System and method for correcting spelling errors in search queries using both matching and non-matching search terms
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of predicting a correct spelling of a non-matching term in a multiple-term search query, the method comprising:
- identifying a plurality of additional terms that are related to at least one matching term within the multiple-term search query; and
comparing a spelling of the non-matching term to spellings of the additional terms to determine whether any of the additional terms is sufficiently similar in spelling to the non-matching term to be deemed a candidate correctly-spelled replacement term for the non-matching term;
whereby both matching and non-matching terms within the multiple-term search query are used to predict spelling corrections.
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Abstract
A search engine process is disclosed for predicting the correct spelling of search terms within multiple-term search queries. In one embodiment, when a user submits a multiple-term search query that includes a non-matching term and at least one matching term, a table is accessed to look up a set of terms that are “related” to the matching term or terms. A spelling comparison function is then used to determine whether any of these related terms is sufficiently similar in spelling to the non-matching term to be deemed a candidate correctly-spelled replacement. A candidate replacement term may automatically be substituted for the non-matching term, or may be suggested to the user as a replacement. The invention also includes a process for identifying terms that are related to each other based on the relatively high frequencies with which they co-occur within search queries of users, database records, and/or specific database fields.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of predicting a correct spelling of a non-matching term in a multiple-term search query, the method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of additional terms that are related to at least one matching term within the multiple-term search query; and
comparing a spelling of the non-matching term to spellings of the additional terms to determine whether any of the additional terms is sufficiently similar in spelling to the non-matching term to be deemed a candidate correctly-spelled replacement term for the non-matching term;
whereby both matching and non-matching terms within the multiple-term search query are used to predict spelling corrections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method of predicting a correct spelling of a misspelled term in a multiple-term search query, the method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of additional terms that are related to at least one correctly-spelled term within the multiple-term search query; and
comparing the misspelled term to the additional terms to determine whether any of the additional terms is sufficiently similar to the misspelled term to be deemed a candidate correctly-spelled replacement term for the misspelled term;
whereby at least one correctly-spelled term in the multiple-term search query is used to predict a correct spelling of the misspelled term. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-implemented method of predicting a correct spelling of a non-matching term within a multiple-term search query, comprising:
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identifying a matching term within the multiple-term search query;
identifying an additional term that is related to the matching term; and
comparing the non-matching term to the additional term to determine whether the additional term is sufficiently similar in spelling to the non-matching term to be deemed a candidate correctly-spelled replacement term for the non-matching term;
whereby both the matching term and the non-matching term are used to predict the correct spelling of the non-matching term. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification