Interestingness is a media (images, videos, etc) ranking algorithm to provide as an additional metric for search results. The algorithm is based upon an algorithm created by the Flickr team, and is further enhanced by metadata knowledge resulted from the Del.icio.us development. Yahoo acquired both companies before the patent filing, and as such the invention is assigned to Yahoo.

The algorithm was first unveiled publicly on Flickr on 2005-08-01.¹

See also Algorithm, Google, Search, Search Algorithm, Yahoo.

Factors related to the algorithm

SML.SML: Interestingness = f(views, faves, comments, tags, time, user, network relationships);

The ranking is based on one or more of the following factors:

• the quantity of user-entered metadata² (i.e. tags)
• the number of users who have assigned metadata³
• the number of favorites assigned to the photo⁴
• relationship between the person who uploaded the photo and the people who are commenting⁵
• access patterns related to the media object⁶ (i.e. where the clickthroughs are coming from; who comments on it and when)⁷
• a lapse of time related to the media object⁸ (i.e. velocity of metadata acquisition)

It is important to note that the ranking fluctuates over time as additional activities accrued on the media objects.

SML Analysis

Note: the first draft of SML Analysis is posted under Flickr Analytics, before SML was aware of the US Patent Filing.

• Background information
  • Text search - status - 2007: While text search algorithms are largely explored, search companies have by and large struggled to create image search algorithms that would yield satisfactory results.
  • Image Search - status - 2007: Google tackled early image search engines by using the filename of the images in addition to the context (surrounding text) by which these images appear.
    • Human computation: using advanced image processing power in human beings to help trigger adequate results
      • Google: Image Labeler - see SML Pro Blog: Human Computation / Google TechTalks
      • Yahoo: Interestingness

United States Patents

Applications

• 2006-10-26: Interestingness ranking of media objects (Patent ID 20060242139)
  • Abstract: Media objects, such as images or soundtracks, may be ranked according to a new class of metrics known as "interestingness." These rankings may be based at least in part on the quantity of user-entered metadata concerning the media object, the number of users who have assigned metadata to the media object, access patterns related to the media object, and/or a lapse of time related to the media object.
  • Inventors
    • Stewart Butterfield (aka Daniel Stewart Butterfield) (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Eric Costello (Astoria, NY) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Caterina Fake (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Cal Henderson (aka Callum James Henderson-Begg) (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Serguei Mourachov (Sunnyvale, CA) / Flickr R+D team
  • Assignee: Yahoo
  • Filed: 2006-02-08
• 2006-10-26: Media object metadata association and ranking (Patent ID 20060242178)
  • Abstract: Metadata may be associated with media objects by providing media objects for display, and accepting input concerning the media objects, where the input may include at least two different types of metadata. For example, metadata may be in the form of tags, comments, annotations or favorites. The media objects may be searched according to metadata, and ranked in a variety of ways.
  • Inventors
    • Stewart Butterfield (aka Daniel Stewart Butterfield) (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Eric Costello (Astoria, NY) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Caterina Fake (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Cal Henderson (aka Callum James Henderson-Begg) (San Francisco, CA) / co-founder, Flickr
    • Serguei Mourachov (Sunnyvale, CA) / Flickr R+D team
    • Joshua Schachter (aka Joshua Eli Schachter) (Mountain View, CA) / creator, Del.icio.us
  • Assignee: Yahoo
  • Filed: 2006-02-08

SML Wiki: Algorithm

Search

• Ask.com: Interestingness
• Clusty: Interestingness
• Google: Interestingness
• Live Search: Interestingness
• SML Search: Interestingness
• Yahoo Search: Interestingness