Information retrieval
First Claim
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1. A method of operating an information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database in response to queries submitted by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first user query;
deriving a first lexical chain set from said first user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm, said first lexical chain set comprising one or more lexical chains representing possible interpretations of said first user query;
storing one or more lexical chains from said first lexical chain set in a lexical chain storage means;
identifying a first subset of documents from said database using said first lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
making information relating to said first subset of documents available to the user;
receiving a subsequent user query, said subsequent user query being related to said first user query;
deriving a subsequent lexical chain set from said subsequent user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm in conjunction with one or more lexical chains stored in said lexical chain storage means;
identifying a subsequent subset of documents from said database using said subsequent lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
making information relating to said subsequent subset of documents available to the user.
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Abstract
An information retrieval system, and a method of operating an information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database in response to related queries submitted by a user, wherein information relating to possible interpretations of previous queries is stored and updated such that it may be used in order to disambiguate subsequent related queries and terms therein.
200 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating an information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database in response to queries submitted by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first user query;
deriving a first lexical chain set from said first user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm, said first lexical chain set comprising one or more lexical chains representing possible interpretations of said first user query;
storing one or more lexical chains from said first lexical chain set in a lexical chain storage means;
identifying a first subset of documents from said database using said first lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
making information relating to said first subset of documents available to the user;
receiving a subsequent user query, said subsequent user query being related to said first user query;
deriving a subsequent lexical chain set from said subsequent user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm in conjunction with one or more lexical chains stored in said lexical chain storage means;
identifying a subsequent subset of documents from said database using said subsequent lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
making information relating to said subsequent subset of documents available to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database in response to queries submitted by a user, said system comprising:
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means for receiving a first user query;
means arranged to derive a first lexical chain set from a first user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm, said first lexical chain set comprising one or more lexical chains representing possible interpretations of said first user query;
means arranged to store one or more lexical chains from said first lexical chain set in a lexical chain storage means;
means arranged to identify a first subset of documents from said database using said first lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
means for making information relating to said first subset of documents available to the user;
means for receiving a subsequent user query, said subsequent user query being related to said first user query;
means arranged to derive a subsequent lexical chain set from said subsequent user query using a predetermined lexical chaining algorithm in conjunction with one or more lexical chains stored in said lexical chain storage means;
means arranged to identify a subsequent subset of documents from said database using said subsequent lexical chain set and a predetermined information retrieval algorithm;
means for making information relating to said subsequent subset of documents available to the user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification