Nikhil S Rao

Title: Nikhil S Rao: Innovator in Hyperbolic Space and Query Reformulation

Introduction

Nikhil S Rao is a prominent inventor based in San Jose, CA. He has made significant contributions to the fields of indexing and search technologies, holding a total of 4 patents. His innovative work focuses on enhancing search precision and query reformulation, particularly in e-commerce environments.

Latest Patents

Nikhil's latest patents include groundbreaking technologies such as "Index searching with non-Euclidean representations." This patent describes a method where items within an index are transformed from classic geometry into a hyperbolic space. The hyperboloids in this space allow for more precise classifications of items based on their hierarchical structure. Additionally, a search query can be converted into hyperbolic space, enabling the mapping of a query hyperboloid against an answer space that contains hyperboloids for indexed items. This approach allows for the determination of distances or overlaps between hyperboloids to generate relevant search results.

Another notable patent is "Reformulation of tail queries for product searches." This technology provides a method for transforming a tail query into a head query that retains the same purchase intent. By mapping the tail query to the head query, the technology learns a reasonable embedding from historical head queries. This embedding can be refined using rewards from a persistently noisy oracle, which compensates for the lack of historical behavioral signals for tail queries. The implementation of a contextual sampling technique, utilizing text-based or oracle-based rewards, helps mitigate biases introduced by persistent noise. Numerical experiments on large-scale e-commerce datasets have shown that these technologies outperform several conventional query reformulation methods.

Career Highlights

Nikhil has worked with notable companies such as A9.com, Inc. and Amazon Technologies, Inc. His experience in these organizations has allowed him to develop and refine his innovative ideas in search technology and indexing.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Nikhil has collaborated with talented individuals, including Karthik Subbian and Sumeet Katariya. These collaborations have contributed to the advancement of his research and the successful implementation of his patented technologies.

Conclusion

Nikhil S Rao is a distinguished inventor whose work in hyperbolic space and query reformulation has significantly impacted search technologies. His innovative patents and career achievements highlight his dedication to enhancing the efficiency and precision of search