Patent ID: 8150831
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for facilitating a search and identification of documents stored in a memory device, the method comprising: receiving a query comprising a set of search terms; identifying an initial result set of stored documents that are relevant to the query; identifying a document from the initial result set; determining a score value representing a degree of similarity between the identified document and the query, wherein the score value is based on a similarity between one or more of the query search terms and metadata describing subject matter of the identified document; locating the identified document in a citation network of baseline query results, the citation network comprising a first set of documents that cite to the identified document and a second set of documents cited to by the identified document; determining a new score value of the identified document as a function of the score value and a quantity and a quality of documents within the first and second set of documents; locating documents from a subject matter community of the identified document, outside of the citation network, that refer to the identified document; calculating an activity score value of the identified document based at least in part on a number of times the identified document is referred to in the subject matter community; weighing the new score value with the activity score; ranking the identified document based on the weighted new score value; and outputting on a display device, a report reflecting the ranking of the identified document.