Site Quality Score Computation for Search Ranking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet search engines face challenges in accurately ranking search results based on the quality of websites, as existing methods do not effectively measure user interest and preference for specific sites.
Innovation Solution
A system determines a site quality score by computing a ratio of unique queries referencing a site to unique queries associated with the site, using various mathematical formulas to adjust for user interest and preference, which can be used to rank search results within the site relative to others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a search engine uses traditional ranking methods to order search results, then the search engine can return a set of search results, but the ability to accurately reflect user interest and preference for specific sites is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by analyzing user interactions with search results (clicks, dwell time, navigation patterns) and using this information to compute site quality scores. These scores are then fed back into the ranking system to improve future result ordering, creating a continuous improvement loop that enhances both measurement precision and ranking reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical ranking methods with a data-driven computational approach. Instead of relying on manual or rule-based ranking systems, the invention uses automated analysis of user behavior data combined with mathematical formulas to compute site quality scores, substituting mechanical judgment with algorithmic processing of empirical evidence
2Measurement precision
If the search engine analyzes user actions to determine site quality, then the relevance of search results improves, but the complexity of the ranking system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex ranking problem into distinct components: query analysis, user action tracking, site quality score computation, and result ranking. Each component is handled by separate computational modules that process specific aspects of the ranking task independently, then combine their outputs to produce the final ranked results
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms qualitative concepts like 'user interest' and 'site quality' into quantitative parameters through mathematical formulas. By converting behavioral data into numerical scores and using adjustable parameters in the computation, the system manages complexity through parameterization rather than through complex rule-based logic
3Loss of information
If the system computes site quality scores using ratios of query counts, then user preference is quantified, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for ranking from the vast amount of user interaction data. Instead of processing all user actions in detail, the system extracts key metrics such as click counts, unique query references, and selection frequencies, discarding redundant information while preserving the core signals needed for site quality assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary aggregation and filtering of user action data before computing site quality scores. By pre-processing the data to consolidate repeated actions, filter out anomalies, and organize information by site and query, the system reduces the computational burden of subsequent score calculations while maintaining accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining a first count of unique queries, received by a search engine, that are categorized as referring to a particular site; determining a second count of unique queries, received by the search engine, that are associated with the particular site, wherein a query is associated with the particular site when the query is followed by a user selection of a search result that (a) was presented, by the search engine, in response to the query and (b) identifies a resource in the particular site; and determining, based on the first and second counts, a site quality score for the particular site.