WO2009007897A1 - Procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de récupération d'informations - Google Patents

Procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de récupération d'informations Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009007897A1
WO2009007897A1 PCT/IB2008/052712 IB2008052712W WO2009007897A1 WO 2009007897 A1 WO2009007897 A1 WO 2009007897A1 IB 2008052712 W IB2008052712 W IB 2008052712W WO 2009007897 A1 WO2009007897 A1 WO 2009007897A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user
information
search query
overview
users
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/052712
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Olivier Schneider
Ronald L. C. Koymans
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority to CN200880024241A priority Critical patent/CN101743543A/zh
Priority to EP08789202A priority patent/EP2181406A1/fr
Publication of WO2009007897A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009007897A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/953—Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines
    • G06F16/9535—Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of operating a system for providing information to a user, including: causing user profiles of respective users of the system for providing information to be maintained, causing a search engine for searching content to process a search query associated with a first user, wherein the search query is based at least in part on information obtained through interaction of the first user with the functionality of the system; and causing an overview of information to be made available to the first user, the information including data pertaining to content identified by the search engine in response to the search query.
  • the invention also relates to a system for providing information to a user, which system is configured to: maintain user profiles of respective users; cause a search engine for searching content to process a search query associated with a first user, wherein the search query is based at least in part on information obtained through interaction of the first user with the functionality of the system; and to make an overview of information available to the first user, the information including data pertaining to content identified by the search engine in response to the search query.
  • the invention also relates to a computer programme.
  • US 6,691,106 discloses a system and method for building an instant web portal related to topics of interest based on a user profile.
  • the user profile contains information about the user's interests, dislikes, current location, appointment status current tasks and any other information that may be stored on the user's PC or client device.
  • the user profile also contains information on web sites visited, user actions and other details about a user's web activities for a particular category.
  • the information from the user profile may be transmitted to a client-side filter, which contains the rules and instructions for proper transmission of the information to a server computer.
  • a server- side filter receives the information.
  • the server-side filter contains the rules and instructions for proper transmission of the information to the cache-crawler, which is used to retrieve and review the information from web pages and to determine their relevance to the user's query.
  • the user profile may transmit a generic abstract to a server computer to form aggregated profiles from different clients of the same user or from different clients of different users having similar goals and/or behaviours.
  • the information in the aggregated profiles may be transmitted to the cache- crawler to retrieve and review similarly the information from web pages and to determine their relevance to the user's query.
  • a problem of the known method is that the aggregated profiles may lead to inappropriate search queries and/or filter criteria. This is because, according to his or her profile, a given user may have many disparate interests or activities in common with many different other users. As a result, there is little extra functionality over a normal search engine in terms of personalisation of the portal.
  • the method according to the invention is characterised by adapting the information included in the overview based on a determination of relevance of information included in the user profiles of a plurality of further users to information derived at least in part from the search query. Because user profiles of further users are matched to information derived at least in part from the search query, user profiles relevant to a particular context are identified. This adapts the method to the context of the interaction of the first user with the system. The functionality is potentially extended in that the information from the user profiles determined to be relevant forms an additional input for personalising the portal. For a given first user profile and search query, more information that is relevant is made available. This information is based on knowledge and/or experience accumulated by other relevant users.
  • the system is operated in a way that makes it easy to use.
  • the relevance of information included in the user profiles of a plurality of further users is determined relative to information derived also from information included in the user profile of the first user.
  • An effect is to identify which of the further users are most like-minded to the first user, as well as being relevant to the search query.
  • the overview of information can therefore be personalised more effectively to the first user, whilst still using the extra information that is available in the user profiles of further users.
  • the information included in the overview includes an identification of at least one further user, adapted at least partly in accordance with the determination.
  • An effect is to extend the functionality of the portal provided by the system for providing information, in that relevant information is shown together with relevant contacts to communicate with.
  • This embodiment increases the sense and simplicity of using the Internet for persons like senior citizens. It allows them to achieve a realisation of a good quality of life, in particular to reduce social isolation. It offers functionality similar to Google (http://www.google.com), Hyves (http://www.hyves.nl) or dating sites, but designed in a senior-centric way. This makes the advantages of these types of functionality easier to experience for seniors.
  • the invention offers an assisted way of browsing the Internet and it offers a personalised view on both Internet content and contacts.
  • a striking and novel feature of the concept is the split of both content sources and contacts being displayed on one page, for example ranked according to relevance to the personal profile and the entered query of the user.
  • the Internet has proven to offer various beneficial tools for younger people to find information on self- fulfilment (e.g. Google, specific web sites), finding people with similar interests (e.g. Hyves (http://www.hyves.nl), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com)), meeting a new partner (via dating sites).
  • most seniors are not so agile that they can find their way around on the Internet.
  • senior portals e.g. seniorweb.nl, seniornet.org, seniorplanet.fr, senior.com
  • this embodiment offers all of these functionalities, is easy to use, and is attractively designed with respect to lay-out and navigation.
  • a variant of this embodiment includes providing a user interface to the system for providing information, which user interface enables any of the further users identified in the overview to be contacted by clicking on an icon representing that person in the overview.
  • An effect is to extend the functionality of the system for providing information in a user- friendly manner, by turning it into a portal allowing relevant other users to be identified and communicated with. Further navigation or the use of a separate application or device for interpersonal communication is not required.
  • a further variant includes providing a user interface enabling a user to switch between a status of available and not available as communicated to other users.
  • the method of operating a system for providing information to a user further includes: ranking further users according to the determination of relevance of information included in the user profiles of the further users, and arranging the identifications of the number of further users in accordance with the ranking.
  • An effect is to provide a coupling between search/request query and resulting re-arrangement in the communication window with respect to the matches shown and their ranking according to relevance (indicating "experts" on the search/request query).
  • An embodiment of the method includes ranking items of content identified by the search engine in response to the search query at least in part according to relevance to the user profile of the first user, and arranging the data pertaining to content in accordance with the ranking.
  • An effect is to provide a coupling between search/request query and resulting re-arrangement in an info window with respect to (sub-)categories shown (optionally) and ranking of the content according to relevance.
  • An embodiment of the method includes ranking items of content identified by the search engine in response to the search query at least in part according to relevance to information included in the user profiles of at least one further user identified in accordance with the determination.
  • An effect is to increase the likelihood that relevant information pertaining to content is brought to the attention of the first user.
  • Use is made of information maintained in relation to further users who are relevant to the search query and/or similar to the first user, in order to rank items of content identified by a search engine in response to the search query.
  • the ranking is further based on a weighting of the information included in the user profiles of a plurality of further users in accordance with the determination.
  • An effect is further to increase the likelihood that relevant information pertaining to content is brought to the attention of the first user, in that the information from user profiles of the most relevant further users is used has a higher effect on the ranking than information from the user profiles of other further users.
  • An embodiment of the method includes providing a user interface enabling the first user to view selected content by clicking on a link to a source of the content provided in the overview.
  • a user profile of a user of the system for providing information is adapted continuously as the user interacts with the functionality of the system.
  • An effect is to provide a coupling between browsing and navigation behaviour and a resulting re-arrangement in the overview of information, for example a re-arrangement of a communication window with respect to the matches shown and their ranking according to relevance (indicating "experts" on the explored content items). This is because the browsing and navigation information can be used to update the user profiles.
  • a system for providing information to a user which system is configured to: maintain user profiles of respective users; cause a search engine for searching content to process a search query associated with a first user, wherein the search query is based at least in part on information obtained through interaction of the first user with the functionality of the system; and to make an overview of information available to the first user, the information including data pertaining to content identified by the search engine in response to the search query, wherein the system is configured to adapt the information included in the overview based on a determination of relevance of information included in the user profiles of a plurality of further users to information derived at least in part from the search query.
  • the system is configured to execute a method according to the invention.
  • a computer programme including a set of instructions capable, when incorporated in a machine-readable medium, of causing a system having information processing capabilities to perform a method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network including a system for implementing a portal for seniors;
  • Fig. 2 is a screen view of a home page of the senior portal
  • Fig. 3 is a screen view of the home page with a request entered
  • Fig. 4 is a screen view of the portal after a user has clicked on a link
  • Fig. 5 is a screen view of the portal after a user has clicked on a link shown in the screen view of Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 6 is a screen view of the portal after a user has clicked on a link shown in the screen view of Fig. 5;
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the system for providing information
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a method of adapting the page in response to receiving a search query
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic flow chart of a method of adapting the page in response to interaction of the user with the portal.
