Method for estimating coverage of web search engines
US7308445B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99936
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computerized method is used to estimate the relative coverage of Web search engines. Each search engine maintains an index of words of pages located at specific URL addresses in a network. The method generates a random query. The random query is a logical combination of words found in a subset of the pages. The random query is submitted to a first search engine. In response a set of URLs of pages matching the query are received. Each URL identifies a page indexed by the first search engine that satisfies the random query. A particular URL identifying a sample page is randomly selected. A strong query corresponding to the sample page is generated, and the strong query is submitted to a second search engine. Result information received in response to the strong query is compared to determine if the second search engine has indexed the sample page, or a page substantially similar to the sample page. This procedure is repeated to gather statistical data which is used to estimate the relative sizes and amount of overlap of search engines.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.