Expanding Concept Types In Conceptual Graphs

• US 20100287179A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forcepoint Federal Holdings LLC (Forcepoint LLC)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Jonathon P., Peoples, Bruce E., Johnson, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3334 Selection or weighting of terms from queries, including natural language queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence

Abstract

In one embodiment, searching documents includes generating a query conceptual graph for a search query. The query conceptual graph has graph terms representing concept types. A set of conceptually similar terms is identified for each graph term, and the set is mapped to the concept type represented by the graph term. Documents are searched in accordance with the set of conceptually similar terms. In another embodiment, selecting a document includes determining documents that satisfy a search query expressed as a query conceptual graph. A document conceptual graph that has graph terms representing concept types is generated for each document. A set of conceptually similar terms is identified for each graph term, where the set is mapped to the concept type represented by the graph term. A document is selected if terms of the sets associated with the document match terms associated with the query conceptual graph.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a query conceptual graph for a search query, the query conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms, a graph term representing a concept type;

identifying a set of conceptually similar terms for each graph term of one or more graph terms of the plurality of graph terms, the set of conceptually similar terms mapped to the concept type represented by the each graph term; and

searching a plurality of documents in accordance with the set of conceptually similar terms.

2. The method of claim 1, the generating the query conceptual graph for the search query further comprising:

generating the query conceptual graph in accordance with one or more query terms of the search query.

3. The method of claim 1, the identifying the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term further comprising:

determining a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic sense.

4. The method of claim 1, the identifying the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term further comprising:

determining a plurality of conceptually similar term options in accordance with a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms from the plurality of conceptually similar term options.

5. The method of claim 1:

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.

6. A system comprising:

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

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

generate the query conceptual graph;

identify a set of conceptually similar terms for each graph term of one or more graph terms of the plurality of graph terms, the set of conceptually similar terms mapped to the concept type represented by the each graph term; and

search a plurality of documents in accordance with the set of conceptually similar terms.

7. The system of claim 6, the logic configured to generate the query conceptual graph for the search query by:

generating the query conceptual graph in accordance with one or more query terms of the search query.

8. The system of claim 6, the logic configured to identify the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term by:

determining a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic sense.

9. The system of claim 6, the logic configured to identify the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term by:

determining a plurality of conceptually similar term options in accordance with a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms from the plurality of conceptually similar term options.

10. The system of claim 6:

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.

11. A method comprising:

determining a plurality of documents that satisfy a search query expressed as a query conceptual graph;

performing the following for each document of the plurality of documents to identify one or more sets of conceptually similar terms for the each document;

generating a document conceptual graph for the each document, the document conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms, a graph term representing a concept type; and

identifying a set of conceptually similar terms for each graph term of one or more graph terms of the plurality of graph terms, the set of conceptually similar terms mapped to the concept type represented by the each graph term; and

selecting a document if one or more terms of the one or more sets of conceptually similar terms for the document match one or more terms associated with the query conceptual graph.

12. The method of claim 11, the selecting the document further comprising:

validating the match between the subset of the set of conceptually similar terms of the document and the one or more terms associated with the query conceptual graph.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating translation at least one document from a foreign language to a native language of the search query.

14. The method of claim 11, the identifying the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term further comprising:

determining a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic sense.

15. The method of claim 11, the identifying the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term further comprising:

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms using an onomasticon.

16. A system comprising:

a memory configured to store a search query expressed as a query conceptual graph; and

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

determine a plurality of documents that satisfy the search query;

perform the following for each document of the plurality of documents to identify one or more sets of conceptually similar terms for the each document;

generate a document conceptual graph for the each document, the document conceptual graph comprising a plurality of graph terms, a graph term representing a concept type; and

identify a set of conceptually similar terms for each graph term of one or more graph terms of the plurality of graph terms, the set of conceptually similar terms mapped to the concept type represented by the each graph term; and

select a document if one or more terms of the one or more sets of conceptually similar terms for the document match one or more terms associated with the query conceptual graph.

17. The system of claim 16, the logic configured to select the document by:

validating the match between the subset of the set of conceptually similar terms of the document and the one or more terms associated with the query conceptual graph.

18. The system of claim 16, the logic further configured to:

initiate translation at least one document from a foreign language to a native language of the search query.

19. The system of claim 16, the logic configured to identify the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term by:

determining a semantic sense for a search query concept of the search query; and

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms in accordance with the semantic sense.

20. The system of claim 16, the logic configured to identify the set of conceptually similar terms for the each graph term by:

identifying the set of conceptually similar terms using an onomasticon.