Methods and apparatus for using a modified index to provide search results in response to an ambiguous search query
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method executed on one or more computers for generating an index, the computer implemented method comprising:
- a) accepting a first index that associates a first set of information of a first type with documents;
b) translating the first set of information of the first type to a second set of information of a second type; and
c) associating the second set of information of the second type with the documents to define a second index.
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Abstract
A system allows a user to submit an ambiguous search query and to receive potentially disambiguated search results. In one implementation, a search engine'"'"'s conventional alphanumeric index is translated into a second index that is ambiguated in the same manner as which the user'"'"'s input is ambiguated. The user'"'"'s ambiguous search query is compared to this ambiguated index, and the corresponding documents are provided to the user as search results.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method executed on one or more computers for generating an index, the computer implemented method comprising:
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a) accepting a first index that associates a first set of information of a first type with documents;
b) translating the first set of information of the first type to a second set of information of a second type; and
c) associating the second set of information of the second type with the documents to define a second index. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer implemented method executed on one or more computers for serving a search query, the computer implemented method comprising:
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a) accepting the search query;
b) if the search query includes information of a first type, then i) generating search results by comparing the search query to a first index including entries, each of the entries associating information of the first type with at least one document, and ii) serving at least some of the generated search results; and
c) if the search query includes information of a second type, then i) generating search results by comparing the search query to a second index including entries, each of the entries associating information of the second type with at least one document, and ii) serving at least some of the generated search results, wherein there exists a mapping between information of the first type and information of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for serving a search query using one or more computers, the apparatus comprising:
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a) an input for accepting the search query;
b) means for, if the search query includes information of a first type, i) generating search results by comparing the search query to a first index including entries, each of the entries associating information of the first type with at least one document, and ii) serving at least some of the generated search results; and
c) means for, if the search query includes information of a second type, i) generating search results by comparing the search query to a second index including entries, each of the entries associating information of the second type with at least one document, and ii) serving at least some of the generated search results, wherein there exists a mapping between information of the first type and information of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification