Wide-spectrum information search engine

• US 6,493,711 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: H5 Technologies Incorporated (Lighthouse Technologies Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: H5 Technologies Incorporated (Lighthouse Technologies Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jeffrey, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/305,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 704/243, 704/266, 704/9, 455/158.5, 707/515, 707/501, 707/104, 707/102, 707/532, 707/100, 707/1-10, 713/201, 713/168, 709/238, 709/207, 709/206, 709/223, 705/14, 705/75, 706/16, 345/115, 370/394
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3347 using vector based model
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for searching for information. The method includes the step of segmenting a judgement matrix into a plurality of information sub-matrices where each submatrix has a plurality of classifications and a plurality of terms relevant to each classification. The method further includes the steps of evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices and calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms. The method further includes the steps of receiving a search request, calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms and identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

Claims

1. A method of searching for information comprising the steps of:

segmenting a judgment matrix into a plurality of information sub-matrices where each submatrix has a plurality of classifications and a plurality of terms relevant to each classification;

evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each information sub-matrix of the information submatrices;

calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

receiving a search request;

calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

2. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 wherein the step of segmenting a judgment matrix further comprises dividing each information submatrix of the information sub-matrices into a set of columns, where each column is a classification of the information sub-matrix.

3. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 further comprising selecting the plurality of terms based upon a relevancy of each term of the plurality of terms to at least some of the classifications of the information sub-matrices.

4. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 wherein the step of evaluating a relevance further comprises assigning a numerical indicia of relevance having a range of between zero and at least two.

5. The method of searching for information as in claim 4 wherein the step of calculating an information spectrum for each document and for the search request further comprises determining a log average among the numerical indicia of relevance of the terms of each classification.

6. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying at least some documents further comprises determining a Euclidean distance between the information spectrum of the at least some documents and the information spectrum of the search request.

7. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 further comprising selecting a document of the identified documents as definitely relevant to the search request.

8. The method of searching for information as in claim 7 wherein the step of selecting a document of the identified documents as definitely relevant to the search request further comprises calculating an information spectrum of the selected document.

9. The method of searching for information as in claim 8 further comprising using the calculated information spectrum of the selected document as a new search request.

10. The method of searching for information as in claim 1 further comprising zooming in on a portion of a document information spectrum.

11. The method of searching for information as in claim 10 further comprising determining that a document and request have a wide spectra with significant content in a field F of a term.

12. The method of searching for information as in claim 11 further comprising measuring the request and document using a subengine for field F.

13. Apparatus for searching for information comprising:

means for segmenting a judgment matrix into a plurality of information sub-matrices where each submatrix has a plurality of classifications and a plurality of terms relevant to each classification;

means for evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices;

means for calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

means for receiving a search request;

means for calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

means for identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

14. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 wherein the means for segmenting a judgment matrix further comprises means for dividing each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices into a set of columns, where each column is a classification of the information sub-matrix.

15. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 further comprising means for selecting the plurality of terms based upon a relevancy of each term of the plurality of terms to at least some of the classifications of the information sub-matrices.

16. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 wherein the means for evaluating a relevance further comprises means for assigning a numerical indicia of relevance having a range of between zero and at least two.

17. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 16 wherein the means for calculating an information spectrum for each document and for the search request further comprises means for determining a log average among the numerical indicia of relevance of the terms of each classification.

18. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 wherein the means for identifying at least some documents further comprises means for determining a Euclidean distance between the information spectrum of the at least some documents and the information spectrum of the search request.

19. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 further comprising means for selecting a document of the identified documents as definitely relevant to the search request.

20. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 19 wherein the means for selecting a document of the identified documents as definitely relevant to the search request further comprises means for calculating an information spectrum of the selected document.

21. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 20 further comprising means for using the calculated information spectrum of the selected document as a new search request.

22. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 13 further comprising means for zooming in on a portion of a document information spectrum.

23. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 22 further comprising means for determining that a document and request have a wide spectra with significant content in a field F of a term.

24. The apparatus for searching for information as in claim 23 further comprising means for measuring the request and document using a subengine for field F.

25. Apparatus for searching for information comprising:

a first input adapted to segment a judgment matrix into a plurality of information submatrices where each submatrix has a plurality of classifications and a plurality of terms relevant to each classification;

a second input adapted to evaluate a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices;

a first information spectrum calculator adapted to calculate an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

a third input adapted to receive a search request;

a second information spectrum calculator adapted to calculate an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

a comparator adapted to identify at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

26. A method of searching for information comprising the steps of:

segmenting a judgment matrix into a plurality of information sub-matrices where each submatrix has a plurality of classifications and a plurality of terms relevant to each classification;

evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each information sub-matrix of the information submatrices;

calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

receiving a search request;

calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

27. A method of searching for information comprising the steps of:

segmenting a judgement matrix into a plurality of information sub-matrices;

dividing each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices into a set of columns, where each column is a classification of the information submatrix;

selecting a plurality of terms which are relevant to at least some of the classifications of the information sub-matrices;

evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each column of each information sub-matrix of the information sub-matrices;

calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

receiving a search request;

calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.

28. A method of searching for information comprising the steps of:

segmenting a judgment matrix into a plurality of subject matter matrices;

dividing each subject matter matrix of the subject matter matrices into a set of classifications;

selecting a plurality of terms which are relevant to at least some of the classifications of the subject matter matrices;

evaluating a relevance of each term of the plurality of terms with respect to each classification of each subject matter matrix;

calculating an information spectrum for each of a plurality of documents based upon at least some of the plurality of terms;

receiving a search request;

calculating an information spectrum of the search request based upon at least some of the plurality of terms; and

identifying at least some documents of the plurality of documents as relevant to the request based upon a comparison of the calculated information spectrums.