  • a system for providing information to a registered user is hosted by a portal server 1 connected to the Internet 2.
  • the Internet 2 is used as an example of a Wide Area Network, since the description given below could equally apply to a system for providing information to users of a corporate intranet, for example.
  • a single user's computer 3 is shown, although it is to be understood that many users will be connected to the Internet 2 at any one time.
  • the computer 3 is connected to a screen 4, a pointer device 5 such as a mouse, joystick or trackball, and a keyboard 6.
  • Other peripheral devices may also be connected (e.g. a sound system or a user input device of a further type).
  • a browser is installed on the computer 3 for loading and displaying files including data representative of pages providing an overview of information.
  • the data is encoded in a mark-up language such as HTML or xML.
  • the pages of information include active elements having an action associated with them, which can be selected using the pointer device 5.
  • a user interface to the system for providing information is provided.
  • Content data is hosted on a web server 7 or on any of a plurality of further web servers (not shown for purposes of clarity).
  • a search engine is hosted on a search engine server 8.
  • WiseNet A metaphor to communicate the WiseNet concept to seniors is that of a personalised newspaper-style view on the Internet ('Every day there is something or someone new to discover for you on the Internet. Now the Internet is as easy to use as reading a newspaper.').
  • the user's first name is Ron. To convey the personalised characteristics of the portal it will show the personalised title 'Ron's WiseNet'.
  • a user registers his/her identity as a member and completes a questionnaire, preferably at first time use.
  • the questionnaire may be completed at a later time or may be completed for a second or further time to reflect a change in one's areas of interest.
  • the questionnaire is the basis for the creation of an initial (or optionally an updated) user profile.
  • This user profile is not necessarily visible to the end-user, and may consist of a set of keywords to characterise the user's preferences in terms of content sources, topics and kind of social contacts.
  • This profile will be adapted continuously as the user interacts with the functionality of the portal e.g. through browsing, entering queries, and engaging in chat sessions with other members of the portal.
  • a home page represents the contents of an overview 9 that is initially shown by the Wisenet portal.
  • An upper half 10 of the WiseNet portal shows relevant information to the users.
  • a lower part 11 of the portal shows relevant contacts to communicate with.
  • a 'MyRequest' bar 12 where the user can type his/her request to have support on (see Fig. 3).
  • the contents of both the upper and lower half 10,11 of the screen will be ranked in order of relevance to the request and the personal profile of the user.
  • the MyRequest bar 12 is left blank, the content is only ranked based on the personal profile of the user.
  • the information in the upper part 10 is structured into high-level categories (see Fig. 3).
  • the categories that contain relevant sources are coloured green or otherwise visually distinguished (see Fig. 3).
  • the next level of information structuring appears as sub-categories (see Fig. 4) and below these a list of ranked information sources.
  • one of these sources is clicked on, one gets at the lowest level of information sources structuring as a ranked list (see Fig. 5). Clicking on one of these listed items, finally, shows the content of the information source (see Fig. 6).
  • MyContacts is a list 13 of WiseNet members created by the user to have more easy access to their favourite contacts.
  • MyNewContacts is a list 14 of contacts that are ranked according to relevance to the user's profile and the entered request, and have not been added to the MyContacts list 13 yet. Contacts highlighted in green are on-line. The contacts coloured blue are currently off-line. In other embodiments, a different technique is used to display the status of the contacts identified in the lower half 11 of the overview 9.
  • a MyConversations section 15 is activated when a contact from one of the previously mentioned lists 13,14 is clicked on. In case of an on-line contact a live two-way chat-like communication will be shown in the MyConversations window 15. In case of contacting a person who is off-line, only the user's message to be sent to that contact will be shown, or received messages of that contact person will be shown.
  • an overview is provided showing incoming communication requests as blinking icons (not shown) in the list 13 of contacts.
  • WiseNet provides a ranked list of matching contacts with a top-five of best matches. In case an incoming requester is not in that top-five, the corresponding icon will appear at the sixth position in rank.
