Patent Application
20090157612
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Today, search engines have two key challenges. Algorithmic search engines continue to fall short of completeness, relevance, and results-ordering when compared with expert human judgments. Algorithmic search engines include those like LIVE SEARCH from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., and GOOGLE from Google Incorporated of Mountain View, Calif. “Open-source” or community-based search engines do not have critical mass momentum due to the size of the search space and the lack of participation incentives. Community-based search engines include those like WIKIA from Wikia Incorporated of San Mateo, Calif.
The present invention is defined by the claims below. Embodiments of the present invention solve at least the above problems by providing a system and media for, among other things, providing access to user-created search results when creating search engine results based on a search term, providing an incentive for users to create good search result lists, and developing good user-created search results.
User-created search results are stored at servers to be displayed to users desiring search results from a search query. When a search term is received, search engine results are displayed along with a set of links that connect to a set of user-created search results. A link can only be displayed if the creator of the search result has paid a fee. The creator can earn revenues if the search result proves to be popular with the public. The popularity of the search result can be determined based on volume access and user satisfaction. As the user-created search result becomes more popular, it earns more revenue. If the user-created search result becomes less popular, it is removed from being displayed. The creator begins by creating search results for a low-valued query. As the creator earns revenues, the creator can pay higher fees thereby targeting higher-valued queries and creating search results for the higher-valued queries.
In another aspect, the popularity of the search result created by the creator can be compared to the search engine results. If the search result is more popular than the search engine results, it continues to be displayed and gets further consideration.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and media for providing access to user-created search results and for providing an incentive to create good user-created search results.
Throughout the description of the present invention, several acronyms and shorthand notations are used to aid the understanding of certain concepts pertaining to the associated system and services. These acronyms and shorthand notations are solely intended for the purpose of providing an easy methodology of communicating the ideas expressed herein and are in no way meant to limit the scope of the present invention. The following is a list of these acronyms:
Further, various technical terms are used throughout this description. A definition of such terms can be found in Newton's Telecom Dictionary by H. Newton, 23rd Edition (2007). These definitions are intended to provide a clearer understanding of the ideas disclosed herein but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The definitions and terms should be interpreted broadly and liberally to the extent allowed the meaning of the words offered in the above-cited reference.
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as, among other things: a method, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, the embodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. In one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a computer-program product that includes computer-useable instructions embodied on one or more computer-readable media.
Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and nonremovable media, and contemplates media readable by a database, a switch, and various other network devices. Network switches, routers, and related components are conventional in nature, as are means of communicating with the same. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media comprise computer-storage media and communications media.
Computer-storage media, or machine-readable media, include media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations. Computer-storage media include, but are not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. These memory components can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently.
Communications media typically store computer-useable instructions—including data structures and program modules—in a modulated data signal. The term “modulated data signal” refers to a propagated signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed to encode information in the signal. An exemplary modulated data signal includes a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communications media include any information-delivery media. By way of example but not limitation, communications media include wired media, such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, infrared, radio, microwave, spread-spectrum, and other wireless media technologies. Combinations of the above are included within the scope of computer-readable media.
Embodiments of the present invention enable users to create and curate lists of web links targeting specific queries. These lists can be shown alongside search results generated by search applications. The more popular lists can earn revenue for the creators which creates a market economy that rewards constructive behavior. As the creators earn revenues with their good lists, the creators can then create and curate more lists targeting different or more valuable queries. In this context, a creator is a user that creates and curates lists of web links, such as search results, targeting specific queries.
In order to fuel the economy between creating lists from queries and generating revenues for creators, ad revenues from ads that are shown on websites are used to pay the creators. However, ads are not the only mechanism that may be used to generate revenues. Revenues from a subscription or usage could also be used depending on how the present invention is implemented. The economy provides flexibility by allowing creators to generate popular lists and allowing creators to invest in new entrants into the economy.
In
Like creator 105, users 120A and 120B represent users operating computing devices such as a computer or a laptop. Users 120A and 120B can access services over network 110 such as the Internet. Ad center 125 represents a business for handling advertisements that appear on websites. An example of ad center 125 can be ADCENTER® by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
With an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, any user can create a list targeting any query. The user, at creator 105, creates a list of search results for a specific query and sends the list to servers 115A-D. Servers 115A-D represent the servers that might be involved in the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention. In some implementations, the actual number of servers may be more or less. In addition, the functions on each server may vary and the actual number of servers may be influenced by a desire for redundancy or for segregation of responsibilities. For example, server 115A might contain a search engine while search 115B might handle the inputs and outputs related to the handling of web pages. Server 115C might store information related to the lists created by creator 105. Server 115D may operate a business model that oversees all the processes for implementing the economy discussed above. The idea here is to convey that the implementations for servers 115A-D are exemplary and are shown to represent various functions.
