Concept dictionary based information retrieval
First Claim
1. A method of generating a concept dictionary (140) for use in querying an information system (125), comprising the steps of:
- (i) receiving an information search criterion;
(ii) deriving (105), using a lexical reference source (115), at least one search criterion having related meaning to said received search criterion (110);
(iii) identifying sets of information in said information system (125) relevant to said received search criterion (110) and to said at least one derived search criterion;
(iv) analysing the identified sets of information to derive relationships between said received search criterion (110) and said at least one derived search criterion in the context of said information system (125); and
(v) storing, in a concept dictionary (140), information relating to said received (110) and said at least one derived search criterion and to respective said derived relationships therebetween, for use in querying said information system (125).
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for generating and updating a concept dictionary 140 in respect of an information system 125 and for using that concept dictionary to assist in selecting queries and query terms for use in interrogating that information system 125. A lexical reference source 115 is first used to generate queries semantically related to a query 110 entered by a user, and the answers returned for each query are analysed using a fuzzy processing technique (135) to determine semantic relationships between the queries. The queries and the determined relationships are recorded in a concept dictionary 140 for subsequent use.
54 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of generating a concept dictionary (140) for use in querying an information system (125), comprising the steps of:
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(i) receiving an information search criterion;
(ii) deriving (105), using a lexical reference source (115), at least one search criterion having related meaning to said received search criterion (110);
(iii) identifying sets of information in said information system (125) relevant to said received search criterion (110) and to said at least one derived search criterion;
(iv) analysing the identified sets of information to derive relationships between said received search criterion (110) and said at least one derived search criterion in the context of said information system (125); and
(v) storing, in a concept dictionary (140), information relating to said received (110) and said at least one derived search criterion and to respective said derived relationships therebetween, for use in querying said information system (125). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An information retrieval apparatus (100) for accessing sets of information stored in an information system (125), comprising;
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an input for receiving an information search criterion (110);
deriving means (105) for deriving, using a lexical reference source (115), at least one search criterion having related meaning to said received information search criterion (110);
retrieval means (120) for identifying sets of information in said information system (125) relevant to said received search criterion (110) and to said at least one derived search criterion;
analysis means (135) for analysing said identified sets of information to derive relationships between said received search criterion (110) and said at least one derived search criterion in the context of said information system (125); and
updating means for storing, in a concept dictionary (140), information relating to said received (110) and said at least one derived search criterion and to respective said derived relationships therebetween, for use in querying said information system (125).
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Specification