Adaptive user interface for real-time search relevance feedback

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the user interface of a search engine in order to effectively communicate the improved relevancy achieved through real-time implicit re-ranking of search results is described. Real-time implicit re-ranking occurs without delay after every user action as the search is being conducted, so finding methods of immediately altering the search page without disrupting the user experience is important. Graphical icons next to search results are employed to enable generating and removing re-ranked results, referred to as “recommended” search results. Clusters based on the real-time user model are also displayed to facilitate query reformulations. Sponsored links are selected using the real-time user model along with a combination of RPC and CTR information and are displayed in a manner similar to the organic results, or used to replace the initial sponsored links altogether.

1 . A computer implemented method for dynamically modifying search results comprising:
 receiving user electronic input with one or more keywords for use as search terms from a user;   accessing a database with the search terms;   providing a first set of search result objects to a database;   displaying a first portion of the set of search result objects to the user on a device display;   monitoring user computer inputs to determine which object said user clicks on in interacting with said first set of search result objects;   compiling, with the computer, information to infer user intent based on the content of said object the user clicks on;   before display of objects beyond said first portion of the search result objects, re-ranking a second portion of the set of objects based on said user inferred intent, the second portion being objects not previously displayed to the user on the device display;   wherein the first portion of the set of search result objects previously displayed to the user on the device display is not displayed as re-ranked on the device display;   compiling, with the computer, said re-ranked second portion of the set of search result objects;   displaying to said user on the device display the second portion of re-ranked objects; and   using terms from a title and display text corresponding to a selected object as subordinate keywords for generating said re-ranking of said second portion of said set of search result objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said re-ranking moves forward a number of documents as a function of the quality of the documents being moved forward compared to documents already displayed to said user and wherein the function of quality comprises a determination of which documents are more relevant to said user's inferred intent than documents already displayed. 
     
     
         3 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said user requesting a display of objects beyond said first portion of the search result objects comprises the user selecting “next” or “more results.” 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said second portion of the set of search result objects are a subsequent page of search result objects. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 cumulatively using analysis of user intent to re-rank said set of search result objects based on subsequent documents said user clicks on and skips. 
 
     
     
         23 . A computer implemented method for dynamically modifying search results comprising:
 receiving user electronic input with one or more keywords for use as search terms from a user;   accessing a database with the search terms;   providing a first set of search result objects to a database;   displaying a first portion of the set of search result objects to the user on a device display;   monitoring user computer inputs to determine which object said user clicks on in interacting with said first set of search result objects;   compiling, with the computer, information to infer user intent based on the content of said object the user clicks on;   before display of objects beyond said first portion of the search result objects, re-ranking a second portion of the set of objects based on said user inferred intent, the second portion being objects not previously displayed to the user on the device display;   wherein the first portion of the set of search result objects previously displayed to the user on the device display is not displayed as re-ranked on the device display;   compiling, with the computer, said re-ranked second portion of the set of search result objects;   displaying to said user on the device display the second portion of re-ranked objects.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 using terms from a title and display text corresponding to a selected object as subordinate keywords for generating said re-ranking of said second portion of said set of search result objects. 
 
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory computer readable storage media having computer readable code thereon for dynamically modifying search results, comprising code for:
 receiving user computer input for use as search terms from a user;   accessing a database with the search terms;   providing a set of search result objects to a database;   displaying a first portion of the set of search result objects to the user on a device display;   monitoring user computer inputs to determine whether any of said objects is selected by said user;   compiling, with a computer, information to infer user intent based on analyzing the content of at least one object the user selects or skips;   before display of objects beyond said first portion of the search result objects, re-ranking a second portion of the set of objects based on said user inferred intent, the second portion being objects not previously displayed to the user on the device display;   wherein the first portion of the set of search result objects previously displayed to the user on a device display is not displayed as re-ranked on the device display;   compiling, with the computer, said re-ranked second portion of the set of search result objects; and   displaying to said user on the device display the second portion of re-ranked objects.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 20  wherein said user requesting a display of objects beyond said first portion of the search result objects comprises the user selecting “next” or “more results.”