Method of and system for ranking elements of a network resource for a user

Abstract

A method of ranking elements of a first network resource for a first user is disclosed. The method is executable on a server, the method comprising receiving an indication of the elements of the first network resource, receiving an indication of a client device of the first user, responsive to the indication of the elements at least partially matching an indication of elements of a second network resource and the indication of the client device of the first user at least partially matching an indication of a client device of a second user, the second user having engaged on the client device in a past interaction with the elements of the second network resource, acquiring information associated with the past interaction of the second user, determining a ranking of the elements of the first network resource by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.

1 . A method of ranking elements of a first network resource for a first user, the method being executable on at least one server, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving an indication of the elements of the first network resource;   (b) receiving an indication of a client device of the first user;   (c) responsive to the indication of the elements of the first network resource at least partially matching an indication of elements of a second network resource and the indication of the client device of the first user at least partially matching an indication of a client device of a second user, the second user having engaged on the client device of the second user in a past interaction with the elements of the second network resource, acquiring a context information associated with the past interaction of the second user, the context information being indicative of a relevancy factor of the elements of the first network resource to the first user; and   (d) based at least in part on the relevancy factor, determining a ranking of the elements of the first network resource by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (e) receiving a request for an indication of the ranking and the most relevant one of the elements; and   (f) sending the indication requested.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (e) is a consequence of receiving a request for the first network resource from the first user;   (e) is effected before (d); and   (a), (b), and (e) occur concurrently.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, prior to (f), retrieving the indication received in (e). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network resource is a website and each one of the elements of the first network resource is an indication of a distinct web page. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network resource is a web page and each one of the elements of the first network resource is an indication of at least one of: a displayable element of the web page, an audible element of the web page, a style applicable to the web page and a graphical layout of the web page. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising sending an indication of a web page customized for the first user based on the ranking of the elements. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second network resource is a search engine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the past interaction includes a submission of a search query by the second user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the past interaction includes a selection by the second user of a first element of the second network resource instead of a second element of the second network resource. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first element and the second element of the second network resource is a search result. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relevancy factor further includes a ranking of the first network resource relative to a third network resource according to a criterion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the criterion is a search engine ranking criterion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second network resource is a search engine, and further comprising analyzing the ranking of the first network resource relative to the third network resource based on search history statistics. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user is part of a set of users estimated to share a same attribute, wherein the attribute includes at least one of: an estimated demographic profile, an estimated past behavior and an estimated proximity to a geographic location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the client device of the second user includes an internet protocol (IP) address of a network interface of the client device of the second user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the client device of the second user includes an indication of at least one of a manufacturer, model, hardware attribute, and software attribute of the client device of the second user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hardware attribute includes at least one of a size and a resolution of a display of the client device of the second user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the software attribute includes at least one of an operating system of the client device of the second user, an application installed on the client device of the second user, and a user setting of at least one of the operating system and the application. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the user setting includes an indication of at least one of a geographical region and a language. 
     
     
         21 . A server for ranking elements of a first network resource for a first user, the first network resource being hosted by a hosting server, the server comprising:
 a communication interface structured and configured to communicate with the hosting server via a communications network;   at least one computer processor operationally connected with the communication interface and structured and configured to:   (a) receive an indication of the elements of the first network resource;   (b) receive an indication of a client device of the first user;   (c) responsive to the indication of the elements of the first network resource at least partially matching an indication of elements of a second network resource and the indication of the client device of the first user at least partially matching an indication of a client device of a second user, the second user having engaged on the client device of the second user in a past interaction with the elements of the second network resource, acquire a context information associated with the past interaction of the second user, the context information being indicative of a relevancy factor of the elements of the first network resource to the first user; and   (d) based at least in part on the relevancy factor, determine a ranking of the elements of the first network resource by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.   
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a computer processor of a server in communication via a communications network with a hosting server hosting a first network resource, effect:
 (a) receiving an indication of elements of the first network resource;   (b) receiving an indication of a client device of a first user in respect of whom the elements are to be ranked;   (c) responsive to the indication of the elements of the first network resource at least partially matching an indication of elements of a second network resource and the indication of the client device of the first user at least partially matching an indication of a client device of a second user, the second user having engaged on the client device of the second user in a past interaction with the elements of the second network resource, acquiring a context information associated with the past interaction of the second user, the context information being indicative of a relevancy factor of the elements of the first network resource to the first user; and   (d) based at least in part on the relevancy factor, determining at least one of a ranking of the elements of the first network resource by relevance to the first user and a most relevant one of the elements.