Method and system for improving a text search

• US 20030135828A1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lynn, Ronald W., Seiffert, Roland, Munoz, Joseph A., Doerre, Jochen F., Richardt, Randal J., Dockter, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/531
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3328 using graphical result space presentation or visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system for improving text searching is disclosed. The method and system provides a network of document relationship and utilizes the network of document relationships to identify the region of documents that can be used to satisfy a user'"'"'s request. In a preferred embodiment, the text searching method in accordance with the present invention augments a conventional text search by using information on document relationships and metadata. The text searching method and system improves upon conventional text search techniques by incorporating relationship metadata to define regions to search within. In the present invention the definition of a region is not limited to just categories as it includes neighborhoods around individual documents and sets which have been user defined.

Claims

1. A method for improving a text search in a processing system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of document relationships; and

(b) utilizing the plurality of document relationships to define a region that can satsify a request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the document relationships comprise relationship metadata.

3. A method for improving a text search comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying at least one candidate document from a first plurality of documents obtained via a text search query;

(b) locating a second plurality of documents that are related to the at least one candidate document; and

(c) providing a third plurality of documents, each of the third plurality of documents being provided based upon the at least one candidate document and the number of relationships it has with the first, second, and third plurality of documents.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second plurality of documents are related to the at least one candidate document by relationship metadata.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the number of the third plurality of documents is less than either of the first and second plurality of documents.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein each of third plurality of documents are provided based upon a relevance, a number of relationships it has with first, second and third plurality of documents and whether it was the at least one candidate document.

7. A method for improving a text search comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a location within an information area;

(b) finding a plurality of members related to the location; and

(c) providing a search query on the plurality of members to determine which of the plurality of members satisfy the query.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of members are related by relationship metadata.

9. A system for improving a text search in a processing system comprising:

means for providing a plurality of document relationships; and

means for utilizing the plurality of document relationships to define a region that can satsify a request.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the document relationships comprise relationship metadata.

11. A system for improving a text search comprising:

means for identifying at least one candidate document from a first plurality of documents obtained via a text search query;

means for locating a second plurality of documents that are related to the at least one candidate document; and

means for providing a third plurality of documents, each of the third plurality of documents being provided based upon the at least one candidate document and the number of relationships it has with the first, second, and third plurality of documents.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the second plurality of documents are related to the at least one candidate document by relationship metadata.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the number of the third plurality of documents is less than either of the first and second plurality of documents.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein each of third plurality of documents are provided based upon a relevance, a number of relationships it has with first, second and third plurality of documents and whether it was the at least one candidate document.

15. A system for improving a text search comprising:

means for selecting a location within an information area;

means for finding a plurality of members related to the location; and

means for providing a search query on the plurality of members to determine which of the plurality of members satisfy the query.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of members are related by relationship metadata.

17. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for improving a text search in a processing system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of document relationships; and

(b) utilizing the plurality of document relationships to define a region that can satsify a request.

18. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for improving a text search comprising:

(a) identifying at least one candidate document from a first plurality of documents obtained via a text search query;

(b) locating a second plurality of documents that are related to the at least one candidate document; and

(c) providing a third plurality of documents, each of the third plurality of documents being provided based upon the at least one candidate document and the number of relationships it has with the first, second, and third plurality of documents.

19. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for improving a text search comprising:

(a) selecting a location within an information area;

(b) finding a plurality of members related to the location; and

(c) providing a search query on the plurality of members to determine which of the plurality of members satisfy the query.