Social Network Virality for Search Index URL Ranking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for updating search indexes with newly published documents are slow and inefficient, relying on RSS feeds from known domains and requiring knowledge of the domain's existence, which can lead to delays and missed updates for unknown domains, and are cumbersome due to the vast size of the internet.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes data from social networks to identify and rank new URLs by determining their virality, which includes measuring user interest and activity, and stores this metadata in a search index to inform ranking on search engine results pages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RSS feeds from known domains are used to update search indexes, then updates can be obtained from established sources, but the method is slow and cannot discover unknown domains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses social network data as an intermediary source to discover new URLs. Instead of relying solely on RSS feeds from known domains, the system harvests URLs mentioned in social network posts, comments, and shares. This intermediary data source enables discovery of unknown domains while maintaining update reliability through the structured processing of social network information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and harvesting URLs from social networks before traditional RSS feed mechanisms can discover them. This advance discovery through social network data allows the search index to be updated with new URLs from unknown domains before they would be found by conventional methods.
2Ease of operation
If traditional URL discovery methods are used, then the process is simple, but it is cumbersome due to the vast size of the internet and misses unknown domains
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies multi-functionality by using social networks as a universal data source that serves multiple purposes: discovering new URLs, determining their virality, and providing contextual information. This single data source replaces multiple traditional discovery methods, simplifying the overall process while comprehensively capturing URLs from both known and unknown domains.
Solution Approach 2:
Social networks serve as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the vast internet and the search index. Instead of directly crawling the entire internet, the system uses social network mentions as a mediated pathway to discover relevant URLs, making the discovery process more efficient and less cumbersome.
3Productivity
If new URLs are added to the search index without virality measurement, then the index is updated quickly, but search results lack relevance ranking
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by simultaneously performing URL discovery, virality measurement, and index updating in an integrated workflow. Rather than separating these operations, the system continuously harvests URLs from social networks, measures their virality metrics, and updates the search index with ranked results, ensuring both speed and precision are maintained throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by incorporating virality metrics (such as number of shares, likes, and social network engagement) as additional ranking factors in the search index. This parameter enrichment allows the system to maintain quick update speeds while significantly improving URL relevance ranking through data-driven prioritization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for updating a search index with new uniform resource locators (URLs) and with metadata for new and known URLs. Data associated with communications made by users using a social network is received. The communications include a URL therein that a user has shared, posted, or otherwise communicated to one or more other users using the social network. When the URL is not found in a search index it is identified as a new URL and is added to the search index. A measure of a trending interest, or virality, of the URL is determined from the data. The determined virality is associated with the URL in a search index as metadata. The virality is useable to inform a ranking of the URL against a plurality of other URLs for identification and presentation as a search result in a search engine results page.