Search Ranger System Anti-Cloaking Spam Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Search engines face challenges in effectively detecting and mitigating search spam, particularly redirection spam, which exploits weaknesses in content-based ranking algorithms and cloaking techniques, leading to decreased search efficiency and diversion of advertising revenue from legitimate providers.

Innovation Solution

The Search Ranger system employs a self-monitoring and self-protection approach that includes monitoring spammer-targeted keywords, verifying spam URLs, and strengthening relevance ranking algorithms by identifying and addressing weaknesses in existing algorithms, using techniques such as similarity-based grouping and anti-cloaking methods to detect and combat redirection spam.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If content-based ranking algorithms are used to rank search results, then search results can be generated efficiently, but search spammers can exploit weaknesses in these algorithms to rank spam links undeservedly amongst top search results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch results generation efficiencyVSAvoidsearch result relevance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where search engines monitor search spam patterns and use this information to strengthen relevance ranking algorithms. The self-monitoring subsystem uncovers spam patterns and the self-protection subsystem uses this feedback to protect against spam by providing spam-related information to strengthen the ranking algorithm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components including a search spam monitoring system that acts as a mediator between search engines and spammers. This intermediary subsystem collects spammer targeted keywords, verifies spam URLs, and provides intelligence to the ranking algorithm without directly altering the core ranking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If search engines monitor and protect against search spam, then search quality improves, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and verification components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch qualityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The self-monitoring and self-protection subsystems are designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring spam patterns, verifying URLs, collecting keywords, and strengthening ranking algorithms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-monitoring where the search engine monitors its own search results for spam patterns, and self-protection where it automatically strengthens its ranking algorithms based on detected spam. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If search spammers use redirection spam and cloaking techniques, then they can evade detection and divert advertising revenue, but search engines can detect and mitigate these techniques to protect legitimate advertisers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespammer evasion capabilityVSAvoidadvertising revenue loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses anti-cloaking methods that turn spammer techniques against them. By monitoring for cloaking behavior and redirection patterns, the system identifies spam URLs and provides this information to strengthen ranking algorithms, converting the spammers' evasion techniques into detection signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9430577B2Search ranger system and double-funnel model for search spam analyses and browser protection

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An exemplary system for monitoring search spam and protecting against search spam includes a self-monitoring subsystem to uncover spam patterns and a self-protection subsystem to protect against spam by providing spam-related information to strengthen a relevance ranking algorithm. An exemplary architecture for monitoring search spam includes a first component to receive one or more spammer targeted keywords and to search, scan and analyze URLs based at least in part on the one or more spammer targeted keywords, a second component to receive one or more URLs from the first component and to verify one or more of these URLs as a spam URL and a third component to collect spammer targeted keywords associated with one or more spam URLs and to provide one or more of the spammer targeted keywords to the first component.