Patent ID: 7028026

Claim:
A computer implemented method to rank a plurality of data objects, the method comprising: identifying a plurality of data objects in response to a result of an initial search of a request received front a user over a network; assigning a link-based rank value to each of a first portion of the identified data objects, wherein the first portion of the identified data objects is selected based on cluster hierarchy of the plurality of data objects and wherein the clusters are defined based on at least one or common predecessor nodes, common successor nodes, and a combination of the common predecessor and successor nodes; assigning a text-based rank value to each of a second portion of the identified data objects, wherein the cluster hierarchy includes a plurality of levels, and wherein the second portion of the identified data objects has a different level than the first portion of the identified data objects; assigning a global rank value to each of a third portion of the identified data objects, the global rank value based on a combination of an object's link-based and text-based rank values; and processing at least a portion of the third portion of identified data objects in accordance with their global rank value.