Search Filter Bubble Control via Category Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern search engines lack user control over personalized search results, relying on inferences from browser settings and global options, which may not accurately reflect individual user preferences.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow users to selectively exclude specific search categories through an interface, enabling them to control the degree of personalization by toggling options related to query and page signals, thereby influencing the search results provided.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If search engines use automatic inferences from browser settings and global options to personalize search results, then personalization is improved, but user control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments personalization control into discrete, selectable categories (e.g., news, sports, entertainment) that users can independently toggle. This allows users to control specific aspects of personalization without affecting others, resolving the contradiction by providing granular control while maintaining adaptability through selective personalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts between automatic personalization and user-controlled personalization based on user preferences. Users can switch between having the system automatically infer preferences or having manual control over specific categories, making the system adaptable to different user needs while maintaining ease of operation through flexible control modes.
2Ease of operation
If search engines rely on inferences from browser settings, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where users can review and correct the system's inferences about their preferences. Users can see what categories are being personalized and adjust them, providing feedback that improves the accuracy of preference measurement while maintaining ease of operation through automatic defaults.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic personalization based on browser settings, then allows users to review and adjust these settings before final search execution. This preliminary action provides ease of operation through automation while the subsequent review step ensures measurement precision by allowing correction of inaccurate inferences.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present disclosure can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a search query from a user via an interface of a search engine. User-selected options are identified for excluding at least one search category in a plurality of predetermined search categories. Each search category corresponds to one or more query signals and page signals used by the search engine to execute search queries. The search query is executed based on the user-selected options, one or more query signals related to the search query received from the user, and one or more page signals related to each potential result of the search query to be executed. Search results are provided to the user based on the executed search query.