IP Library Granted Patent US 9,785,676
Granted Patent B2
US 9,785,676 · App. 13/954,406 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Systems and methods for providing ordered results for search queries

Inventors: Miria Grunick (New York, NY); Antony Pegg (East Petersburg, PA); Sanjay Manseta (Lancaster, PA)
Assignee: Mapquest, Inc.
G06F17/3053G06F17/3069G06F17/30637
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,785,676
App. No.
13/954,406
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing an ordered list of search results in response to a query. Consistent with certain embodiments, computer-implemented systems and methods may identify content items corresponding to a query. First relevance scores may be determined for the identified content items based on their relevance to the query. Second relevance scores may be determined by modifying at least one of the first relevance scores using a boost value. The boost value may be set to a default boost value when the query does not include an override boost value. The boost value may be set to the override boost value, when the query includes an override boost value. An ordered list of the identified content items may be generated based on the second relevance scores. The ordered list may be displayed on a display device.

Claims (75)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor, a query including at least one search term;

searching, using the at least one processor, a content database to identify content items related to the at least one search term;

accessing, using the at least one processor, a default boost value from a memory device;

determining, using the at least one processor, whether the query includes a first override boost value;

selecting, using the at least one processor, a boost value as one of:

the default boost value when the query is determined to not include the first override boost value, or

the first override boost value when the query is determined to include the first override boost value;

accessing, using the at least one processor, a second override boost value from the query;

generating, using the at least one processor, a first relevance score for each content item of the identified content items by combining a plurality of scores assigned to characteristics that apply to the identified content item;

selecting, using the at least one processor, at least one content item that includes a characteristic associated with the boost value from the identified content items;

generating, using the at least one processor, a second relevance score for the selected at least one content item by modifying the first relevance score of the at least one content item using the boost value and the second override boost value;

generating, using the at least one processor, an ordered list of the identified content items based on the first and second relevance scores; and

causing, using the at least one processor, the ordered list to be displayed on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the second relevance score includes multiplying the first relevance score using the boost value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the second relevance score includes adding the boost value to the first relevance score.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the second relevance score includes replacing a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the second relevance score includes scaling a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the ordered list includes listing the content items having relatively higher relevance scores nearer a top of the ordered list.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ordered list includes only the content items having second relevance scores greater than a threshold relevance score.

8. A system, comprising:

a memory that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the set of instructions to:

receive a query including at least one search term;

access a default boost value from a memory device;

search a content database to identify content items related to the at least one search term;

determine whether the query includes a first override boost value;

select a boost value as one of:

the default boost value when the query is determined to not include the first override boost value, or

the first override boost value when the query is determined to include the first override boost value;

access a second override boost value from the query;

generate a first relevance score for each content item of the identified content items by combining a plurality of scores assigned characteristics that apply to the identified content items;

select at least one content item that includes a characteristic associated with the boost value from the identified content items;

generate a second relevance score for the selected at least one content item by modifying the first relevance score of the at least one content item using the boost value and the second override boost value;

generate an ordered list of the identified content items based on the first and second relevance scores; and

transmit the ordered list to a display device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor, when generating the second relevance score, is to:

multiply the first relevance score using the boost value.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor, when generating the second relevance score, is to:

scale a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a query including at least one search term;

search a content database to identify content items related to the at least one search term;

access a default boost value from a memory device;

determine whether the query includes a first override boost value;

select a boost value as one of:

the default boost value when the query is determined to not include the first override boost value, or

the first override boost value when the query is determined to include the first override boost value;

access a second override boost value from the query;

generate a first relevance score for each content item of the identified content items by combining a plurality of scores assigned to characteristics that apply to the identified content item;

select at least one content item that includes a characteristic associated with the boost value from the identified content items;

generate a second relevance score for the selected at least one content item by modifying the first relevance score of the at least one content item using the boost value and the second override boost value;

generate an ordered list of the identified content items based on the first and second relevance scores; and

displaying cause the ordered list to be displayed on a display device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the second relevance score, cause the at least one processor to:

multiply the first relevance score using the boost value.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the second relevance score, cause the at least one processor to:

add the boost value to the first relevance score.

14. The system of claim 8 , where the at least one processor, when generating the second relevance score, is to:

replace a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

15. The system of claim 8 , where the at least one processor, when generating the ordered list, is to:

list the content items having relatively higher relevance scores nearer a top of the ordered list.

16. The system of claim 8 , where the at least one processor, when generating the ordered list, is to:

list only the content items having second relevance scores greater than a threshold relevance score.

17. The system of claim 8 , where the at least one processor, when generating the second relevance score, is to:

add the boost value to the first relevance score.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , where the one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the ordered list, cause the at least one processor to:

list only content items having second relevance scores greater than a threshold relevance score.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , where the one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the ordered list, cause the at least one processor to:

list the content items having relatively higher relevance scores nearer a top of the ordered list.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the second relevance score, cause the at least one processor to:

replace a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein one or more instructions, which cause the at least one processor to generate the second relevance score, cause the at least one processor to:

scale a threshold relevance score with the boost value.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2018
From: MAPQUEST, INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 047469/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2013
From: GRUNICK, MIRIA; PEGG, ANTONY; MANSETA, SANJAY
To: MAPQUEST, INC.
Reel/Frame 030907/0358 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150039602A1 · Feb 5, 2015