Ad center 125 implements a business model related to advertising. One of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with the plethora of ads that appear over the Internet in various web pages. Many business models exist that allow advertisers to pay monies to have their ads shown on particular websites. Some of the computer programs behind the advertising systems are sophisticated enough that a particular ad with a particular subject may be shown based on the content in the web page. This setup has proven to be very popular with advertisers desiring to target specific consumers. For example, if a user provides a search query to a search engine, the user can expect to get back a set of search results. In addition, the user may see a set of advertisements shown on the same web page related to the search query or the search results. Somewhere behind the scene with servers 115A-D and ad center 125, an advertiser paid monies to have their ad shown during this time. The idea here is to provide a brief synopsis of how an exemplary economy is created that will be discussed more fully later. It is not provided to discuss the details of how the advertising system fully works.
Users 120A and 120B represent persons that access network 110 such as the Internet. Users 120A and 120 may input search terms into a search engine at a web interface shown at their computing devices. For example, users 120A and 120B may desire to input search queries into a search engine such as LIVE SEARCH from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. When the search query or queries are provided to the search application, a number of search results are returned in the form of a list of links. Users 120A and 120B have the option of selecting one or more of the links based on desirability. One of ordinary skill in the art is familiar with search engines and how they work. The search results are listed in the web page in various formats. Sometimes, the search results span multiple pages.
In an implementation of an embodiment, a scenario may described as to how the present invention may be used. A user, such as creator 105 can create a list targeting a query. The list is sent to servers 115A-D or a subset thereof to be shown to the public whenever the list is accessed. However, a link to the list is shown to the public when creator 105 pays a value or rent. The amount that creator 105 pays depends on the query, which has an assigned value. Regardless of the size of the generated list, creator 105 pays the value or rent commensurate with the assigned value to the query. Higher value queries command higher payments or rents.
Continuing with the scenario, creators can earn income if their lists are popular meaning that users access their lists through the links or use their lists. As a list becomes more popular, it earns more income for its creator. In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, the popularity of a list can be determined in a number of ways. In one exemplary way, the popularity can be based on a volume access. The number of times a link to a list is accessed can be tracked and monitored. In another exemplary way, the popularity can be based on user satisfaction. In an embodiment, user interaction can be monitored to capture what a user selects in a display. If the user clicks on a link and selects an item on the list of results, this information can be monitored and captured. If a selection is made, the selection can be recorded as to what the user desired to access. In another embodiment, user interaction can be captured as a dwell time. The system can measure how long the user stays at a particular web page after an item on the list is selected. In yet another exemplary way, a combination of the volume and user satisfaction can be used to determine popularity.
Various implementations can be used to determine popularity for various embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary ways described above are not limiting and may include others not discussed here.
As embodiments of the present invention describe incentives for creator 105 to generate a good list, embodiments of the present invention deter the creation of bad lists. If a list is not popular, it will not earn income. Over time, a bad list will lose its opportunity to be shown to the public in favor of more popular lists. This can occur even if the creator has initially paid a value or rent to be shown. For one thing, there is only a limited amount of space where a link can be shown on a web page. It is highly competitive to get a list to be shown and to keep the list being shown. The incentive is to create a good list that will be popular in order to keep it in the public view for as long as possible.
Turning now to
Although the details are not shown, over time, the user-created links 220 may appear differently than shown in screenshot 205 even with the same query. As the popularity of the links changes, the position of the links changes. The more popular lists will get their links shown first. Hence, at a snapshot in time, top-rated link 225 is the most popular link (to the most popular search result) and is shown in a first position. As long as top-rated link 225 remains the most popular list, it can be located in the first position. Less popular links or lists will ultimately be removed from consideration. However, in another implementation of an embodiment, top-rated link 225 may share its top display spot with other links. If the number of user-created lists are numerous, a mechanism has to be employed that can insure that all lists are shown to the public. Lists may be selected for display in a “round-robin” fashion or selected on a random basis. Even at the top positions, several lists may prove to be so popular that it is only fair to show each list in the top spot. The links to these lists may also be shown on a rotated basis.
One can understand that the idea of the present invention is to provide user-created search results that are better than machine-generated search results 210. In
In
Continuing with
Ad 320 illustrates an exemplary aspect of an implementation of an embodiment. Ad 320 can be shown in various positions in screenshot 305 or not shown at all. Ad 320 can also be shown in screenshot 205 or not shown at all. An implementer can determine how ads are used in order to fuel the economy of generating revenues to pay creators for good search result lists. However, it is also understood that an implementer does not need to use advertisements to establish an economic situation and may implement embodiments of the present invention without the use of ads. For example, an economy can be implemented in a non-montary scheme such as using “reputation points” where the motive to participate in the economy is based on obtaining kudos or recognition.
