority, the system ranks content based on how well it matches user intent and query semantics, thereby inverting the traditional hierarchy to place user satisfaction at the forefront while still allowing branded content to appear when genuinely relevant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8886650B2Algorithmically choosing when to use branded content versus aggregated content
Publication Date: 2014.11.11 YAHOO AD TECH LLC
  • US8886650B2 patent drawing
  • US8886650B2 patent drawing
  • US8886650B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and apparatus for optimizing content on a topic page includes receiving a query for a topic at a topic page on a client and transmitting the query from the topic page on the client to a web application on a server. The web application includes algorithm to analyze the query to identify a plurality of content modules that match the query. The content modules are identified from anyone of a branded source or an un-branded source. One or more module performance indicators are computed for each of the identified content modules. An aggregate module performance indicator for each of the plurality of content modules is generated from the one or more computed module performance indicators. One or more content modules from the identified plurality of content modules are automatically selected for rendering on the topic page based on the aggregate module performance indicator associated with each of the identified content modules. The resulting topic page includes content modules from just the branded source, just the un-branded source or an aggregate of content modules from both branded source and un-branded source providing optimal content that is most relevant to the query.