  • an "Availability Button" (not shown) comprises a toggle button enabling the user to switch between available and not available status of the user as communicated to other members of the portal.
  • Another embodiment of the portal provides a mechanism to present incoming requests in a convenient way to the receiving user, for instance: filtering: on the basis of a user-determined threshold (e.g. based on content of request, quality of the match with the profile of the requester, desired number of requests per time unit), a limited number of requests are put through to the communication window; or feedback: via a user interaction mechanism (e.g. slider, Lickert scale, thumbs up/down) the user can influence the threshold level of filtering (cf. TiVo).
  • a user-determined threshold e.g. based on content of request, quality of the match with the profile of the requester, desired number of requests per time unit
  • a limited number of requests are put through to the communication window
  • feedback via a user interaction mechanism (e.g. slider, Lickert scale, thumbs up/down) the user can influence the threshold level of filtering (cf. TiVo).
  • features of at least two of these variants are combined. Summarising, the user may view the selected content by clicking (in the usual way) on a link in the top-five shown in Fig. 5. One can contact a new person by clicking on the icon representing that person in the top-five 'MyNewContacts' list 14 shown.
  • the user may add new content to the portal.
  • Various embodiments of the system for providing information provide at least one of the following three ways of doing this: submitting a hyperlink to existing Internet content; submitting a piece of content in a certain file format (e.g. in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft's MS Word format (.doc), or the Joint Photographic Experts Group's picture format (.jpeg) for graphic content); - adding a comment to content (Internet or file content) that is accessible within the portal.
  • PDF Portable Document Format
  • Microsoft's MS Word format .doc
  • .jpeg Joint Photographic Experts Group's picture format
  • Yet another embodiment of the system for providing information to a subscriber provides for annotation of existing web sites at specific locations with comments similar to Fleck.com (http://fleck.com), but instead of displaying the text of the comment at that specific position only a number is shown. The comment itself is displayed in a separate numbered comments section (not shown).
  • Yet another embodiment of the system provides an option that allows one generally to comment on an existing web site, by adding a comment to a comments section (not shown) below the viewed web site.
  • the comments section could also be located next to a portion of the screen reserved for showing the viewed web site.
  • Yet another embodiment of the system for providing information provides that if the user navigates to an external web site, this web site is displayed in a frame (not shown) within the portal. In an embodiment, comments made by other users in relation to that web site are shown below or next to the web site frame ranked in order of relevance to a submitted search/request query and the user profile.
  • Figs. 2-7 illustrate sequential steps in the use case of a person who wants to visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam together with another - initially unknown - member of the WiseNet community. In this use case the following steps are taken
  • a 'key words and key phrases extraction' process 16 distils the words/phrases 'visit', 'Rijksmuseum' and 'with me' from the phrase above. 3. These three words/phrases are submitted (process 17) to a generic search engine (e.g. Yahoo! or Google). The result is a list 18 of query results, ranked by the search engine's own standard.
  • a generic search engine e.g. Yahoo! or Google.
  • step 3 the extracted key words and phrases from step 2, are used to obtain profiles 19 of like-minded people in the WiseNet portal community (process 20).
  • This similarity means: firstly, matching with the submitted query (step 2) and secondly, matching the user profile of the first user. So, in this specific use case, people within the WiseNet community with expert knowledge on the Rijksmuseum qualify for matching as well as those that have visited the Rijksmuseum before. In particular, the best match would be people with expertise, who visited the Rijksmuseum before and are willing to join for a new visit with someone.
  • All contacts in the 'Communication' user interface are ranked according to their level of similarity to the request. Moreover, via 'Smart content ranking & matching' algorithms 21, the content items of an 'Info' user interface of which the output corresponds to the upper half 10 of the overview 9 are ranked in order of relevance to the user request submitted in step 1.
  • Step 1 as described above may be implemented in the following ways: Ia. The user simply clicks on one of the categories in WiseNet. For example, in the case of info on the Rijksmuseum, the user clicks on 'Culture & Adventures'. This click will cause both a new screen with subcategories and ranked content items per selected subcategory (according to the relevance of the user) to be displayed. Moreover, the contacts in the 'Communication' user interface will also be ranked differently, again according to the relevance to the selected category, sub-category and content item. Ib. The user can simply click on one of the contacts in the 'Communication' interface e.g. in the 'My Contacts' and 'MyNewContacts' lists 13,14.
