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Google patent summary

Techniques for Re-ranking search results based on local-interconnectivity [US 6,526,440 B1]

The methods documented in this Google patent describes techniques for re-ranking search results based on local inter connectivity of initial search results.

The Google patent describes how a system like Google can implement a method of re-ranking results of a user query based on the backlink score calculated within the query result set. The system firstly identifies the initial result set for a user query, this is determined by 'existing methods' and then ranking the results by the existing ranking methods i.e. PageRank. The result set is capped at a predetermined level, which may be adjusted according to system performance and/or results returned: the Google patent states a typical value of 1000 documents. The document re-ranking system then calculates the re-ranked scores for each page based on the existing Google PageRank scores and the number of backlinks from pages within the result set. The system eliminates all but the single best existing score backlinks which originate from a single host or host which is assumed to be affiliated i.e. sites which share the same first three octets of there IP address xx.xx.xx.__ are assumed to be from the same host. Once the re-ranked scores have been determined the results are presented to the user in ranking order.

Conclusion

The implementation of methods within this Google patent further strengthen the need for subject community relationships between similar subject sites to be re-enforced. At the time of writing this summary the value of reciprocal linking for Google optimisation has been reported to be of little value by other SEO web sites. We are of the opinion that the evidence which may have lead other companies to make statements as to the downgrading of reciprocal links by Google may not be fully understood by them. Reciprocal links for none subject related sites will be downgrades as the pages are very unlikely to appear in the same Google query result sets, however reciprocal links with sites of similar content will have a benefit to a page rank when included in the result sets for individual user queries.