Abstract: A method for a two-step combiner for scoring search results is disclosed. The method comprises: calculating a fast score for a document based on a quality score of the document and a plurality of topicality scores; comparing the fast score for the document to a plurality of previously scored documents in a priority queue; calculating a final score for the document only when the fast score exceeds a lowest scored document in the priority queue; and adding the document to the priority queue when the final score exceeds a lowest final score on the priority queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indexing information using an extended lexicon. The method comprises receiving at least two search terms; accessing a first lexicon of posting list locations to determine a posting list location associated with at least one term in the at least two search terms; accessing an index, using the posting list location, wherein the index identifies a first posting list; accessing an extended lexicon of posting list locations to determine a posting list location associated with at least one of the at least two search terms found in the extended lexicon; accessing the index, using the posting list location associated with the at least one search term found in the extended lexicon, where the index identifies a second posting list for the at least one term found in the extended lexicon; and finding an intersection of documents identified by the first posting list and the second posting list as candidate search results related to the at least two search terms.