  • chat session can be opened.
  • the contents of the chat session may serve as input to refinement/extension of the user profile of user 'A'. In addition or alternatively it may also serve to improve the query- results process similar to the description in step 4 above.
  • Fig. 7 will now be explained in slightly more detail.
  • words and key phrases are extracted from a user's action such as typing phrases in a request bar or navigating through categories shown to the user.
  • the behaviour of the system depends on a user interface component 22.
  • Information 26 extracted from the user interface 22 preferably comprises information extracted from an Info user interface 23 (of which the upper half is the visible output component), information extracted from a request bar user interface 24 (of which the request bar 12 is the visible component), or information extracted from the communication user interface 25 (corresponding to the lower part 11), or a combination of two or more of these.
  • information extracted from the Info user interface 23 information is extracted from or parsed from the links (Uniform Resource Locators) clicked upon or activated in another way by the user or from the corresponding web content subsequently shown to the user, or both (process 16). Meaningful key words and/or phrases are extracted by techniques such as or similar to NLP (Natural Language Parsing). Other relevant user interaction parameters, such as for instance the length of stay of a user on a web site or the ranking of the presented search result that is selected by the user, are also comprised in the information extracted from the Info user interface 23.
  • NLP Natural Language Parsing
  • relevant key words and/or phrases are extracted from the text typed in by the user in the request bar, in a similar way as with the Info user interface 23.
  • meaningful key words and/or phrases are extracted from all or part of the textual content captured by the communication user interface 25 (e.g. typed text, speech) by techniques similar to the ones used in the Info user interface 23 or Request bar user interface 24.
  • the search engine query is derived (process 17) from the extracted key words and/or phrases 26.
  • the query is preferable submitted to a known internet search engine such as Google (http://www.google.com) or Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com), or a search engine incorporated in the system comprising the portal server 1 (Fig. 1), or a combination of two or more of such search engines.
  • the resulting list of query results found with this search engine or combination of search engines is used in a next step, in which the search results are ranked according to their relevance with respect to user interaction parameters, a user profile 27 of the current user and user profiles 19 of like-minded users (other users having a profile that matches or partially matches with the profile of the user).
  • the key words and/or phrases 26 extracted from the user input are added to the user profile 27. This is preferably done in such a way that the user profile 27 reflects the importance of these key words and/or phrases to specific users. E.g. infrequently used key words and/or phrases will be categorized as less interesting than frequently used ones.
  • key words and/or phrases that have not been used for a long time may also be deleted from the user profile.
  • key words and/or phrases are associated with weights, the values of the weights changing to decrease the importance of the key word and/or phrase each time it is not used. The decrease could be linear or exponential.
  • user interaction parameters e.g. the length of stay of a user on a web site, the ranking of the presented search result selected by the user
  • user interaction parameters are stored in the user profile 27.
  • the process 20 of profile matching entails that, within profiles of a plurality or all of the users (or members of the community), those users are selected that have the best match with the user profile 27 in the context represented by the extracted key words and/or phrases 26.
  • the smart content ranking and matching algorithms 21 involve re-ranking and, if applicable, merging query results for the used search engine or engines in dependence of one or more of the following:
  • FIG. 8 a variant of the method described above is illustrated in more detail in the form of a flow chart. This chart shows the response of the portal server 1 to a search query entered in the appropriate field in the request bar 12.
  • the portal server 1 receives the search query, e.g. in the form of an http (hypertext transfer protocol) message sent by the computer 3 of a first user over the Internet 2. Concurrently, or in advance, the identity of the first user is made known to the portal server 1.
  • http hypertext transfer protocol
  • the portal server 1 causes a user profile 30 of the first user to be maintained as a file on the portal server 1 and/or the computer 3.
  • the user profile 30 consists of two parts: a part that is derived from information entered by the user at a first time of use of the portal (e.g. age, gender, hobbies, willingness to do things together etc.); and another part that is continuously built up through all user behaviour in the portal (searches, requests, chat sessions, etc.).
  • the profile comprises index words or key words that are derived from either part or from both parts.
  • An embodiment of the invention provides a generic ontology for all users that is used by the portal and continuously refined.
  • a file 31 representing the current context of the session of use of the Wisenet portal by the first user is also maintained.
  • the current context is determined, amongst others, by the category of information being viewed in the upper half 10 of the overview 9, and is based on user interaction parameters.
  • User profiles of a plurality of further users of the portal are stored in a database 37. Information included in these user profiles is searched to identify a set 38 of user profiles including information similar to information derived in part from the search query and in part from the information included in the user profile 30 of the first user (step 39).
  • the portal server 1 causes the file 31 (step 32) and the user profile 30 (step 33) to be updated.
  • the portal server 1 formulates a search query associated with the first user and submits it to at least one search engine (step 34) in a manner similar to that outlined above with regard to Fig. 7. In response, it receives (step 35) search results 36 including data pertaining to content identified as relevant by the search engine in response to the search query.
  • search results 36 including data pertaining to content identified as relevant by the search engine in response to the search query.
  • the further users whose user profiles were included in the set 38 are ranked according to the determination of how relevant the information included in these user profiles is to the information based on the current search query, the user profile 30 and the current context.
  • a sequence 41 of further user profiles results from this step 40.
  • the items of content identified in the search results 36 are ranked according to relevance to the user profile 30, the current context and the information included in the user profiles in the sequence 41.
  • Information included in the user profiles in the sequence 41 is weighted according to the positions of the user profiles in the sequence 41. Thus, for example, if the most relevant user has visited a particular web site five times, and another user has visited another web site five times as well, then the particular web site is ranked higher than the other web site.
  • the result is a ranked set 42 of information including data pertaining to content identified by the search engine, e.g. ranked links to files stored on the web server 7.
  • the overview 9 is adapted by (re-)arranging the lists 13,14 of further users to reflect the sequence 41, and by (re-)arranging at least one of the (sub-)- category windows and the lists of links provided in the upper half 10 of the overview to reflect the set 42 of ranked information.
  • the portal provides a coupling between search/request query and resulting re-arrangement in the info window comprised in the upper half 10 of the overview 9, with respect to (sub-)categories shown and ranking of the content according to relevance.
  • the portal also provides a coupling between search/request query and resulting re-arrangement in the communication window (comprised in the lower part 11 of the overview 9) with respect to the matches shown and their ranking according to relevance (indicating "experts" on the search/request query). All information - (sub- categories, the content, and contacts shown in the portal - is ranked according to the relevance to information based at least in part on the user profile. In an example implementation, the portal will, after each submitted request, show the top-five best matching content items and top-five contacts.
  • the system for providing information to a user also provides a coupling between browsing and navigation behaviour and resulting re-arrangement in the communication window with respect to the matches shown and their ranking according to relevance (indicating "experts" on the explored content items), as is illustrated in Fig. 9.
  • a first step 44 information is obtained as a function of user interaction with the user interface provided by the system.
  • information can be extracted from or parsed from the links (Uniform Resource Locators) clicked upon or activated in another way by the user or from the corresponding web content subsequently shown to the user, or both.
  • Other relevant user interaction parameters include, for instance, the length of stay of a user on a web site or the ranking of the presented search result that is selected by the user.
  • the user may express his or her (dis-)satisfaction with returned search results or newly suggested contacts via a 'thumbs up '/'thumbs down' feedback button.
  • the user interface provides pre-defined suggestions for search queries. For example, for certain (sub-)categories that can be shown in the upper half 10 of the overview 9, the same commonly asked questions exist. For the category 'Culture & recreations', these include: 'How to get there?'. For such a set of cases, the system offers suggestions e.g. a link to public transportation sites, map sites, route planners. How the user interacts with these menu options constitutes information obtained through interaction of the user with the functionality of the system, which information is collected in the first step 44 shown in Fig. 9.
  • the portal server 1 adapts (step 45) the user profile 30 and/or the current context 31 according to the information obtained in the preceding step 44.
  • step 46 it obtains a new set 38 of user profiles of further users, that it determines include information relevant to information based at least in part on the updated user profile 30 and the current context 31. If information is still present in the request bar 12, then relevance is determined with respect to information based also on the contents of the request bar 12.
  • the portal server 1 also identifies the current search results 36 (step 47).
  • a new search query is formulated and submitted to one or more search engines, based on information included in the user profile 30. If a search query is present in the request bar 12, then that search query is used instead or additionally. In another embodiment, a stored copy of previously obtained search results 36 is retrieved.
  • a next step 48 the further users whose user profiles are included in the set 38 are ranked according to the determination of relevance of information included in the user profiles of the further users.
  • the sequence 41 of user profiles is re-arranged.
  • the items of content identified in the search results 36 are also ranked according to relevance to the user profile 30 of the first user and according to relevance to information included in the user profiles of the re-arranged ranked sequence 41, the ranking of information in the set 42 being based on a weighting of the information included in the user profiles of the ranked sequence 41.
  • the overview 9 is re-arranged to reflect the new composition of the set 42 of ranked information pertaining to content identified by the search engine and the new composition of the ranked sequence 41 of further user profiles.
  • the file 31 representing the current context can be combined with the user profile 30 in one data structure.

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  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système d'exploitation pour fournir des informations à un utilisateur et qui entraîne le maintien des profils des utilisateurs respectifs du système pour la fourniture d'informations. Un moteur de recherche, permettant de rechercher du contenu, est amené à traiter une requête de recherche, associée à un premier utilisateur. La requête est basée au moins en partie sur des informations obtenues par une interaction entre le premier utilisateur et la fonctionnalité du système. Un aperçu des informations est mis à la disposition du premier utilisateur, ces informations contenant des données appartenant au contenu identifié en réponse à la requête de recherche. Les informations figurant dans l'aperçu sont basées sur un jugement de pertinence des informations comprises dans les profils utilisateur d'une pluralité d'autres utilisateurs par rapport aux informations tirées au moins en partie de la requête de recherche.
PCT/IB2008/052712 2007-07-11 2008-07-07 Procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de récupération d'informations WO2009007897A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN200880024241A CN101743543A (zh) 2007-07-11 2008-07-07 操作信息检索系统的方法
EP08789202A EP2181406A1 (fr) 2007-07-11 2008-07-07 Procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de récupération d'informations

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07112260 2007-07-11
EP07112260.0 2007-07-11
EP07117407 2007-09-27
EP07117407.2 2007-09-27
EP07122724.3 2007-12-10
EP07122724 2007-12-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009007897A1 true WO2009007897A1 (fr) 2009-01-15

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PCT/IB2008/052712 WO2009007897A1 (fr) 2007-07-11 2008-07-07 Procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de récupération d'informations

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Country Link
EP (1) EP2181406A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN101743543A (fr)
WO (1) WO2009007897A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150106349A1 (en) * 2013-10-13 2015-04-16 Microsoft Corporation Personal Agent Homepage Integration
US9857195B2 (en) * 2014-05-30 2018-01-02 Google Inc. Selection and presentation of geographic content in an automotive environment
CN105447080B (zh) * 2015-11-05 2018-10-26 华建宇通科技(北京)有限责任公司 一种社区问答搜索中的查询补全方法

Citations (4)

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EP1288795A1 (fr) * 2001-08-24 2003-03-05 BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company Système d'interrogation
US20030149612A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-08-07 International Business Machines Corporation Enabling a recommendation system to provide user-to-user recommendations
US20030233345A1 (en) * 2002-06-14 2003-12-18 Igor Perisic System and method for personalized information retrieval based on user expertise
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US6691106B1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2004-02-10 Intel Corporation Profile driven instant web portal
EP1288795A1 (fr) * 2001-08-24 2003-03-05 BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company Système d'interrogation
US20030149612A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-08-07 International Business Machines Corporation Enabling a recommendation system to provide user-to-user recommendations
US20030233345A1 (en) * 2002-06-14 2003-12-18 Igor Perisic System and method for personalized information retrieval based on user expertise

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EP2181406A1 (fr) 2010-05-05
CN101743543A (zh) 2010-06-16

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