Search using multi-faceted reputation information

Abstract

A method and a system for searching objects using reputation information are provided. Example embodiments may include presenting multiple reputation dimensions and multiple attributes related to each of the reputation dimensions to a user. The method may also include detecting user selections of reputation dimensions and attributes related to the reputation dimensions and including selected attributes related to the reputation dimensions as criteria parts of search queries. Some example embodiments may include conducting a search of a database of objects using the search query to generate search results.

1 . A method comprising:
 presenting a plurality of reputation dimensions to a user;   presenting a plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions to the user;   detecting a user selection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality of reputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension;   including the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; and   conducting a search of a database of objects using the search query to generate search results.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sorting the search results, using the selected reputation dimension; and displaying the sorted search results. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising providing a notification message when an attribute of a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimension transgresses a threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected reputation dimension includes transaction participation aspects for which feedback information is stored in a database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension includes feedback ratings and comments corresponding to the selected reputation dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising receiving detailed feedback ratings by requesting a feedback giver to respond to specific questions relating to certain transaction participation aspects. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reputation dimensions include reputation dimensions related to a marketplace participant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising using the criterion part of the search query to filter the database of objects in order to limit a number of objects included in the search results. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions include feedback ratings. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a user interface module to present a plurality of reputation dimensions to a user, and to present a plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions to the user;   a detection module to detect a user selection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality of reputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension;   a database to maintain data related to a plurality of objects and reputation information; and   a search engine to include the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query, and to conduct a search of the database using the search query to generate search results.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising a sort module to sort the search results, using the selected reputation dimension. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising a notification module to provide a notification message when an attribute of a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimension transgresses a threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface module is to display the sorted search results. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the database is to maintain the reputation dimension including transaction participation aspects for which feedback information is stored in the database. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the detection module is to detect the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension including feedback ratings and comments corresponding to the reputation dimension. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface module is to receive detailed feedback ratings by requesting a feedback giver to respond to specific questions relating to certain transaction participation aspects. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface module is to present the plurality of reputation dimensions including reputation dimensions related to a marketplace participant. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the search engine is to use the criterion part of the search query to filter the database of objects in order to limit a number of objects included in the search results. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface module is to present the plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions including feedback ratings. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 means for presenting a plurality of reputation dimensions to a user;   means for presenting a plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions to the user;   means for detecting a user selection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality of reputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension;   means for including the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; and   means for conducting a search of a database of objects using the search query to generate search results.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , comprising means sorting the search results, using the selected reputation dimension; and displaying the sorted search results. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , comprising providing a notification message when an attribute of a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimension transgresses a threshold. 
     
     
         23 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:
 presenting a plurality of reputation dimensions to a user;   presenting a plurality of attributes related to each of the plurality of reputation dimensions to the user;   detecting a user selection of a selected reputation dimension of the plurality of reputation dimensions and a selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension;   including the selected attribute related to the selected reputation dimension as a criterion part of a search query; and   conducting a search of a database of objects using the search query to generate search results.   
     
     
         24 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors sort the search results, using the selected reputation dimension; and displaying the sorted search results. 
     
     
         25 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors provide a notification message when an attribute of a reputation dimension other than the selected reputation dimension transgresses a threshold.