Multi-phase ML Training for Search Ranking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current web search systems face challenges in effectively ranking search results using transformer-based machine learning models, particularly when dealing with non-text data and the need for large datasets that include user click information for training.

Innovation Solution

The method involves training transformer models using query metadata and search relevance data, including click data, in a pretraining phase, followed by refinement with smaller crowd-sourced datasets to improve search result ranking performance, utilizing multiple training phases with different datasets and assessor-generated labels to enhance relevance determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If transformer models are trained on large datasets including non-text click data, then the model's ability to handle diverse search data improves, but the training complexity and computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle diverse search dataVSAvoidtraining complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The training process is divided into two distinct phases: pre-training on large-scale click data to learn basic patterns, and fine-tuning on smaller labeled relevance datasets to specialize for search ranking. This segmentation allows the model to handle diverse data types while managing training complexity through staged specialization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The model performs preliminary pre-training on abundant click data before the actual fine-tuning stage. This preliminary action enables the model to acquire general search behavior patterns from non-text data, reducing the burden on subsequent training with limited labeled relevance data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If transformer models are used for search ranking, then language comprehension and semantic understanding improve, but the computational resources and training time required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesemantic understanding accuracyVSAvoidtraining time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Training is segmented into pre-training and fine-tuning phases, allowing semantic understanding to be developed efficiently on large unlabeled data during pre-training, then refined quickly on smaller labeled datasets during fine-tuning, reducing total training time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Semantic understanding capabilities are preliminarily established through pre-training on large corpora before fine-tuning for specific search tasks. This preliminary semantic foundation reduces the time required for task-specific training while preserving comprehension accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If large datasets with user click information are used for training, then the model's prediction accuracy improves, but the data processing and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The method extracts and utilizes only the essential click data features needed for training, separating useful interaction patterns from the bulk of raw click data. This extraction approach maintains prediction accuracy while reducing the effective data volume that needs to be processed and stored during training.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If multiple training phases with different datasets are implemented, then the model's relevance determination performance improves, but the training process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelevance determination performanceVSAvoidtraining process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The training process is segmented into pre-training and fine-tuning phases with clearly defined objectives and datasets. This segmentation improves relevance determination by exposing the model to diverse data patterns first, then specializing on labeled relevance data, while managing complexity through phase separation and standardized workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230177097A1Multi-phase training of machine learning models for search ranking
Publication Date: 2023.06.08 Y E HUB ARMENIA LLC
  • US20230177097A1 patent drawing
  • US20230177097A1 patent drawing
  • US20230177097A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for training a machine learning model to rank digital objects generated using a search query are described. The method includes training the machine learning model in a first phase to determine a predicted user interaction parameter, based on a first plurality of training digital objects associated with past user interaction parameters. The machine learning model is then trained in a second phase to determine a synthetic assessor-generated label, based on a second plurality of training digital objects associated with search queries and labeled with human-assigned assessor-generated labels indicative of a relevance of the training digital objects to the queries. The machine learning model may be applied to the first plurality of training digital objects to generate a first augmented plurality of training digital objects, which may then be used to train the machine learning model to determine a relevance parameter for a digital object.