US 6,012,053 A · Computer system with user-controlled relevance ranking of search results

Abstract

A computer system for performing searches on a collection of information includes a mechanism through which results from a search query are ranked according to user specified relevance factors to allow the user to control how the search results are presented. The relevance factors are applied to the results achieved for each query. That is, each item returned by the search has a set of attributes. Each of these attributes is assigned a weight according to the specified relevance factors. These weights are combined to provide a score for the item. Search results are provided to the user, ordered according to scores. The application of the relevance factors does not alter the query performed on the collection of information.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A computer system for providing user-controllable relevance ranking of search results from a query on a collection of items of information, comprising:

a relevance determination module having a first input for receiving a set of search results of a current search from a query indicating items in the collection matching the query, a second input for receiving relevance factors input by a user through a graphical user interface, and a third input for receiving information about the items in the set of search results of the current search to which relevance factors are applied to determine a score for each of the items, and an output for providing an indication of the score indicative of relevance for each of the items in the set of search results;
and
a sorting module which receives the score associated with each item and an indication of the set of search results, and an output providing the user an indication of the items in the set of search results in an order ranked according to the relevance score of each item.

A computer-implemented method for providing user-controllable relevance ranking of search results of a current search from a query on a collection of items of information, comprising steps of:

receiving relevance factors input by a user through a graphical user interface;
receiving one or more search terms from a user;
performing the query using the one or more search terms and producing a set of search results of the current search;
indicating, in the search results, items in the collection matching the query;
receiving information about the items in the set of search results of the current search to which the relevance factors are applied to determine a score for each of the items;
providing an indication of the score indicative of relevance for each of the items in the set of search results;
and
providing to the user an indication of the items in the set of search results in an order ranked according to the relevance score of each item.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer system with user-controlled relevance ranking of search results

Life of this patent

Computer system with user-controlled relevance ranking of search results

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12