RECOMMENDATION JITTER
A method for selection of items for one or more users includes performing each of a set of steps to determine the items. Performing the steps includes introducing a controlled variation into a result of each of multiple of the steps. The items for the one or more users are then selected according to the results of the steps.
1 . (canceled)
2 . The method of claim 13 wherein for each of the plurality of steps, introducing the separate controlled variation into the result of the step includes limiting variation according to a time span.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein limiting variation according to a time span includes maintaining data used to introduce variation, including amending said data at controlled times.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein introducing the separate controlled variation into the result of each of the plurality of steps includes limiting variation according to at least two different time spans, each associated with a different one of the plurality of steps.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein amending said data includes resetting a random seed used for introducing the controlled variation.
6 . The method of claim 3 wherein maintaining the data includes maintaining similarity data characterizing similarity of items, and amending said similarity data includes introducing random variations into said similarity data.
7 . The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of steps includes at least one step selected from the group consisting of: selection of item domains; formation of a choice set; assigning a score to items in a choice set; ranking items in a choice set; determining similarity of items; selecting items from a choice set for presentation; and presenting scored and/or ranked items of a choice set.
8 . The method of claim 13 wherein introducing a separate controlled variation into a result of each of the plurality of the steps includes at least one of: selecting a choice set; perturbing a term of a numerical expression; offsetting a result of evaluation of a numerical expression; and selecting items from a ranked and/or scored list.
9 . The method of claim 13 wherein introducing the controlled variation includes selecting the controlled variation according to data characterizing the one or more users.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein selecting the controlled variation includes selecting said variation according to a history for a user.
11 . (canceled)
12 . (canceled)
13 . A method for repeated selection of items for presentation to a user comprising:
for each repetition of multiple repeated selections of items for presentation to the user,
performing each of a plurality of steps to determine a selection items, including for each step introducing a separate controlled variation into a result of the step, and
determining the items for presentation to the user according to the results of the steps;
wherein the controlled variation for at least one of the steps is fixed for a time interval such that repeatedly performing said step within the time interval includes introducing a same controlled variation at each repetition, and subsequently performing said step outside the time interval includes introducing a different controlled variation.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of steps includes
determining preferences of the one or more users based on past activity of the one or more users;
selecting a first set of items from a plurality of items based on the preferences of the one or more users; and
ranking the first set of items based on a predicted likelihood of the one or more users choosing the items.
15 . Software stored on non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions for causing a computing system to repeatedly select items for presentation to a user, the instructions causing the computing system to:
for each repetition of multiple repeated selections of items for presentation to the user,
perform each of a plurality of steps to determine a selection items, including for each step introducing a separate controlled variation into a result of the step, and
determine the items for presentation to the user according to the results of the steps;
wherein the controlled variation for at least one of the steps is fixed for a time interval such that repeatedly performing said step within the time interval includes introducing a same controlled variation at each repetition, and subsequently performing said step outside the time interval includes introducing a different controlled variation.
16 . A system for repeated selection of items for presentation to a user comprising:
a selection module configured to repeatedly select items for presentation to the user, the selection module configured to:
perform each of a plurality of steps to determine a selection of items, including for each step introducing a separate controlled variation into a result of the step, and
determine the items for presentation to the user according to the results of the steps;
wherein the controlled variation for at least one of the steps is fixed for a time interval such that repeatedly performing said step within the time interval includes introducing a same controlled variation at each repetition, and subsequently performing said step outside the time interval includes introducing a different controlled variation.