Systems and methods using reputation or influence scores in search queries

Abstract

One or more processors determine reputation scores for one or more subjects based on connections. One or more processors use a plurality of citations, with each citation representing an expression of opinion or description by a subject on an object. One or more processors select a subset of citations for each object from the citations citing each object. The content of the citations matches one or more search terms for a search query. One or more processors assign citation scores to a subset of a plurality of objects. The citation scores indicate relevance of the objects cited by citations and are determined based at least in part on matching one or more search terms with the content of the citations of the objects by the one or more subjects. The selection scores for an object are determined for each search query based on a subset of subjects citing the object.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing device cause the device to perform a method of ranking objects using reputation scores, comprising:
 determining reputation scores for one or more subjects based on connections, the reputation scores indicating reputations of the subjects and a subject is a representation of a user of a social network;   receiving a plurality of citations, each citation representing an online posting in the social network of an expression of opinion by a subject on an object, wherein the object is an object that is accessible outside of the social network;   selecting a subset of citations for each object from the citations citing each object, the content of the citations in the selected subset matching one or more of search terms of a search query;   assigning citation scores to a subset of a plurality of objects, the citation scores indicating relevance of the objects cited by citations and are determined based at least in part on matching one or more search terms with the content of the citations of these objects by the one or more subjects;   determining a selection score for each of the subset of a plurality of objects based on the citation scores for these objects and the reputation scores for the subjects citing these objects; and   selecting and ranking the objects based on the selection scores of the objects.   
     
     
         22 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein a different subset of citations being selectable for a same object when a different search query is provided. 
     
     
         23 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the subjects in the subset of subjects are the subjects of previously selected subsets of citations to each object. 
     
     
         24 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the objects include books, films, music, documents, websites, objects for sale, objects that are reviewed or recommended or cited, or any entities that are associated with a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), wherein the subjects include entities representing authors of Internet content or users of social media services. 
     
     
         25 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving descriptive criteria from a user.   
     
     
         26 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving search terms, wherein the search terms are provided in a search query, and wherein the search terms are included in the descriptive criteria.   
     
     
         27 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying a subset of top ranked objects based on the selection scores.   
     
     
         28 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving search terms, wherein the search terms are provided in a search query; and   displaying a subset of top ranked objects based on the selection scores, wherein the top ranked objects based on the selection scores provide a subjective based search result.   
     
     
         29 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a content score for an object based on the description criteria; wherein the selection score is based on the citation score, the subjective reputation score, and the content score.   
     
     
         30 . The machine-readable medium recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining an expertise score for each subject citing each object based on a second descriptive criteria, wherein the selection score is based on the citation score, the subjective reputation score, and the expertise score.   
     
     
         31 . A method of ranking objects using reputation scores, comprising:
 determining reputation scores for one or more subjects based on connections, the reputation scores indicating reputations of the subjects and a subject is a representation of a user of a social network;   receiving, with one or more processors, a plurality of citations, each citation representing an online posting in the social network of an expression of opinion by a subject on an object, wherein the object is an object that is accessible outside of the social network;   selecting a subset of citations for each object from the citations citing each object, the content of the citations in the selected subset matching one or more of search terms of a search query;   assigning citation scores to a subset of a plurality of objects, the citation scores indicating relevance of the objects cited by citations and are determined based at least in part on matching one or more search terms with the content of the citations of these objects by the one or more subjects;   determining a selection score for each of the subset of a plurality of objects based on the citation scores for these objects and the reputation scores for the subjects citing these objects; and   selecting and ranking the objects based on the selection scores of the objects.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a different subset of citations being selectable for a same object when a different search query is provided. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the subjects in the subset of subjects are the subjects of previously selected subsets of citations to each object. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the objects include books, films, music, documents, websites, objects for sale, objects that are reviewed or recommended or cited, or any entities that are associated with a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), wherein the subjects include entities representing authors of Internet content or users of social media services. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving descriptive criteria from a user.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving search terms, wherein the search terms are provided in a search query, and wherein the search terms are included in the descriptive criteria.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 displaying a subset of top ranked objects based on the selection scores.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining a content score for an object based on the description criteria; wherein the selection score is based on the citation score, the subjective reputation score, and the content score.   
     
     
         39 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising:
 determining an expertise score for each subject citing each object based on a second descriptive criteria, wherein the selection score is based on the citation score, the subjective reputation score, and the expertise score.   
     
     
         40 . A device that ranks objects using reputation scores, the device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor though a bus; and   a process executed from the memory by the processor causes the processor to determine reputation scores for one or more subjects based on connections, the reputation scores indicating reputations of the subjects and a subject is a representation of a user of a social network, receive, with one or more processors, a plurality of citations, each citation representing an online posting in the social network of an expression of opinion by a subject on an object, wherein the object is an object that is accessible outside of the social network, select a subset of citations for each object from the citations citing each object, the content of the citations in the selected subset matching one or more of search terms of a search query, assign citation scores to a subset of a plurality of objects, the citation scores indicating relevance of the objects cited by citations and are determined based at least in part on matching one or more search terms with the content of the citations of these objects by the one or more subjects, determine a selection score for each of the subset of a plurality of objects based on the citation scores for these objects and the reputation scores for the subjects citing these objects, and select and ranking the objects based on the selection scores of the objects.