Query meaning determination through a grid service

• US 20050278287A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Company (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Richards, Patrick J. Jr., Shaouy, William P., Bao, Zhendong
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3334 Selection or weighting of terms from queries, including natural language queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method, system, and program for query meaning determination through a grid service are provided. A search service within a grid environment receives a free text string as a search query, wherein the free text string includes multiple specifications. The search service controls distribution of the free text string to a selection of grid components, wherein each of the selection of grid components is enabled to interpret a particular aspect of the meaning of the multiple specifications in the free text string. Multiple aspect interpretations of the free text string are received at the search service from the selection of grid components. Next, the search service synthesizes the aspect interpretations into a search-ready query, such that the search request is first interpreted by the selection of grid components to determine a thorough meaning of the free text string before submission to a search engine.

Claims

1. A system for handling a free text search query, comprising:

a search service within a grid environment for receiving a free text string as a search query, wherein said free text string comprises a plurality of specifications;

said search service further comprising;

means for controlling distribution of said free text string to a selection of a plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components is enabled to interpret a meaning of a particular aspect of said plurality of specifications in said free text string;

means for receiving a plurality of aspect interpretations of said free text string from said selection of said plurality of grid components;

means for synthesizing said plurality of aspect interpretations into a search-ready query.

2. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, wherein said search-ready query further comprises a search query formatted for submission to a particular search engine.

3. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, said search service further comprising:

means for transferring said search-ready query to at least one search engine.

4. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, said search service further comprising:

means for receiving said free text string from a client;

means for receiving a search result for said search-ready query from a search engine;

means for formatting said search result for said client; and

means for returning said formatted search result to said client.

5. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

a client system interfacing with a web service, wherein said web service receives said free text string as said search query entered at said client system, wherein said web service invokes said search service and passes said free text string to said search service.

6. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, said search service further comprising:

means for scheduling said selection of said plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components meets a performance requirement for handling said search request.

7. The system according to claim 1 for handling a free text search query, wherein said selection of said plurality of grid components are reusable across a plurality of search services invoked for interpreting search queries.

8. A method for handling a free text search query, comprising:

receiving a free text string as a search query at a search service within a grid environment, wherein said free text string comprises a plurality of specifications;

controlling distribution of said free text string from said search service to a selection of a plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components is enabled to interpret a meaning of a particular aspect of said plurality of specifications in said free text string;

receiving a plurality of aspect interpretations of said free text string from said selection of said plurality of grid components;

synthesizing said plurality of aspect interpretations at said search service into a search-ready query, such that said search query is first interpreted by said selection of said plurality of grid components to determine a thorough meaning of said plurality of specifications of said free text string before submission to a search engine.

9. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

formatting said search-ready query into a particular search query format required for submission to a particular search engine.

10. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

transferring said search-ready query to at least one search engine.

11. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

receiving said free text string from a client;

receiving a search result for said search-ready query from a search engine;

formatting said search result for said client; and

returning said formatted search result to said client.

12. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

invoking said search service from a web service that receives said free text string from a client system interfacing with said web service.

13. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

scheduling said selection of said plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components meets a performance requirement for handling said search request.

14. The method according to claim 8 for handling a free text search query, wherein said selection of said plurality of grid components are reusable across a plurality of search services invoked for interpreting search queries.

15. A computer program product, residing on a computer readable medium, for handling a free text search query, comprising:

receiving a free text string as a search query at a search service within a grid environment, wherein said free text string comprises a plurality of specifications;

controlling distribution of said free text string from said search service to a selection of a plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components is enabled to interpret a meaning of a particular aspect of said plurality of specifications in said free text string;

receiving a plurality of aspect interpretations of said free text string from said selection of said plurality of grid components;

synthesizing said plurality of aspect interpretations at said search service into a search-ready query.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising

formatting said search-ready query into a particular search query format required for submission to a particular search engine.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

transferring said search-ready query to at least one search engine.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

receiving said free text string from a client;

receiving a search result for said search-ready query from a search engine;

formatting said search result for said client; and

returning said formatted search result to said client.

19. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

invoking said search service from a web service that receives said free text string from a client system interfacing with said web service.

20. The computer program product according to claim 15 for handling a free text search query, further comprising:

scheduling said selection of said plurality of grid components, wherein each of said selection of said plurality of grid components meets a performance requirement for handling said search request.