Determining Query Return Referents for Concept Types in Conceptual Graphs

• US 20100153369A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forcepoint Federal Holdings LLC (Francisco Partners Management LLC)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Peoples, Bruce E., Johnson, Michael R., Smith, Michael M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/367 Ontology

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for determining query return referent data for concept types in a conceptual graph includes generating a conceptual graph for a document query, the conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms, identifying one of more of the plurality of graph terms needing referent data, identifying conceptually similar terms for each of the graph terms, for the graph terms needing referents, identifying referent data by searching for instances where conceptually similar terms for graph terms needing referent data are associated by conceptually similar terms for the linking concept term, and associating identified referent data with the graph terms needing referent data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining query return referent data for concept types in a conceptual graph comprising:

generating a conceptual graph for a document query, the conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms;

identifying one of more of the plurality of graph terms needing referent data;

identifying conceptually similar terms for each of the graph terms;

for the graph terms needing referents, identifying referent data by searching for instances where conceptually similar terms for graph terms needing referent data are associated by conceptually similar terms for the linking concept term; and

associating identified referent data with the graph terms needing referent data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graph terms includes at a first object concepts and a second object concept, and wherein the first object concept and the second object concept are associated by a linking concept.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying conceptually similar terms for each of the graph terms comprises:

identifying a first set of conceptually similar terms for the first object concept;

identifying a second set of conceptually similar terms for the second object concept; and

identifying a third set of conceptually similar terms for the linking concept.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying referent data by searching for instances where conceptually similar terms for graph terms needing referent data are associated by conceptually similar terms for the linking concept term comprises identifying a document containing an instance wherein a term from the first set of conceptually similar terms is associated with a term from the second set of conceptually similar terms by a term from the third set of conceptually similar terms.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

modifying mapping data for each term in the first set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with a first object concept needing referent data;

modifying mapping data for each term in the second set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with the second object concept needing referent data; and

modifying mapping data for each term in the third set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with a linking concept; and

wherein the modified mapping data is used to identify the referent data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a unique identifier for the query and a unique identifier for a document associated with the instance data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the conceptual graph based on the identified referents.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more conceptually similar terms for the graph terms comprises:

determining a semantic sense for each graph term; and

identifying the conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic senses.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of conceptually similar terms comprising at least one foreign language term comprising a foreign language translation of a native language term conceptually similar to the search query.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein associating identified referent data with the graph terms needing referent data comprises updating mapping information in an onomasticon.

11. A system for determining query return referent data for concept types in a conceptual graph comprising:

a memory configured to store a conceptual graph for a search query, the conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms and a linking concept term; and

logic stored in one or more tangible media and when executed by a computer configured to;

generate a conceptual graph for a document query, the conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms;

identify one of more of the plurality of graph terms needing referent data;

identify conceptually similar terms for each of the graph terms;

for the graph terms needing referents, identify referent data by searching for instances where conceptually similar terms for graph terms needing referent data are associated by conceptually similar terms for the linking concept term; and

associate identified referent data with the graph terms needing referent data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of graph terms includes at a first object concepts and a second object concept, and wherein the first object concept and the second object concept are associated by a linking concept.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein identifying conceptually similar terms for each of the graph terms comprises:

identifying a first set of conceptually similar terms for the first object concept;

identifying a second set of conceptually similar terms for the second object concept; and

identifying a third set of conceptually similar terms for the linking concept.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein identifying referent data by searching for instances where conceptually similar terms for graph terms needing referent data are associated by conceptually similar terms for the linking concept term comprises identifying a document containing an instance wherein a term from the first set of conceptually similar terms is associated with a term from the second set of conceptually similar terms by a term from the third set of conceptually similar terms.

15. The system of claim 12, the logic further operable to:

modify mapping data for each term in the first set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with a first object concept needing referent data;

modify mapping data for each term in the second set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with the second object concept needing referent data; and

modify mapping data for each term in the third set of conceptually similar terms to include an indication that it is associated with a linking concept; and

wherein the modified mapping data is used to identify the referent data.

16. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to:

store a unique identifier for the query and a unique identifier for a document associated with the instance data.

17. The system of claim 11, the logic further operable to validate the conceptual graph based on the identified referents.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein identifying one or more conceptually similar terms for the graph terms comprises:

determining a semantic sense for each graph term; and

identifying the conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic senses.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the set of conceptually similar terms comprising at least one foreign language term comprising a foreign language translation of a native language term conceptually similar to the search query.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein associating identified referent data with the graph terms needing referent data comprises updating mapping information in an onomasticon.