Search Result URL Ranking by Visual Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing search engine ranking systems do not accurately reflect the visual placement of URLs in search engine results pages, as the same rank can be assigned to URLs appearing at different locations due to formatting and additional data such as advertisements, images, and maps, which affects the actual visibility and traffic directed to those URLs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determines a URL's rank based on its location within a search engine results page, taking into account the visual placement affected by additional data, by calculating a modified rank using vertical and horizontal distances and analyzing image and HTML factors to provide a more accurate representation of a URL's likely traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ranking functions are used to assign ranks to URLs, then the ranking process is simple and efficient, but the visual placement and visibility of URLs in search results cannot be accurately reflected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional ranking (position in result list) to a two-dimensional analysis by incorporating both vertical position and horizontal position data. This dimensional expansion enables accurate representation of visual placement while maintaining computational efficiency through structured data collection and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and storing vertical and horizontal position data of URLs in search results before final ranking determination. This pre-processing of position information enables accurate visual placement analysis without adding complexity to the core ranking function, as the data is prepared in advance and readily available for processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional data such as advertisements, images, and maps are included in search results, then the search results become more comprehensive and useful, but the visual placement of URLs is affected and traditional ranking no longer accurately reflects visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining the specific vertical and horizontal positions of URLs relative to other elements in the search results page. Instead of treating all positions uniformly, the system analyzes local positioning characteristics to determine visual placement accuracy, allowing different URL positions to be evaluated according to their specific contextual location among advertisements, images, and other content.
3Productivity
If URLs are ranked based solely on their position in the search results list, then the ranking process is fast and simple, but the actual visibility and potential traffic to URLs cannot be accurately predicted
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simplified representation or copy of the search results page structure that captures essential position information. By working with this replicated data model containing vertical and horizontal position information, the system can quickly determine visual placement and predict traffic without processing the entire complex search results page, thus maintaining speed while improving accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining a rank of a URL for a search query. A processor is effective to receive search query and a URL. The processor may send search query to a search engine and receive a result set from the search engine. The processor may determine a first rank of the URL for the search query based on the first and second result set. The processor may determine a location of the result displayed in the search engine results page and modify the first rank based on the location to produce a modified rank for the URL.