Subject matter context search engine

• US 20050289168A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Markey, Kevin L., Green, Edward A., Kreider, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A search system associates contextual metadata with search terms and/or stored terms to facilitate identification of relevant information. In one implementation, a search term is identified (4304) from a received search request. The search term is then rewritten (4306) in standard form and the standard form term is then set (4308) as the current search parameter. A source database is then searched (4310) using the current search parameter. If any results are obtained (4312) these results may be output (4320) to the user. If no results are obtained, a parent classification of the search term is set (4316) as the current search parameter and the process is repeated. The invention thereby provides the ease of use of term searching with the comprehensiveness of category searching.

Claims

1. A method for use in establishing a searchable data structure, comprising the steps of:

providing a list of terms pertaining to a subject matter area of interest; and

establishing a classification structure for said subject matter area of interest, said classification structure having a hierarchical form including classes, corresponding to a subset of said subject matter area, each of which includes one or more sub-classes corresponding to a subset of a respective one of said classes;

for each one term of said terms, associating said one term with said classification structure such that said one term is assigned to at least one of said sub-classes and at least one of said classes.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terms comprise potential search terms for use in search requests to access data of said subject matter area of interest.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terms comprise source terms of a source data collection.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of providing a list comprises providing potential search terms for use in search requests and providing source terms of a source data collection.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step off establishing comprises adopting, at least in part, a pre-existing classification structure for said subject matter area.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of establishing comprises using one or more individuals to develop a classification structure for said subject matter area.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of associating comprises establishing a database where said one term is related to said one sub-class and said one class such that data identified by said one term can be accessed in said database based on selecting any one of said one term, said sub-class and said class.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of associating comprises providing a graphical representation of said classification structure on a graphical user interface and using said graphical representation to effect an association of said one term with a node of said classification structure.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of using said graphical representation comprises dragging a first graphical element representing said one term relative to said graphical user interface and dropping said first graphical element at a second graphical element representing said node of said classification structure.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of providing a list comprises obtaining a first set of terms in a first form and transforming said first set of terms into a second form to provide a second set of terms, wherein said second form differs from said first form with respect to at least one of linguistics and syntax.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second set contains less terms than said first set.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of providing comprises translating said terms from a first language to a second language.

13. A method for use in searching stored data, comprising the steps of:

establishing a knowledge base for a given subject matter area, wherein an association is defined between potential search terms for search requests and source terms identifying source data of said subject matter area based on a common classification of said subject matter area, thereby establishing a context for matching said search terms and said source terms in relation to said subject matter area;

receiving a search request including a first search term;

using said knowledge base to search stored information to retrieve responsive information that is responsive to said search request; and

responding to said search request using said responsive information.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said given subject matter area relates to a commercial product field.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of establishing comprises using a subject matter expert to establish said associations for particular products in said product field.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of establishing comprises establishing an association between multiple products based on an equivalency of said products.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of establishing comprises associating individual products with a defined product category.

18. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of establishing a knowledge base comprises obtaining a list of said potential search terms and transforming said potential search terms of said list from a first form to a second form, where said second form differs from said first form with respect to one of linguistics and syntax.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said transforming comprises translating said potential search terms from a first language to a second language.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said transforming comprises re-writing said potential search terms in a standard form.

21. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of establishing a knowledge base comprises obtaining a list of said source terms and transforming said source terms of said list from a first form to a second form, where said second form differs from said first form with respect to one of linguistics and syntax.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said transforming comprises translating said source terms from a first language to a second language.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said transforming comprises re-writing said source terms in a standard form.

24. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of using comprises identifying a first knowledge base term within said knowledge base, different than said first search term, that is associated with said first search term, and using said first knowledge base term to search said stored information.

25. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of using comprises identifying a first classification of said subject matter area associated with said first search term, and searching said stored information based on said first classification.

26. A method as set forth in claim 25, wherein said first term is further associated with a second classification of said subject matter area, where said second classification is a sub-classification of said first classification, and said step of using comprises searching said stored information based on both said first classification and said second classification.

27. A method as set forth in claim 26, wherein a search based on said second classification is conducted before a search based on said first classification.

28. A method as set forth in claim 27, wherein said search based on said first classification is conducted based on a result of said search based on said second classification.

29. A method as set forth in claim 28, wherein said search based on said first classification is conducted based on a failure to obtain said responsive information from said search based on said second classification.

30. A method as set forth in claim 28, wherein said search based on said first classification is conducted based on obtaining less than a defined amount of responsive information from said search based on said second classification.

31. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of responding comprises prioritizing items of said responsive information for presentation based on a relevance related criterion.

32. A method as set forth in claim 31, wherein said criterion relates to a classification level by which respective ones of said items were identified in searching said stored information.

33. A method for use in searching stored data, comprising the steps of:

providing a list of terms pertaining to a subject matter of interest;

establishing a set of rules for transforming said terms from a first form to a second form, where said second form differs from said first form with respect to at least one of linguistics and syntax;

using said rules to transform a given term, thereby providing a transformed term; and

using said transformed term to search said stored data in response to a search request.

34. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said given term is transformed prior to receiving said search request.

35. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said given term is a search term included in said search request.

36. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said given term is a source term of said stored data.

37. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein two separate terms from said list of terms in said first form correspond to a single term in said second form.

38. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said using said rules comprises converting said given term to a standardized form and then translating said standardized form.

39. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said step of using said rules comprises associating contextual metadata with said given term, wherein said contextual metadata assists in searching said stored data.

40. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said given term is a standardized term and said transformed term corresponds to a native form of a legacy database.

41. A method as set forth in claim 33, wherein said step of using said transformed term comprises searching multiple legacy databases.

42. A searchable data system, comprising:

an input port for receiving a search request including a search term;

a second storage structure for storing a knowledge base for relating potential search terms to a defined classification structure of said subject matter of said searchable data system;

logic for identifying said search term of said search request, using said knowledge base to relate said search term to a determined classification of said classification structure, and using said determined classification to access said first storage structure to obtain responsive data that is responsive to said search request; and

an output port for outputting said responsive data.

43. A method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said logic is operative for mapping said search term to a standardized term of a set of predefined standardized terms.

44. A method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said classification structure includes multiple classifications having parent and child relationships where a child classification corresponds to a subset of an associated parent classification in relation to said subject matter, and to at least one child classification and an associated parent classification.

45. A method as set forth in claim 44, wherein a given child classification is associated with a plurality of parent classifications.