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Google Wins Rights to Aussie Algorithm

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the new-tool-for-the-belt dept.

rcbutcher writes to tell us the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Google has just acquired the rights to a brand new text search algorithm invented by a University of NSW student. From the article: "Orion works as an add-on to existing search engines to improve the relevance of search and won praise from Microsoft founder Bill Gates last year. [...] Orion finds pages where the content is about a topic strongly related to the key word. It then returns a section of the page, and lists other topics related to the key word so the user can pick the most relevant."

4 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Very fishy by smallpaul · · Score: 5, Informative

    First, it is funny how various countries are putting a nationalistic spin on it. Israeli newspapers are focusing on the fact that the inventor is an Israeli. Australian newspapers are focusing on the fact that he is Australian. Only the national newspapers are spinning this as "revolutionary technology."

    Second, the description sounds alot like what Google and others do already.

    Third, buying a single algorithm is not generally such a big deal. Maybe it is reasonably valuable. Maybe so valuable that Google paid ten million dollars for it. In the big scheme of things, that's chump change for them and for their competitors.

    The whole thing sounds overhyped to me.

  2. Re:Rights by David+Hume · · Score: 4, Informative
    Besides, the summary says they didn't hire him; they bought the rights to use an algorithm he invented.
    No, the summary doesn't say that "they didn't hire him." In any event, the article states:
    Mr Andrew Stead, the business development manager at UNSW's NewSouth Innovations agency confirmed that Mr Allon left Australia six weeks ago and was now working at Google's headquarters at Mountain View, California.
    --
    Only Women Bleed (Sex, Sharia remix)
  3. Re:Holy Hypes, Batman! by ppanon · · Score: 4, Informative

    I highly doubt the novelty/effectiveness of this "algorithm" if it has been patented before being published in a peer-reviewed journal.
    In nearly every country other than the US, publication disqualifies an invention from patent eligibility.

    --
    Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde. - Voltaire
  4. The actual patent applications by ill+dillettante · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't have access to the patent applications as they were only filed late last year, but the the two relevant patents are:

    Australian Application Number 2005906358
    Applicant(s) Newsouth Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventor(s) Allon, Ori
    Martin, Eric
    Title A method and a system for facilitating ranking of textual information
    Status Filed
    Filing Date 16 November 2005
    Date of Patent 16 November 2005

    Patent Application Type Provisional
    Australian Application Number 2005905853
    Applicant(s) Newsouth Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventor(s) Allon, Ori
    Martin, Eric
    Title Methods and systems for facilitating ranking of an advertisement
    Status Filed
    Filing Date 20 October 2005
    Date of Patent 20 October 2005

    This makes me suspect that there is more to this story the SMH is reporting!

    --
    Automated DNA sequencing software