Multi-Entity-Centric Integrated Search System and Method

• US 20090254527A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
• Original Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
• Inventors: Kim, Pyung, Lee, Seung Woo, Sung, Won Kyung, Park, Dong In, Jung, Han Min, Lee, Mi Kyung, Hahn, Sun Hwa, Jin, Du Seok, Yoon, Jung Sun
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3332 Query translation

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multi-entity-centric integrated search system and method. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system includes an entity information acquisition server for receiving and analyzing a query term and determining entities and types of entities, and an integrated search result provision server for configuring an integrated search results page using results acquired from unit service calling units, such as an external API calling unit, a search engine calling unit, and an inference engine calling unit, and presenting integrated search results. The present invention is advantageous in that precise search results can be shown more rapidly, satisfaction with search results for a query term in which multiple entities coexist can be improved, the ambiguity of query terms is overcome, and an open platform capable of operating in conjunction with various types of web services is provided.

Claims

1. A multi-entity-centric integrated search system, the system being connected through a wired/wireless communication network and performing computer communication and operation processing, comprising:

an entity information acquisition server including a query term input unit for receiving a query term, a query term analysis unit for analyzing the query term and detecting combinations of entities separated by a delimiter from the query term, an entity search unit for searching an entity database for the detected entities and returning existence of entities and types of the entities as resulting values, an entity and entity type detection unit for providing combinations, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, among the combinations, as final search results, and an entity and entity type determination unit for selecting any one from among the combinations, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database; and

an integrated search result provision server including a search result calling unit for utilizing at least one unit service calling unit, which acquires search result values for the selected combination, a unit service result configuration unit for setting a method of arranging and outputting the search result values, and an integrated search result presentation unit for outputting integrated search results including the arranged search result values.

2. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the unit service calling unit is configured to select at least one from among an external Application Programming Interface (API) calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an external API and by applying the selected combination to the external API, a search engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in a search engine and by applying the selected combination to the API, an inference engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in an inference engine and by applying the selected combination to the API, and combinations thereof.

3. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the external API is an API of an external service site or an open API.

4. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to acquire the search result values after querying about previously indexed information.

5. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to query about the entities included in the selected combination individually or collectively.

6. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit acquires the search result values by additionally using identifier scheme information, including a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and an International Resource Identifier (IRI).

7. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine includes the entities included in the selected combination and identifier scheme information, including a URI or an IRI.

8. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine uses a format of SPARQL or RDQL.

9. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the delimiter is a space, a semicolon, a colon, tab or a combination thereof.

10. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the final search results provided through the entity and entity type detection unit further include entities, entity identifiers, or combinations thereof.

11. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein a method of selecting any one combination through the entity and entity type determination unit is one of a minimum entity number priority method, a maximum entity number priority method, a minimum entity type number priority method and a maximum entity type number priority method.

12. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the search result calling unit uses unit service calling units mapped to the combination selected by the entity and entity type determination unit.

13. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated search results are provided in a single page.

14. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated search results further include any one of present condition information about system status, information about the selected combination, information about combinations that are not selected, information about size of search results, and combinations thereof.

15. A multi-entity-centric integrated search method, the method making a connection through a wired/wireless communication network and performing computer communication and operation processing, comprising the steps of:

receiving a query term through a query term input unit;

analyzing the query term and detecting combinations of entities separated by a delimiter through a query term analysis unit;

searching an entity database for the detected entities and returning existence of entities and types of entities as resulting values through an entity search unit;

providing combinations, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, among the combinations, as final search results through an entity and entity type detection unit;

selecting any one from among the combinations, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, through an entity and entity type determination unit;

utilizing at least one unit service calling unit, which acquires search result values for the selected combination through a search result calling unit;

arranging and outputting the search result values through a unit service result configuration unit; and

outputting integrated search results, including the arranged search result values, through an integrated search result presentation unit.

16. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the unit service calling unit is configured to select at least one from among an external Application Programming Interface (API) calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an external API and by applying the selected combination to the external API, a search engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in a search engine and by applying the selected combination to the API, an inference engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in an inference engine and by applying the selected combination to the API, and combinations thereof.

17. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein the external API is an API of an external service site or an open API.

18. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to acquire the search result values after querying about previously indexed information.

19. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to query about the entities included in the selected combination individually or collectively.

20. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein the search engine calling unit acquires the search result values by additionally using identifier scheme information, including a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and an International Resource Identifier (IRI).

21. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine includes the entities included in the selected combination and identifier scheme information, including a URI or an IRI.

22. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 16, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine uses a format of SPARQL or RDQL.

23. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the delimiter is a space, a semicolon, a colon, tab or a combination thereof.

24. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the final search results provided through the entity and entity type detection unit further include entities, entity identifiers, or combinations thereof.

25. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein a method of selecting any one combination through the entity and entity type determination unit is one of a minimum entity number priority method, a maximum entity number priority method, a minimum entity type number priority method and a maximum entity type number priority method.

26. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the search result calling unit uses unit service calling units mapped to the combination selected by the entity and entity type determination unit.

27. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the integrated search results are provided in a single page.

28. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the integrated search results further include any one of present condition information about system status, information about the selected combination, information about combinations that are not selected, information about size of search results, and combinations thereof.

29. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program for executing the method according to any of claims 15 to 28.