Patent ID: 8756688
Filing Date: 2014-06-17
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for identifying business listing characteristics, the method comprising: determining, using one or more processors, a first frequency value of a business listing characteristic within a first plurality of business listings over a first time period, wherein the first plurality of business listings are associated with a particular geographical region; comparing, by the one or more processors, the first frequency value with a normal frequency value of the business listing characteristic previously determined from a second plurality of business listings over a second time period; identifying, by the one or more processors, an anomaly in the first frequency value when a difference between the first frequency value and the normal frequency value is greater than a predetermined threshold; and identifying, by the one or more processors, the business listing characteristic as a suspicious characteristic in response to identifying the anomaly, wherein the suspicious characteristic includes at least one term selected from a plurality of terms used in the identified business listing; determining, by the one or more processors, that a ratio of the at least one term to other terms from the plurality of terms is greater than a predetermined ratio; and identifying, by the one or more processors, the business listing as a spam listing is in response to the ratio being greater than the predetermined ratio.