Apparatus and method for retrieving and grouping images representing text files based on the relevance of key words extracted from a selected file to the text files
First Claim
1. A computer system for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising:
- a bus;
an input device coupled to said bus for selecting a first reference file;
a storage area coupled to said bus having stored therein a program;
a processor coupled to said bus for executing said program, said program includingan algorithm for determining significant words of text comprising said first file, anda comparison algorithm for comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; and
a display device, coupled to said bus, for displaying a plurality of said significant words from said first reference file and one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files'"'"' relevance to said plurality of said significant words, wherein selecting one of said images designates the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file for initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database which are relevant to said second reference file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for searching and retrieving files in a database without a user being required to provide keywords or query terms. A user first selects and opens a reference file. A natural language recognition algorithm is used to determine the subject words of the selected file. Next, a statistical comparison between the subject words and the contents of files in a database is performed. Based on the statistical comparison, files are assigned weighted relevancies. Relevant files are prioritized and displayed to the user in groups. The groups are formed based on the retrieved files relevance to specific subject works of the selected file. The groups of retrieved files are displayed in associating with the subject word they are relevant to.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer system for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising:
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a bus; an input device coupled to said bus for selecting a first reference file; a storage area coupled to said bus having stored therein a program; a processor coupled to said bus for executing said program, said program including an algorithm for determining significant words of text comprising said first file, and a comparison algorithm for comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; and a display device, coupled to said bus, for displaying a plurality of said significant words from said first reference file and one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files'"'"' relevance to said plurality of said significant words, wherein selecting one of said images designates the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file for initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database which are relevant to said second reference file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for searching, retrieving, and displaying files in a database comprising:
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a computer system for selecting and opening a reference file; a search algorithm executed by said computer system for searching for and retrieving files from said database which are related to said reference file based on comparing significant words of said reference file and text of other files residing in said database; an algorithm for categorizing and prioritizing said retrieved files into a plurality of groups, wherein each of said plurality of groups corresponds to a commonly used subject word in said reference file; and a display for displaying said commonly used subject words, bit-mapped images representing said prioritized files corresponding to commonly used words, and a bit-mapped image representing said reference file, said bit-mapped images being scaled representations of document cover sheets in said files, wherein selecting a bit-mapped image results in designating its corresponding file as the reference file and initiates a search and retrieval based on said designated reference file. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a first reference file; (b) determining significant words of text comprising said first reference file; (c) comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; (d) determining whether to retrieve said second file based on said step of comparing; (e) retrieving said second file if said step of determining indicates said second file should be retrieved; (f) displaying a plurality of said significant words; (g) displaying one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files'"'"' relevance to said plurality of said significant words; and (h) upon selection of one of said images, designating the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file and initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database relevant to said second reference file. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification