Customizing web search results based on users' offline activity
AssigneeApproxiMatch Ltd.
InventorErez Schachter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for improving web search results based on analysis of users' offline activities that are related to their online search. Web search results, including local search results, for a user may be improved by monitoring the actions of users when not interacting with the web search engine. By monitoring “offline” activities (e.g., telephone calls) and matching a person participating in an activity (e.g., the person making a telephone call) to a search engine user, a set of preferences for a given user may be determined, which may be used to select and sort web search results for that user. Preference data for one user may be used to select and sort web search results for other users, including those for which the search engine does not have preference data.
Claims17
A method comprising:
- (A) providing to a user of an electronic directory a web page comprising search results in response to a search query entered by the user;
- (B) monitoring telephone calls to an entity associated with a search result and collecting data on the calling person;
- (C) determining if the user is the calling person and, if so, determining at least one preference of the user based at least in part on the telephonic interaction;
- and
- (D) selecting and ordering search results in response to subsequent search queries entered by any user based at least in part on the at least one preference.
A computer apparatus comprising at least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for execution on a computer, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform a method comprising:
- (A) collecting and storing information about a web search conducted by a user of an electronic directory;
- (B) collecting and storing information about a telephone call made by a person to an entity associated with a search result;
- (C) comparing the information about the web search and the information about the telephone call to determine if the user is the person;
- (D) determining at least one preference of the person based at least in part on telephonic interaction of the person with the destination of the telephone call;
- and
- (E) altering results of a subsequent web search conducted by the user or another user based on the at least one preference.
A method comprising:
- (A) collecting a first information about actions of a user of an electronic directory while the user is interacting with the electronic directory;
- (B) collecting a second information about at least one action of a person when not interacting with the web site;
- (C) determining if the user is the person and, if so, determining at least one preference of the user based at least in part on the first information and the second information;
- and
- (D) altering users' future interaction with the website based upon the at least one preference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.