Metadata search results ranking system

A metadata search ranking system comprising:

• a session manager means;
• a query manager means;
• a popularity sorter means;
• and
• an association means;
• wherein
• said session manager means applies search requests to a search engine and retrieves said search engine results in the form of a first resource list;
• said query manager means receives said search requests and information identifying a current session from said session manager means and interrogates a query database means, producing from said interrogation a popularity vector, including said search requests and a popularity indicator, and a second resource list including resources that match said popularity vector;
• said popularity sorter means receives said popularity vector and said second resource list from said query manager means and said first resource list and said information identifying the current session from said session manager means, producing a sorted resource list that is provided to said session manager means;
• and
• said association means recieves said sorted resource list and said information identifying the current session from said session manager means and updates said query database means based on this data, for use with subsequent sessions.

A metadata search ranking method comprising:

• obtaining a search request query string and submitting said search request query string to a session manager;
• submitting said search request query string to a search engine;
• obtaining search results in the form of a first resource list from said search engine;
• forwarding said search request query string, and a session ID to a query manger;
• using said search request query string to interrogate a query database;
• creating a popularity vector, including said search request query string and a popularity indicator;
• generating a second resource list including resources that match said popularity vector;
• sorting said first resource list and said second resource list;
• making said sorted first resource list and second resource list available for inspection;
• and
• intercepting search viewing requests of said sorted first resource list and second resource list and updating said query database based on session ID and resource associations.

A metadata search ranking method comprising:

• means for obtaining a search request query string and submitting said search request query string to a session manager;
• means for submitting said search request query string to a search engine;
• means for obtaining search results in the form of a first resource list from said search engine;
• means for forwarding said search request query string, and a session ID to a query manger;
• means for using said search request query string to interrogate a query database;
• means for creating a popularity vector, including said search request query string and a popularity indicator;
• means for generating a second resource list including resources that match said popularity vector;
• means for sorting said first resource list and said second resource list;
• means for makinq said sorted first resource list and second resource list available for inspection;
• and
• means for Intercepting search viewing requests of said sorted first resource list and second resource list and updating said query database based on session ID and resource associations.

A computer usable medium having computer-readable program code means providing metadata search ranking, said computer-readable program means comprising:

• computer program code means for obtaining a search request query string and submitting said search request query string to a session manager;
• computer program code means for submitting said search request query string to a search engine;
• computer program code means for obtaining search results in the form of a first resource list from said search engine;
• computer program code means for forwarding said search request query string, and a session ID to a query manger;
• computer program code means for using said search request query string to interrogate a query database;
• computer program code means for creating a popularity vector, including said search request query string and a popularity indicator;
• computer program code means for generating a second resource list including resources that match said popularity vector;
• computer program code means for sorting said first resource list and said second resource list;
• computer program code means for making said sorted first resource list and second resource list available for inspection;
• and
• computer program code means for intercepting search viewing requests of said sorted first resource list and second resource list and updating said query database based on session ID and resource associations.