Personalized Search Ranking via User Profiling Engine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Search engines often return large, unorganized search results that are diverse and mixed together, making it difficult for users to find relevant data items quickly.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that performs personalized searches by ranking search results based on context data, historical activity, demographic data, and a weighted personalization score, using a profiling engine and search engine to prioritize results according to user preferences and behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a search engine returns comprehensive search results, then the quantity of data items is improved, but the organization and relevance of results deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of search resultsVSAvoidease of finding relevant items
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments search results into multiple ranked lists based on different user profiles, contexts, and data sources. Each segmented list is organized with a specific focus (e.g., news, weather, sports, or personalized results), allowing users to easily find relevant information without sifting through a single unorganized comprehensive list.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing different organization and ranking strategies for different segments of search results. Each segment is optimized for its specific purpose or user type, with customized ranking criteria that reflect the local needs and preferences of that particular user group or context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If search results are organized by multiple criteria, then the relevance to different users is improved, but the complexity of the search system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user preferencesVSAvoidcomplexity of search system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining multiple user profiles, contexts, and ranking criteria before the actual search is executed. The system prepares various organized lists in advance based on anticipated user needs, so that when a search is performed, the results can be quickly distributed across these pre-prepared categories without requiring complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by creating a search system that serves multiple user types and contexts simultaneously through a single unified platform. The same search engine generates results that can be organized and presented in multiple ways to accommodate different user preferences, data sources, and contextual requirements.

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

3Ease of operation

If personalized ranking is applied, then the ease of finding relevant items is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of finding relevant itemsVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing personalized ranking for only the most relevant segments or top results, rather than exhaustively processing every single result with full personalization. This allows the system to provide personalized experience where it matters most while avoiding unnecessary computational overhead for less critical results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9460212B2System and method for personalized search
Publication Date: 2016.10.04 PAYPAL INC
  • US9460212B2 patent drawing
  • US9460212B2 patent drawing
  • US9460212B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for personalized search. The system includes a search engine that receives search input from a user and a user identification and generates a search result based on the search input; and a profiling engine to gather profile data, generate a user profile associated with a user, and rank the search result personalized to the specific user using the user profile.