Predictive phonetic data search

• US 20060271522A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Baldwin, James Armand, McEnroe, Elizabeth Rose, Scott, Samuel Thomas III
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3337 Translation of the query language, e.g. Chinese to English
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3343 using phonetics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Predictive phonetic data search is described. In an embodiment, a search request to locate a term is received, where the term can be a word, a group of words, and/or any combination of characters and numbers. A numeric index is then searched to locate a number that matches a numerical equivalent of the term designated in the search request. The term is obtained from a term index that is mapped to the number in the numeric index that matches the numerical equivalent of the term, and the term is returned in response to the search request.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a search request to locate a term;

searching a numeric index to locate a number that matches a numerical equivalent of the term;

obtaining the term from a term index that is mapped to the number in the numeric index which matches the numerical equivalent of the term; and

returning the term in response to the search request.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a sequence of characters entered on at least one of a numeric keypad or an alphanumeric keypad.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a sequence of letters each associated with a channel number input key entered on a keypad of a television remote control device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a sequence of letters each associated with a telephone number input key entered on a keypad of a cellular phone.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a text-based input that includes a sequence of characters which correspond to two or-more words.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a combination of alphabetic characters and at least one numeric character.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the search request is received as a phonetic equivalent of the term, the number matches a numerical equivalent of the phonetic equivalent in the numeric index, and a correct spelling of the term that corresponds to the phonetic equivalent of the term is returned in response to the search request.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the search request is received as the phonetic equivalent which is a misspelling of the term.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the search request is received as the phonetic equivalent which includes only consonants in the term and no vowels.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the search request is received as the phonetic equivalent that includes a number in place of a word in the term.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising obtaining a translation of the term in a different language than a language of the search request, and returning the translation of the term in response to the search request.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving an audio input of the term and converting the audio input into the search request to locate the term.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising returning a list of likely terms that correspond to the term in response to the search request.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising processing the search request to return the term based on a designated response instance of the term, and returning the term according to the designated response instance.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the term is returned as at least one of a program schedule, a broadcast television selection, an on-demand selection, or an application program.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving text data from one or more text data sources;

identifying search terms in the text data;

computing a numeric equivalent of each search term;

maintaining the numeric equivalent of each search term in a numeric index that can be searched in response to a search request for a particular search term; and

mapping each numeric equivalent in the numeric index to the corresponding search term in a term index such that when a numeric equivalent of the particular search term is located in the numeric index, the corresponding search term in the term index can be returned in response to the search request.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising computing additional numeric equivalents each corresponding to a phonetic equivalent of a search term, and maintaining the additional numeric equivalents in the numeric index.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein a numeric equivalent of a phonetic equivalent of a search term corresponds to at least one of a misspelling of the search term, a spelling of the search term that includes only consonants, or a number in place of a word in the search term.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

generating one or more translations of a search term;

maintaining the one or more translations in a translations index; and

mapping the one or more translations to a corresponding search term such that when the numeric equivalent of the particular search term is located in the numeric index, a translation of the search term can be returned in response to the search request.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the text data is received from the one or more text data sources that include at least one of electronic program guide data or closed captions data corresponding to television content.