Phonetic self-improving search engine

• US 20060074892A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davallou, Arash Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93

Abstract

The present invention relates to phonetic self-improving search engines. The search engine may include a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetic equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetic equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit. After an initial query in a primary database fails to produce a positive result, an error memory database may be queried with a search string to obtain a positive result based on records of previously failed searches which ultimately found a positive result. If no record is found, the search string may be parsed into at least one pronounceable unit. Phonetically equivalent formulas may be applied to the at least one pronounceable unit to create at least one phonetic search string which is re-queried into the error memory database and the primary database. Successful positive results may be stored with the search string in the error memory database.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is the Internet, the search string is a word or phrase within a web-page, and the search result is a link to the web-page that includes a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein when a phonetic equivalent to the search string is included in the web page, a query to the user is included proximate the search string to determine whether the phonetic equivalent is the search string intended by the user.

4. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

where if a positive search result is generated, the system will query the user with a suggested spelling and provide the correctly spelled search string as the suggested spelling.

5. The method as in claim 4, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

6. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is selected from a group consisting of a personal contact system or a networked contact system;

the search string is created as an attempt to match a word or phrase within the primary database; and

the search result is contact information located in a the primary database that is a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

8. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is a networked data system and the error memory database of each user is updated based on data received from all other users on the network.

9. The method as in claim 8, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

10. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is an e-mail database;

the search string is created as an attempt to match a word or phrase within the e-mail database; and

the search result is a word or phrase within the e-mail database that is a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

11. The method as in claim 10, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

12. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database comprises products with product names/descriptions on an Internet-accessible database, the search string is created as an attempt to match a word or phrase within the product name/description, and the search result is a product within the Internet-accessible database that is a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

14. The method as in claim 13, where if a positive search result is generated, the system will query the user with a suggested spelling and provide the correctly spelled product name as the suggested spelling.

15. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is the Internet, and the search string is an attempt to match a portion of a uniform resource locator (URL), and the search result is a link comprising a URL containing a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

16. The method as in claim 15, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

17. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the search string is generated through a speech-to-text software application from the dictation of a user interacting with a database.

18. The method as in claim 17, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

19. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is an information directory.

20. The method as in claim 19, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

21. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the acts of:

(A) utilizing a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(2) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(3) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records;

(4) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(a) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

wherein the primary database is a set of computer files, the search string is an attempt to match a word or phrase about or within a computer file, and the search result is a link to the computer file that includes a phonetic equivalent to the search string.

22. The method as in claim 21, further comprising an act of utilizing an error memory database such that if the search string does not exist in the primary database, the method further comprises acts of:

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result;

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user; and

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein the computer files are selected from a group consisting of multimedia files and music files.