Search Engine Optimisation

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Google patent summary

Systems and methods for improving search quality [WO 066847 A2]

The methods documented in this Google patent describes techniques for improving search quality by expanding query terms to include inflection, orthographic variations and hyphenated/compound words.

The patent describes methods of building an expanded query which includes related words and terms from a user query . The first expansion method identifies words which can be written in alternative forms i.e. e mail, e-mail, e-mail; the second expansion method identifies word inflections, which are words used in a different context but stem from the same root word i.e. fire, fires, firing; the third identifies orthographic variations, which are words that are spelt differently due to dialect. i.e. dispatch, despatch.

Conclusion

The patent describes methods which can be used to expand terms for both user queries and keywords in documents. Although this patent describes method for the purpose of improving search quality in response to user queries, the system could be easily incorporated into the google ranking algorithm to identify spam or improve page ranking.