Patent ID: 7398271

Claim:
A method for ranking documents, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: identifying links to access a plurality of documents, wherein said links reside in documents other than said plurality of documents, and wherein said links are not presented to a user by a search tool; monitoring usage of said links to determine how frequently each of said links are used; assigning link weights to at least a subset of said links based at least in part on how frequently each of said links are used; and determining rankings of documents in said plurality of documents based at least in part on said link weights assigned to said links; and providing a list of search results that are ranked according to said rankings; wherein a first link and a second link link to a particular document of said plurality of documents and the step of assigning said link weights further includes assigning a higher link weight to said first link than to said second link if said first link is used more frequently than said second link to request said particular document.