Abstract: A content server provides for presentation to a user media items to a client device. Feedback is collected from the client device indicating user preference information for the media items and collects environmental information from the client device describing environmental configurations present during the presentation of the media items. Media features are identified that characterize the media items, and correlates the collected feedback, including sequences of feedback, with the identified media features to identify preferences of the user for the identified media features given particular configurations of the environmental information. The content server determines a current configuration of environmental information for the client device, and selects a selected media item responsive to the current configuration of environmental information and the preferences of the user for the identified media features or media items given particular configurations of the environmental information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of and systems for ranking results returned by a search engine. A method in accordance with the invention comprises determining a formula having variables and parameters, wherein the formula is for computing a relevance score for a document and a search query; and ranking the document based on the relevance score. Preferably, determining the formula comprises tuning the parameters based on user input. Preferably, the parameters are determined using a machine learning technique, such as one that includes a form of statistical classification.