Method of and system for ranking elements of a network resource for a user

1. A method of ranking elements of a first network resource for a first user, the first network resource being hosted by a first server, the method comprising, at a second server in communication with the first server via a communications network:

(a) receiving an indication of the elements from the first server;

(b) receiving an indication of the first user;

(c) based on at least one of the indication of the elements and the indication of the first user, acquiring information about a past interaction of the first user with a second network resource, the second network resource being distinct from the first network resource;

(d) based on the information about the past interaction, generating a first context information associated with the first user;

(e) based on the first context information associated with the first user, determining a second user, the second user associated with a second context information that matches, at least partially, the first context information; the second context information containing a relevancy factor that is not contained within the first context information; and

(f) based at least in part on the relevancy factor, determining a ranking of the elements by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) receiving a request from the first server for an indication of the ranking and the most relevant one of the elements; and

(i) sending the indication requested in the request to the first server.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein (h) is effected before (f).

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein (h) is a consequence of the first server having received a request for the first network resource from the first user.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein (a), (b), and (h) occur concurrently.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein (f) is effected before (h).

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, before (i), retrieving the indication requested in (h) from the second database.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network resource is a website and each one of the elements is an indication of a distinct web page.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network resource is a web page and each one of the elements is an indication of at least one of a displayable element and an audible element of the web page.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending to the first server an indication of a web page customized for the first user based on the ranking of the elements.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network resource is a web page and each one of the elements is an indication of a style applicable to the web page.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each one of the elements includes an indication of a graphical layout.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network resource is a search engine.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the past interaction includes a submission of a search query.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the past interaction includes a selection, by at least one of the first user and the second user, of a first element of the second network resource instead of a second element of the second network resource.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the first element and the second element of the second network resource is a search result.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relevancy factor further includes a ranking of the first network resource relative to a third network resource according to a criterion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the criterion is a search engine ranking criterion.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second network resource is a search engine, and further comprising analyzing the ranking of the first network resource relative to the third network resource based on search history statistics.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user is part of a set of users estimated to share a same attribute.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the user is an indication of a client device of the user.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the indication of the client device includes an internet protocol (IP) address of a network interface of the client device.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the indication of the client device includes an indication of at least one of a manufacturer, model, hardware attribute, and software attribute of the client device.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the hardware attribute includes at least one of a size and a resolution of a display of the client device.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the software attribute includes at least one of an operating system of the client device, an application installed on the client device, and a user setting of at least one of the operating system and the application.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the user setting includes an indication of at least one of a geographical region and a language.

27. A server for ranking elements of a first network resource for a first user, the first network resource being hosted by a hosting server, the server comprising:

a communication interface structured and configured to communicate with the hosting server via a communications network;

at least one computer processor operationally connected with the communication interface and structured and configured to:

(a) receive an indication of the elements from the hosting server;

(b) receive an indication of the first user;

(c) based on at least one of the indication of the elements and the indication of the first user, acquire information about a past interaction of the first user with a second network resource, the second network resource being distinct from the first network resource;

(d) based on the information about the past interaction, generate a first context information associated with the first user;

(e) based on the first context information associated with the first user, determine a second user, the second user associated with a second context information that matches, at least partially, the first context information; the second context information containing a relevancy factor that is not contained within the first context information; and

(f) based at least in part on the relevancy factor, determine a ranking of the elements by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a computer processor of a server in communication via a communications network with a hosting server hosting a first network resource, effect:

(a) receiving an indication of elements of the first network resource from the hosting server;

(b) receiving an indication of a first user in respect of whom the elements are to be ranked;

(c) based on at least one of the indication of the elements and the indication of the first user, acquiring information about a past interaction of the first user with a second network resource, the second network resource being distinct from the first network resource;

(d) based on the information about the past interaction, generating a first context information associated with the first user;

(e) based on the first context information associated with the first user, determining a second user, the second user associated with a second context information that matches, at least partially, the first context information; the second context information containing a relevancy factor that is not contained within the first context information; and

(f) based at least in part on the context information, determining at least one of a ranking of the elements by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.