FAQ link creation between user's questions and answers

• US 6,028,601 A
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Machiraju, Nagabhushan Rao, Vemuri, Sunil, Chandhok, Ravinder Paul, Lofgren, Catherine Abbott, Graves, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/829,862
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326-358, 434/118, 434/968, 707/501, 707/4, 707/5, 707/3, 707/6, 707/104, 707/7, 704/9
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/211 Syntactic parsing, e.g. based on context-free grammar [CFG] or unification grammars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A user enters input, or a question in natural language form, and information is retrieved. A questions database is coupled to the input interface and contains questions which are comparable to the input and which the source retrieves in response to an input. An information source is coupled to the input interface and contains information which is relevant to retrieved questions. A searcher is coupled to the input interface for searching the information source for information which is relevant to the input. Information is ranked according to the entered query. A user'"'"'s question is stored and linked to answers in the questions database. Users may add and link new questions which are not already stored in the questions database.

Claims

1. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface and containing questions which are comparable to said input and which said questions source retrieves in response to an input;

an information source coupled to said input interface and containing information which is relevant to retrieved questions; and

a searcher coupled to said input interface for searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input;

wherein said input interface permits said input to be linked to information in said information source and to be stored in said questions source.

2. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface and containing questions which are comparable to said input and which said questions source retrieves in response to an input;

an information source coupled to said input interface and containing information which is relevant to retrieved questions; and

a searcher coupled to said input interface for searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input;

wherein said input interface permits said input to be linked to a question in said questions source.

3. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface and containing questions which are comparable to said input and which said questions source retrieves in response to an input;

an information source coupled to said input interface and containing information which is relevant to retrieved questions; and

a searcher coupled to said input interface for searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input;

wherein said input interface permits removal of a question from said questions source.

4. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface, said questions source containing questions which are comparable to said input and which are retrieved in response to said input; and

an information source coupled to said input interface, said information source containing information which is relevant to said questions and being capable of searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input and retrieving said information in response to said input;

wherein said input interface permits said input to be linked to information in said information source and to be stored in said questions source.

5. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface, said questions source containing questions which are comparable to said input and which are retrieved in response to said input; and

an information source coupled to said input interface, said information source containing information which is relevant to said questions and being capable of searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input and retrieving said information in response to said input;

wherein said input interface permits said input to be linked to a question in said questions source.

6. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a user'"'"'s input, comprising:

an input interface through which a user can enter an input;

a questions source coupled to said input interface, said questions source containing questions which are comparable to said input and which are retrieved in response to said input; and

an information source coupled to said input interface, said information source containing information which is relevant to said questions and being capable of searching said information source for information which is relevant to said input and retrieving said information in response to said input;

wherein said input interface permits removal of a question from said questions source.

7. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a query, comprising:

a client application through which a user can input a query;

a questions database coupled to said client application, said questions database containing questions which are comparable to said query and which are retrieved in response to said query;

a document collection coupled to said client application, said document collection containing information which is relevant to said questions; and

a search and index engine coupled to said client application and to said document collection for searching said document collection for information which is relevant to said query;

wherein said client application permits said query to be linked to information in said document collection and to be stored in said questions database.

8. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a query, comprising:

a client application through which a user can input a query;

a questions database coupled to said client application, said questions database containing questions which are comparable to said query and which are retrieved in response to said query;

a document collection coupled to said client application, said document collection containing information which is relevant to said questions; and

a search and index engine coupled to said client application and to said document collection for searching said document collection for information which is relevant to said query;

wherein said client application permits said query to be linked to a question in said questions database.

9. A system for retrieving information which is relevant to a query, comprising:

a client application through which a user can input a query;

a questions database coupled to said client application, said questions database containing questions which are comparable to said query and which are retrieved in response to said query;

a document collection coupled to said client application, said document collection containing information which is relevant to said questions; and

a search and index engine coupled to said client application and to said document collection for searching said document collection for information which is relevant to said query;

wherein said client application permits removal of a question from said questions database.