Systems and methods for enabling a user to find information of interest to the user
First Claim
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1. An information retrieval method, comprising:
- prompting a user to input an initial query and receiving the initial query input by the user, wherein the initial query includes a keyword;
determining a synonym of the keyword;
determining a term related to the keyword;
creating a first query, wherein the first query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a first search engine;
creating a second query, wherein the second query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a second search engine;
submitting to the first search engine the first query;
submitting to the second search engine the second query;
receiving from the first search engine a first plurality of document identifiers;
receiving from the second search engine a second plurality of document identifies; and
for one or more document identifier included in the first plurality of document identifiers and for one or more document identifier included in the second plurality of document identifiers, determining a score for the document identified by the document identifier, wherein the step of determining the score includes the step of identifying a figure legend within the document, and wherein the document'"'"'s score is, at the least, a function of whether the keyword, synonym and/or related word is found in the identified figure legend.
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Abstract
The present invention provides users with access to Internet-accessible databases via one portal of entry, such that queries need not be repeated multiple times in order to obtain needed information. Advantageously, the present invention will harness a systematic dynamic query profiler, document scoring, and display of retrieved documents via a knowledge-based system that facilitates user editing. Thus, the present invention will aid users so that less of their time and effort are required in order to obtain precisely the desired information for which they are searching.
126 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An information retrieval method, comprising:
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prompting a user to input an initial query and receiving the initial query input by the user, wherein the initial query includes a keyword;
determining a synonym of the keyword;
determining a term related to the keyword;
creating a first query, wherein the first query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a first search engine;
creating a second query, wherein the second query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a second search engine;
submitting to the first search engine the first query;
submitting to the second search engine the second query;
receiving from the first search engine a first plurality of document identifiers;
receiving from the second search engine a second plurality of document identifies; and
for one or more document identifier included in the first plurality of document identifiers and for one or more document identifier included in the second plurality of document identifiers, determining a score for the document identified by the document identifier, wherein the step of determining the score includes the step of identifying a figure legend within the document, and wherein the document'"'"'s score is, at the least, a function of whether the keyword, synonym and/or related word is found in the identified figure legend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An information retrieval system, comprising:
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means for prompting a user to input an initial query;
means for receiving the initial query input by the user, wherein the initial query includes a keyword;
means for determining a synonym of the keyword;
means for determining a term related to the keyword;
means for creating a first query, wherein the first query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a first search engine;
means for creating a second query, wherein the second query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a second search engine;
means for submitting to the first search engine the first query;
means for submitting to the second search engine the second query;
means for receiving from the first search engine a first plurality of document identifiers;
means for receiving from the second search engine a second plurality of document identifies; and
scoring means for determining a score for a document identified by a document identifier from the first or second plurality of document identifiers, the scoring means including means for identifying a figure legend within the document, wherein the document'"'"'s score is, at the least, a function of whether the keyword, synonym and/or related word is found in the identified figure legend. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
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a computer code segment for prompting a user to input an initial query;
a computer code segment for receiving the initial query input by the user, wherein the initial query includes a keyword;
a computer code segment for determining a synonym of the keyword;
a computer code segment for determining a term related to the keyword;
a computer code segment for creating a first query, wherein the first query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a first search engine;
a computer code segment for creating a second query, wherein the second query (a) includes the keyword, the synonym, and/or the related term and (b) conforms to the query protocol of a second search engine;
a computer code segment for submitting to the first search engine the first query;
a computer code segment for submitting to the second search engine the second query;
a computer code segment for receiving from the first search engine a first plurality of document identifiers;
a computer code segment for receiving from the second search engine a second plurality of document identifies; and
a computer code segment for determining a score for a document identified by a document identifier from the first or second plurality of document identifiers, said computer code segment including code for identifying a figure legend within the document, wherein the document'"'"'s score is, at the least, a function of whether the keyword, synonym and/or related word is found in the identified figure legend. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification