Search Result Re-ranking via Query Stability Scores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines face challenges in effectively re-ranking query results to ensure the most relevant documents are displayed early in the search results, as existing ranking criteria do not adequately account for the stability and quality of results across different query variations.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a search engine query is submitted with derived keywords, and stability scores are computed based on the ranking of results from both the initial and secondary queries, allowing for re-ranking of results based on these scores to enhance the relevance and quality of the displayed results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple queries with derived keywords are submitted to compute stability scores, then the quality and relevance of search results is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating multiple derived keywords from the original query before executing the search. These derived keywords are used to submit multiple queries in advance, allowing the system to compute stability scores based on ranking consistency across different query formulations. This preliminary keyword generation and multi-query execution enables more reliable result selection without requiring complex real-time processing during the actual search operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability score acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between multiple search results from different queries. Instead of directly comparing results from multiple complex queries, the system uses stability scores as an intermediate metric to evaluate and rank results. This intermediary scoring system simplifies the overall process by providing a single quantitative measure that captures the consistency of results across different query variations.
2Measurement precision
If multiple queries are submitted to the search engine for each derived keyword, then the precision of result ranking is improved, but the time required for information retrieval increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by submitting queries for only the most important derived keywords rather than exhaustively querying all possible keyword variations. The keyword generation and query submission process is designed to focus on a selective subset of derived keywords that are most likely to contribute meaningfully to stability score computation. This selective approach maintains ranking precision while avoiding the time penalty of exhaustive querying.
3Reliability
If stability scores are computed based on multiple query rankings, then the reliability of search results is improved, but the computational resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes existing ranking information from multiple search queries that are already returned by the search engine. Instead of performing complex computational analysis to determine result quality, the method extracts the ranking positions from the returned results and uses these extracted rankings to compute stability scores. This extraction approach computes reliability metrics using simple mathematical operations on existing data, significantly reducing computational energy requirements compared to alternative methods that would require re-analysis or re-ranking of results.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, including submitting, to a search engine, a first query including, and receiving, in response to the first query, a first list including first results, each of the first results having a respective first ranking. Keywords are derived from the first query, and for each keyword, a respective second query is submitted to the search engine, the respective second query including the first query term and the derived keyword. In response to each of the respective second queries, a respective second list including respective second results is received, each of the respective second results having a second ranking and a corresponding first result, and for each given second result, one or more stability scores are computed based on the second ranking of the given second result and the first ranking of the corresponding first result. The second results are ranked based on their respective one or more stability scores.