Dynamic Search Result Reranking via Source Authority Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current web search engines rely heavily on explicit data, which may not yield the most relevant and authoritative documents, and can be manipulated by content sources to artificially increase perceived relevance, leading to suboptimal search results.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically reranks search results based on source authority by identifying authoritative sources through an authority index, using contribution dimensions to filter and manipulate search results, and injecting promoted results into the search results to enhance relevance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If explicit data (keywords, anchor text, meta tags) is used for search ranking, then search results can be generated quickly, but content sources can manipulate results to artificially increase perceived relevance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesearch result generation speedVSAvoidsearch result authenticity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary authority score system that mediates between explicit search data and final ranking results. This authority score, calculated from independent metrics like site age, backlink quality, and content depth, acts as a mediator to prevent manipulation of explicit search data while maintaining fast search generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the ranking parameters from relying solely on explicit data (keywords, anchor text) to a composite parameter system that includes authority score metrics. By changing the weighting parameters to prioritize authority-based metrics over manipulable explicit data, the system maintains productivity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If explicit data manipulation is allowed, then content sources can increase document visibility, but the most relevant and authoritative documents may not be identified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent visibility controlVSAvoiddocument relevance accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of explicit data manipulation into a benefit by using authority score metrics that are difficult to manipulate. While content sources can still control explicit data, the authority score system transforms this by prioritizing metrics like site age and backlink quality, which convert manipulation attempts into opportunities for genuinely authoritative sites to rise in ranking.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of explicit data ranking (keywords, anchor text) with a more sophisticated authority evaluation system. This substitution moves from a directly manipulable mechanical system to a complex multi-factor evaluation that measures genuine authority through independent metrics, thereby improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If search results are ranked by explicit data, then the ranking process is simple, but the results may not be the most authoritative documents available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveranking process complexityVSAvoidsource authority

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ranking process into two independent components: explicit data ranking and authority score ranking. By dividing the complex task into manageable segments that can be calculated separately and then combined, the system maintains operational simplicity while improving authority reliability through the addition of independent authority metrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8775437B2Dynamic reranking of search results based upon source authority

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Concepts and technologies are described herein for dynamically reranking search results based upon source authority. A search query is received and analyzed. One or more topics are identified in the search query. An authority index is searched to identify authoritative sources for content relating to the identified topic(s). Promoted results corresponding to content generated by the authoritative sources relating to the identified topics are obtained. The promoted results can be presented to an entity requesting the search, or injected into search results. Contribution dimensions associated with the promoted results can be determined, and filters based upon the contribution dimensions can be generated and used by an entity to dynamically manipulate the search results.