Query Results Ranked for Original & Real-Time Parameters

Abstract

Real-time results for events and topics as published in original sourced electronic documents are presented in response to search queries. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines, and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities and which includes timely information on events presented on mobile devices with reduced screen sizes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of automatically presenting content for electronic documents with a computing system within an electronic interface comprising:
 a. processing first content with the computing system to identify a first event, which first event is identified by the computing system as a subject of content in a plurality of first electronic documents published online;   b. automatically processing said plurality of first electronic documents published online with the computing system to identify a first source of a first online published document describing said first event within first content;   c. in response to search queries made by users within an electronic interface concerning said first event, prioritizing such first source such that said first content is ranked higher for presentation to said users within said electronic interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps: d) identifying a location of said first event; e) selecting content from selected sources in a vicinity of such location to present content in said interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a step: assigning a temporal value with the computing system to each of said plurality of first electronic documents indicating a timeliness score of such document. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said timeliness score is based on characteristics of such document other than a time stamp. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a step: removing documents containing duplicate content for said first event from said interface for said search queries. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including steps: a) determining that said first event is a type that can change over time, and b) processing said first documents to identify a document reflecting a most recent state of said first event. 
     
     
         7 . A method of automatically presenting search results within an electronic interface comprising:
 a. processing a first search query with the computing system from a user to identify a first event relating to said query;   b. determining with the computing system if said first event relates to a news story for which the user is requesting timely information;   (c) automatically identifying a first set of documents published at a first set of websites with the computing system to identify a first candidate set of documents correlated to said first event;   (d) based on step (b) automatically accessing selected second news websites with the computing system to identify a second set of documents correlated to said first event;   wherein said computing system determines said selected second news websites based on a computed reputation score;   d) automatically processing said second set of documents to identify a second candidate set of documents correlated to said first event;   e) ranking said first and second candidate set of documents based and presenting search results to said query to said user based on said ranking, such that documents from said selected news websites relating to said first event are prioritized within an interface for said user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further including the steps: automatically polling said selected second news websites to identify updates to news stories for said first event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 ; wherein said interface is incorporated as part of a portable computing device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of automatically presenting search results within an electronic interface comprising:
 a processing a first search query with the computing system from a user to identify a first event relating to said query;   b. determining with the computing system if said first event includes temporal characteristics which identify a variable progress state of said first event;   c) automatically processing a plurality of electronic documents published online with the computing system to identify a candidate set of documents correlated to said first event;   wherein each of the plurality of electronic documents includes an associated timestamp;   d) temporally ranking said candidate set of documents based on an analysis of temporal characteristics in such documents identifying said variable progress state of said first event;   wherein said temporal ranking for said candidate set of documents is based in part by considering factors other than said associated timestamp for such documents;   e) presenting search results to said query to said user based on said ranking, such that documents having more current information relating to said first event are prioritized within an interface for said user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said variable progress state has a plurality of status values which would be interpreted by a human as representing distinct periods of an evolution of said first event. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said plurality of status values are derived by machine learning of temporal characteristics of prior events similar to said first event. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a step: assigning a temporal value with the computing system to each of said candidate set of electronic documents indicating a timeliness score of such document. 
     
     
         14 . A method of automatically presenting search results within an electronic interface comprising:
 a. processing a first search query with the computing system from a user to identify a first topic relating to said query;   (b) automatically identifying a first set of documents published at a first set of websites with the computing system to identify a first candidate set of documents correlated to said first topic;   (c) determining with the computing system if said first topic is the subject of real-time news documents published at one or more social networking sites;   (d) based on step (c) automatically accessing selected second social network pages at said one or more social networking sites with the computing system to identify a second set of documents correlated to said first topic;   wherein said computing system determines said selected second social network pages based on a computed reputation score;   d) automatically processing said second set of documents to identify a second candidate set of documents correlated to said first topic;   e) ranking said first and second candidate set of documents based and presenting search results to said query to said user based on said ranking, such that real-time news documents from said selected social network pages relating to said first topic are prioritized within an interface for said user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps: determining a location of an event associated with said first topic; and ranking said second set of documents based on proximity of reporters for said social networking sites to said location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computed reputation score is determined based on a historical timeliness for reporting content by said selected social networking pages.