Turning now to
In
In a step 515, a popularity of the member of the user-created search lists is determined. As discussed above, the popularity can be based on a volume access of how many users click on the links for the user-created search lists. The popularity can be based on user satisfaction such as determining what a user selects, measuring how long the user stays at a web page, measuring how often the particular user accesses the web page, or measuring another variable not listed here. The popularity can be based on a combination of both the volume access and user satisfaction. The idea here is to convey that different embodiments may implement popularity in a number of ways and the descriptions here are exemplary and not limiting.
In a step 520, an amount that is based on the popularity is paid to a creator of the member where the amount increases as the popularity increases. In an embodiment, if users like the search results of a particular creator, that creator earns revenue. The most popular search results earn the best revenues. However, it must be noted that an implementer may fix or restrict the amount of revenue that is earned based on a number of factors such as how often users access the search results, how often users submit a query associated with the search results, whether the query is low-valued or high-valued, whether the user spends a significant time at a user-created search result versus the machine-generated search result, etc. The idea here is to convey that the creator can earn enough revenues to target and create more high-valued queries which in theory should provide higher revenues if the search result listing is good and popular.
In a step 525, other user-created search lists are created by the creator from other queries that are assigned to a higher value. At this point, the creator has earned revenues from the search result lists associated with lower-valued queries. Now, the creator progresses to creating search results for higher-valued queries. In a step 530, the creator provides the other user-created search lists to servers 115A-D just like the initial search lists. In a step 535, a member of the other user-created search lists are displayed when the creator pays the higher-valued rent for the higher-valued query.
As discussed above, one can see the economy that is created which allows the creator to progress up levels in creating higher-valued search lists. This process is cyclical and the creator can continue to progress to earn higher revenues as long as the search lists are good and popular to the public. As the creator earns revenues for a search list associated with a query at a particular value level, the creator can move to the next level of queries of higher value and create search lists in that level.
The flip side of any progress made by the creator is that a search list may not earn any revenue. Or, the search list may become stagnant. If this happens, the search list will eventually be removed from being displayed. As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention provide incentives to create good search results. Therefore, many creators will attempt to create the best search results possible for a particular query. As a result, a search result that is popular today may not be popular in the future. Since, over time, creators will continue to improve their search results for the particular query. Hopefully, users will gravitate to the most popular search results. This competition should fuel a behavior for creating good search results and deter a behavior for creating bad search results. It should also deter destructive behavior such as spamming or gaming.
Turning now to
In a step 640, if a member of the user-created search results 310 is more popular than machine-generated search results 210, a link to the member will continue to be displayed. Or, the link will be considered a top-rated link that can be displayed at or near the top position in the web page. In a step 645, if the member of the user-created search results 310 is less popular than machine-generated search results 210, the link and the contents are removed from being displayed. As stated above, an embodiment of the present invention should provide an incentive to foster creating good search results.
In order to deter destructive behavior in the economy of providing revenues for creating search results, the implementer has to determine a plan to allow new creators to enter the economy. In an implementation of an embodiment of the present invention, newcomers can come to the economy with no revenue. A newcomer (new creator) can create a search list for a low-valued query but cannot immediately have that search list displayed. The new creator does not have initial funds in their account to pay the rent to have the search list displayed. A bootstrapping procedure has to be implemented that allows the new creator to enter the business model. One example for allowing the new creator to enter the economy is to allow other already established creators to pay the initial rent for the new creator. For example, the new creator creates a search result for a low-valued query. The new creator sends the search result to servers 115A-D where the search result is pooled with other search results from other creators. At servers 115A-D, other creators can view the new creator's search result although the search result cannot be publicly displayed. A creator, like creator 105, can choose to pay the initial rent for the new creator, especially if creator 105 likes the search result. At this point, the search result can be displayed but not immediately placed in the top position. Hopefully, over time, the search result becomes popular with users, like users 120A and 120B. As the popularity increases, revenues will be paid to the new creator. However, since creator 105 paid the first rent for the new creator, creator 105 also earns revenue in a revenue sharing scheme with the new creator.
Going back further, one may want to know how the entire economy can be started if an established creator has to pay the rent for any newcomers to the economy. One exemplary answer is that an implementer can start the process of creating lists and encouraging new creators to create lists. The implementer can pay the rent of new creators to get them started while also providing some search lists to generate competition. There is no fear of the implementer creating destructive lists or desiring to create bad lists since the implementer's purpose is to get the economy started and operating in a self-regulating system.
The prior discussion is only for illustrative purposes to convey exemplary embodiments. The steps discussed in
Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.
