Searching tool and process for unified search using categories and keywords

• US 20020052894A1
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Original Assignee: Exalead SA (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Inventors: Bertin, Patrice, Bourdoncle, Francois, Jeux, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A database of entries, such as Web pages and sites, is provided. The entries are at least partially mapped to a set of predetermined categories. The entries are also associated with keywords, for instance, by automatic indexing of documents. In response to a query into the database, a user is provided with a series of refinement strategies, in addition to search results. Refinement strategies comprise categories relevant for the search, selected among the set of predetermined categories. Refinement strategies also include keywords dynamically selected among keywords associated with the entries. The user may easily navigate among the results to the query, and formulate new queries.

Claims

1. A process for searching a database of entries, comprising the steps of:

providing a database of entries, at least part of said entries being mapped to a set of categories, at least part of said entries being associated with keywords;

in response to a query of a user,

selecting categories among said set of categories according to the entries returned by said query;

dynamically selecting keywords associated to the entries returned by said query; and

displaying to the user said selected categories and said selected keywords.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the categories are organized in a tree or directed acyclic graph structure.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the keyword is a sequence of words or a sequence of stemmed words.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the selected categories and selected keywords are displayed similarly.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the selected categories are displayed separately from selected keywords.

6. The process of one of claim 1, further including that step of starting a new query when a user activates one of said displayed categories and keywords.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the step of activating includes excluding from the said query of the user a displayed category or keyword.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein the step of activating includes refining the query of the user to said category or keyword.

9. The process of one of claim 1, further including displaying to the user a list of entries returned by the query.

10. The process of claim 9, further including displaying in said list a category to which at least an entry of said list is mapped.

11. The process of claim 10, further including displaying the entries included in a category when the user selects said category in said list.

12. The process of claim 11, further including ranking the entries included in said category before they are displayed.

13. The process of one of claim 2, wherein categories are hierarchically organized, and wherein the step of displaying includes displaying categories of different hierarchical levels.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein a category is formed of a set of at least two attributes.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the categories are organized in a tree or directed acyclic graph structure.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein a keyword is a sequence of words or a sequence of stemmed words.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein the selected categories and selected keywords are displayed similarly.

19. The process of claim 15, wherein the selected categories are displayed separately from selected keywords.

20. The process of one of claim 15, further including the step of starting a new query when a user activates one of said displayed categories and keywords.

21. The process of claim 15, wherein the step of activating includes excluding from the said query of the user a displayed category or keyword.

22. The process of claim 15, wherein the step of activating includes refining the query of the user to said category or keyword.

23. The process of one of claim 15, further including displaying to the user a list of entries returned by the query.

24. The process of claim 23, further including displaying in said list a category to which at least an entry of said list is mapped.

25. The process of claim 24, further including displaying the entries included in a category when the user selects said category in said list.

26. The process of claim 25, further including ranking the entries included in said category before they are displayed.

27. The process of claim 15, wherein a category is formed of a set of at least two attributes.

29. The tool of claim 28, wherein the search server is a HTTP server.

30. The tool of claim 28, wherein the entries are textual entries and the database includes an inverted index, said categories being entries of said inverted index.

15. A process for searching a database of entries, comprising the steps of:

providing a database of entries, at least part of said entries being mapped to a set of hierarchically organized categories, at least part of said entries being associated with keywords;

in response to a query of a user,

selecting categories of different hierarchical levels among said set of categories according to the entries returned by said query;

dynamically selecting keywords associated to the entries returned by said query; and

displaying to the user said selected categories and said selected keywords.

28. A searching tool comprising:

a search server for receiving queries from users, the search server transmitting results to users;

a database of entries, at least part of said entries being mapped to a set of categories, at least part of said entries being associated with keywords, wherein the search server includes

means for searching the database and for selecting categories among said set of categories according to the entries returned by said query;

means for dynamically selecting keywords associated to the entries returned by said query; and

wherein the results transmitted to the users include said selected categories and said selected keywords.

31. A process for searching a database of entries, comprising the steps of:

providing a database of entries, at least part of said entries being mapped to a set of categories, at least part of said entries being associated with keywords;

in response to a query of a user;

selecting categories among said set of categories according to the entries returned by said query;

dynamically selecting keywords associated to the entries returned by said query; and

displaying to the user said selected categories and said selected keywords wherein a category in said set of categories is formed of a set of at least two attributes.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein the categories are organized in a tree or directed acyclic graphic structure.

33. The process of claim 31, wherein a keyword is a sequence of words or a sequence of stemmed words.

34. The process of claim 31, wherein the selected categories and selected keywords are displayed similarly.

35. The process of claim 31, wherein the selected categories are displayed separately from selected keywords.

36. The process of one of claim 31, further comprising a step of starting a new query when a user activates one of said displayed categories and keywords.

37. The process of claim 36, wherein the step of activating comprises excluding from the said query of the user a displayed category or keyword.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein the step of activating comprises refining the said query of the user to the said category or keyword.

39. The process of claim 31, further comprising displaying to the user a list of entries returned by the query.

40. The process of claim 39, further comprising displaying in said list a category to which at least an entry of said list is mapped.

41. The process of claim 40, further comprising displaying the entries comprised in a category when the user selects said category in said list.

42. The process of claim 41, further comprising ranking the entries comprised in said category before they are displayed.