Google's latest patent application runs, in part, thusly...


"In an implementation consistent with the present invention, the set
of favored and non-favored sources may be automatically determined. To
accomplish this, exemplary queries in the query theme may be
classified into a set of topics (e.g., an online topic hierarchy, such
as Yahoo!, Open Directory, or Google) using the approach for
classification described above. Web hosts that appear in the URLs
associated with the best matching topics to the query theme may be
taken to be favored sources. For example, if the query theme is "sites
that in finding accommodation," then web hosts listed under the
Open Directory category "http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Travel/Lodging"
can be taken as favored sources."

Seems like Google are admitting the limitations of their algo (no big
surprise to the rest of us) and trying to compensate by bringing in
human supervision. Which, to a degree, they've always done by relying
so heavily on DMOZ to function as an ancillary human judging system.
Problem is, now that they seem to be wanting to expand that aspect,
who they gonna call? DMOZ is pretty much a spent force and if they
hire people off the street then how are they going to train them? Who
will judge the judges?

BB
--

http://www.crystal-liaison.com/comfo...les/index.html
http://www.crystal-liaison.com/cryst...-new-york.html
http://www.kruse.co.uk/search-engine...n-firms-uk.htm

On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:33:48 +0200, Big Bill <kruse@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:

> "In an implementation consistent with the present invention, the set
> of favored and non-favored sources may be automatically determined. To
> accomplish this, exemplary queries in the query theme may be
> classified into a set of topics (e.g., an online topic hierarchy, such
> as Yahoo!, Open Directory, or Google) using the approach for
> classification described above. Web hosts that appear in the URLs
> associated with the best matching topics to the query theme may be
> taken to be favored sources. For example, if the query theme is "sites
> that in finding accommodation," then web hosts listed under the
> Open Directory category "http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Travel/Lodging"
> can be taken as favored sources."
>
> Seems like Google are admitting the limitations of their algo (no big
> surprise to the rest of us) and trying to compensate by bringing in
> human supervision. Which, to a degree, they've always done by relying
> so heavily on DMOZ to function as an ancillary human judging system.
> Problem is, now that they seem to be wanting to expand that aspect,
> who they gonna call? DMOZ is pretty much a spent force and if they
> hire people off the street then how are they going to train them? Who
> will judge the judges?

That's nothing else but Trust Rank, old news in a way. Idea is that it is
enough to select small group of trusted sources, thus they don't need huge
team of judges. Nodes/sources (like DMOZ) can be selected by algo, then
you just need one person to browse them now and then to check if they can
be (still) trusted. I don't remember exact details (and they even
evaluated how many sources you need), but I have seen Trust Rank paper
available somewhere on the net.

Best,
Borek
--
http://www.chembuddy.com
http://www.ph-meter.info/pH-meter
http://www.terapia-kregoslupa.waw.pl