Content ranking system and method

Abstract

A relevance of a content item to an event is determined. A user rating of the content item is received. A ranking of the content item is determined with respect to the event, relative to one or more other content items associated with the event based at least in part on the relevance and the user rating. In some embodiments, the ranking is determined based at least in part on a sentiment score associated with the content item. A ranking algorithm provides a novel method for retrieving, scoring, ranking, and presenting content related to an event based on a combination of scoring contributions such as user rating, relevance, and sentiment. Embodiments provide users with the most relevant, engaging, and informative content concerning events of interest to them.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a content ranking device having a processor and a memory, a plurality of scoring contributions for a content item,   the plurality of scoring contributions including a user rating score, a relevance score, and an emotional score,   the user rating score based at least in part by a number of user votes by different users on the content item and a value of the user votes based on user reputation associated therewith,   the relevance score based at least in part on a similarity between the content item and a container of content items,   the emotional score based at least in part on data used to determine features or feature combinations indicative of particular sentiment values for the content item; and   scoring the content item by computing a weighted sum of the plurality of scoring contributions.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the scoring, normalizing the user rating score, the relevance score, and the emotional score.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to an increase in the number of user votes on the content item.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to a change in the value of the user votes based on the user reputation associated therewith.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relevance score is further based on a geographical overlap between the content item and the container of content items, a temporal overlap between the content item and the container of content items, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining and the scoring are performed by the content ranking device dynamically in response to a query or set of queries received by the content ranking device over a network. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving and presenting one or more content items related to an event to a user over a network, the retrieving based at least in part on how the one or more content items are scored relative to the event, each of the one or more content items scored by the content ranking device based on a combination of scoring contributions.   
     
     
         8 . A content ranking apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to perform:   determining a plurality of scoring contributions for a content item,   the plurality of scoring contributions including a user rating score, a relevance score, and an emotional score,   the user rating score based at least in part by a number of user votes by different users on the content item and a value of the user votes based on user reputation associated therewith,   the relevance score based at least in part on a similarity between the content item and a container of content items,   the emotional score based at least in part on data used to determine features or feature combinations indicative of particular sentiment values for the content item; and   scoring the content item by computing a weighted sum of the plurality of scoring contributions.   
     
     
         9 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to perform:
 prior to the scoring, normalizing the user rating score, the relevance score, and the emotional score.   
     
     
         10 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to perform:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to an increase in the number of user votes on the content item.   
     
     
         11 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to perform:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to a change in the value of the user votes based on the user reputation associated therewith.   
     
     
         12 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the relevance score is further based on a geographical overlap between the content item and the container of content items, a temporal overlap between the content item and the container of content items, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the determining and the scoring are performed dynamically in response to a query or set of queries received by the content ranking apparatus over a network. 
     
     
         14 . The content ranking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to perform:
 retrieving and presenting one or more content items related to an event to a user over a network, the retrieving based at least in part on how the one or more content items are scored relative to the event, each of the one or more content items scored by the content ranking apparatus based on a combination of scoring contributions   
     
     
         15 . A computer program product having at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by at least one processor of a content ranking device to perform:
 determining a plurality of scoring contributions for a content item,   the plurality of scoring contributions including a user rating score, a relevance score, and an emotional score,   the user rating score based at least in part by a number of user votes by different users on the content item and a value of the user votes based on user reputation associated therewith,   the relevance score based at least in part on a similarity between the content item and a container of content items,   the emotional score based at least in part on data used to determine features or feature combinations indicative of particular sentiment values for the content item; and   scoring the content item by computing a weighted sum of the plurality of scoring contributions.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the least one processor to perform:
 prior to the scoring, normalizing the user rating score, the relevance score, and the emotional score.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the least one processor to perform:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to an increase in the number of user votes on the content item.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the least one processor to perform:
 adjusting the plurality of scoring contributions due to a change in the value of the user votes based on the user reputation associated therewith.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the relevance score is further based on a geographical overlap between the content item and the container of content items, a temporal overlap between the content item and the container of content items, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the least one processor to perform:
 retrieving and presenting one or more content items related to an event to a user over a network, the retrieving based at least in part on how the one or more content items are scored relative to the event, each of the one or more content items scored by the content ranking device based on a combination of scoring contributions.