Method, apparatus, and program for refining search criteria through focusing word definition

• US 20040122816A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Kirkland, Dustin C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A search engine is provided that includes a refinement mechanism. The search engine receives and parses a search expression and delimits the expression into individual terms or words. The refinement mechanism includes a directory of related terms and a directory of compound terms. The refinement mechanism also includes a hierarchical data structure of refinement terms. The mechanism then identifies related terms for the individual terms in the search expression, compound terms that may be formed from individual terms in the expression, and terms in the expression that have sub structures or “sub trees” in the hierarchical data structure. An interface is generated in a graphical tree structure to present identified related terms, compound terms, and refinement terms. Based upon user interaction with the interfaces, the mechanism forms an enhanced search expression.

Claims

1. A method for refining a search expression, the method comprising:

receiving a search expression including at least a first search term;

identifying at least a first enhancement term for the first search term;

generating an enhancement interface including the search expression forming a trunk of a graphical tree structure and a first branch of the graphical tree structure including the at least a first enhancement term associated with the first search term;

presenting the enhancement interface to the user; and

responsive to receiving a selection of a given enhancement term from the first branch, forming an enhanced search expression including the given enhancement term.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a search for the first enhancement term to receive a search result; and

presenting the search result in association with the first enhancement term in the first branch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first enhancement term is selected from the group consisting of a synonym, an antonym, an associated term, an alternate spelling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the search expression includes a second search term.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one enhancement term is a compound term that is formed from the first search term and the second search term.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying at least a second enhancement term for the second search term,

wherein the enhancement interface includes a second branch including the at least a second enhancement term associated with the second search term.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying at least a first enhancement term for the first search term includes:

receiving a hierarchical data structure including a first plurality of terms, wherein each term within the first plurality of terms has associated therewith at least one refinement term that further defines the term;

determining whether the first term matches one of the first plurality of terms; and

responsive to the first term matching one of the first plurality of terms, identifying the at least one refinement term as the first enhancement term.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first branch is a list of hyperlinks, wherein each hyperlink in the list of hyperlinks represents an enhancement term.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming an enhanced search expression includes replacing the first search-term with the given enhancement term.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming an enhanced search expression includes adding the given enhancement term to the search expression using an OR operator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming an enhanced search expression includes adding the given enhancement term to the search expression using a NOT operator if the enhancement term is an antonym.

12. An apparatus for refining a search expression, the method comprising:

receipt means for receiving a search expression including at least a first search term;

identification means for identifying at least a first enhancement term for the first search term;

interface means for generating an enhancement interface including the search expression forming a trunk of a graphical tree structure and a first branch of the graphical tree structure including the at least a first enhancement term associated with the first search term;

presentation means for presenting the enhancement interface to the user; and

enhancement means, responsive to receiving a selection of a given enhancement term from the first branch, for forming an enhanced search expression including the given enhancement term.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for performing a search for the first enhancement term to receive a search result; and

means for presenting the search result in association with the first enhancement term in the first branch.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first enhancement term is selected from the group consisting of a synonym, an antonym, an associated term, an alternate spelling.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the search expression includes a second search term.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first enhancement term is a compound term that is formed from the first search term and the second search term.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for identifying at least a second enhancement term for the second search term,

wherein the enhancement interface includes a second branch including the at least a second enhancement term associated with the second search term.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification means includes:

means for receiving a hierarchical data structure including a first plurality of terms, wherein each term within the first plurality of terms has associated therewith at least one refinement term that further defines the term;

means for determining whether the first term matches one of the first plurality of terms; and

means, responsive to the first term matching one of the first plurality of terms, for identifying the at least one refinement term as the first enhancement term.

19. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for refining a search expression, the method comprising:

instructions for receiving a search expression including at least a first search term;

instructions for identifying at least a first enhancement term for the first search term;

instructions for generating an enhancement interface including the search expression forming a trunk of a graphical tree structure and a first branch of the graphical tree structure including the at least a first enhancement term associated with the first search term;

instructions for presenting the enhancement interface to the user; and

instructions, responsive to receiving a selection of a given enhancement term from the first branch, for forming an enhanced search expression including the given enhancement term.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

instructions for performing a search for the first enhancement term to receive a search result; and

instructions for presenting the search result in association with the first enhancement term in the first branch.