Method for detecting and fulfilling an information need corresponding to simple queries
First Claim
1. A method of fulfilling an information need comprising:
- obtaining an input query including at least one user-specified search term;
converting said input query into a converted input query; and
using said converted input query to obtain a result wherein said result does not include said at least one user-specified search term included in said input query.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described are techniques used in fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question. A query is accepted that includes one or more words not formulated as a natural language question. The query is syntactically analyzed in order to extract a concept from the query. Documents are identified containing the one or more words. The analyzed query is matched to one or more question keys in a structures repository. A best match is determined between the analyzed query and a question key of the structures repository. The key of the at least one best key match is mapped to partially specified queries and the key of the best question key match is mapped to questions representing an information need corresponding to the query. The partially specified queries and questions are matched to potential answers contained in a collection of documents. One or more matching answers are returned based on a metric.
29 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method of fulfilling an information need comprising:
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obtaining an input query including at least one user-specified search term;
converting said input query into a converted input query; and
using said converted input query to obtain a result wherein said result does not include said at least one user-specified search term included in said input query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data structure stored in a computer memory comprising:
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at least one key field describing an input query format;
at least one of;
a statement format field specifying an alternate form in which data included in said input query format may be specified as an affirmative statement; and
a question format field specifying data included in said input query format as a question. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for determining a result to an input query comprising:
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determining whether said input query matches an input query format;
if said input query matches said specified input query format, determining at least one alternate form in which data included in said input query format may be specified as at least one of;
an affirmative statement of a question and a question; and
determining said result using said at least one of said affirmative statement and said question, said result not including user-specified search terms of said input query. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer program product for fulfilling an information need comprising:
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executable code that obtains an input query including at least one user-specified search term;
executable code that converts said input query into a converted input query; and
executable code that uses said converted input query to obtain a result wherein aid result does not include said at least one user-specified search term included in said input query. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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39. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:
executable code that performs a document search using said at least one term included in said input query.
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47. A computer program product for determining a result to an input query comprising:
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executable code that determines whether said input query matches an input query format;
executable code that, if said input query matches said specified input query format, determines at least one alternate form in which data included in said input query format may be specified as at least one of;
an affirmative statement of a question and a question; and
executable code that determines said result using said at least one of said affirmative statement and said question, said result not including user-specified search terms of said input query. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query that includes one or more words not formulated as a natural language question but which corresponds to an information need; and
returning one or more answers satisfying the information need. - View Dependent Claims (60, 62)
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61. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
syntactically analyzing the query in order to extract a concept from the query;
identifying and returning documents containing the one or more words;
matching the analyzed query to one or more keys in a structures repository;
determining a best match between the analyzed query and a key of the structures repository;
mapping the key of the best match to partially specified queries representing an information need corresponding to the query;
matching the partially specified queries to potential answers contained in a collection of documents; and
returning one or more matching answers based on a metric.
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63. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
identifying and returning documents containing the one or more words; and
returning one or more answers satisfying an information need corresponding to the query.
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64. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
syntactically analyzing the query in order to extract a concept from the query;
identifying and returning documents containing the one or more words;
matching the analyzed query to one or more keys in a structures repository;
determining a best match between the analyzed query and a key of the structures repository;
mapping the key of the best match to partially specified queries representing an information need corresponding to the query;
matching the partially specified queries to potential answers contained in a collection of documents; and
returning one or more matching answers based on a metric.
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65. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
transforming the query into one or more natural language questions; and
processing the natural language questions to obtain answers from a collection of documents. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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68. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query comprised of one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
syntactically analyzing the query in order to extract a concept from the query;
identifying and returning documents containing the one or more words;
matching the analyzed query to one or more question keys in a structures repository;
determining a best match between the analyzed query and a question key of the structures repository;
mapping the question key of the best match to questions representing an information need corresponding to the query;
matching the questions to potential answers contained in a collection of documents; and
returning one or more matching answers based on a metric.
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69. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
identifying and returning documents containing the one or more words;
transforming the query into one or more natural language questions; and
processing the natural language questions to obtain answers from a collection of documents. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
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72. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query comprised of one or more words not formulated as a natural language question;
syntactically analyzing the query in order to extract a concept from the query;
identifying documents containing the one or more words;
matching the analyzed query to one or more question keys in a structures repository;
determining a best match between the analyzed query and a question key of the structures repository;
mapping the question key of the best match to questions representing an information need corresponding to the query;
matching the questions to potential answers contained in a collection of documents; and
returning one or more matching answers based on a metric.
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73. A method of fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question, comprising:
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accepting a query including at least one word not formulated as a natural language question;
syntactically analyzing the query producing an analyzed query in order to extract a concept from the query;
matching the analyzed query to at least one of a key and a question key in a structures repository;
determining at least one best match between the analyzed query and said at least one of a key and question key of the structures repository;
mapping the key of the at least one best key match to partially specified queries and the key of the best question key match to questions representing an information need corresponding to the query;
matching the partially specified queries and questions to potential answers contained in a collection of documents; and
returning one or more matching answers based on a metric.
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Specification