Locating, filtering, matching macro-context from indexed database for searching context where micro-context relevant to textual input by user
First Claim
1. An apparatus for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the apparatus comprising at least one processor operably connected to at least one memory device storing data structures executable by the at least one processor, the data structures comprising:
- an input module to acquire text from a user;
a filtering module programmed to determine a micro-context relevant to the text;
the filtering module further programmed to locate information corresponding to the micro-context in a database; and
a presentation module to receive the information and present the information to a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data extraction tool is provided for cataloging information in an information source for searching by a user. The tool mines information from the information source and organizes the information, or the locations of that information, within a database. A user may then query the tool for a desired type of information. The tool filters the database to provide a set of pinpoint site locations with information of the type requested in the query. These pinpoint site locations are presented to a user and indexed for future reference. The index of site locations may be updated automatically by the tool. A context system is provided for manually or automatically determining the proper context for a user'"'"'s query. Thus, the data extraction tool provides information with a high probability of relevance to the user. The user obtains the information without expending much effort to refine the search.
101 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the apparatus comprising at least one processor operably connected to at least one memory device storing data structures executable by the at least one processor, the data structures comprising:
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an input module to acquire text from a user; a filtering module programmed to determine a micro-context relevant to the text; the filtering module further programmed to locate information corresponding to the micro-context in a database; and a presentation module to receive the information and present the information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the apparatus comprising at least one processor operably connected to at least one memory device storing data structures executable by the at least one processor, the data structures comprising:
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an input module to acquire text from a user; a filtering module programmed to determine a micro-context relevant to the text; the filtering module filter programmed to locate information corresponding to the micro-context in a database, the filtering module comprising; a context construction module to combine words in the text to form the micro-context characteristic of the information; a context comparison module to determine a macro-context relevant to the micro-context; and an information matching module to locate information corresponding to the macro-context in the database, the database being contextually indexed for searching by context; and a presentation module to receive the information and present the information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the method programmed in a computer-readable medium to be executed by a processor operably connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving text from a user; determining a micro-context corresponding to the text; determining a macro-context corresponding to the micro-context; locating information corresponding to the macro-context in a database; and presenting the information to a user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the apparatus comprising at least one processor operably connected to at least one memory device storing data structures executable by the at least one processor, the data structures comprising:
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an input module to receive textual input from a user; a filtering module to receive the textual input from the input module and to filter the textual input to determine a micro-context relevant to the textual input, wherein the micro-context refers to assembling words of the textual input to form small, coherent groups to determine the meaning of the textual input, and wherein micro-context further comprises determining at least one of characteristics of the user submitting the textual input, and characteristics of prior searches conducted by the user submitting the textual input; the filtering module further programmed to locate information corresponding to the micro-context in a database; and a presentation module to receive the information and present the information to the user.
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24. An apparatus for extracting information desired by a user from a source, the apparatus comprising at least one processor operably connected to at least one memory device storing data structures executable by the at least one processor, the data structures comprising:
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an input module to receive textual input from a user; a filtering module to receive the textual input from the input module and to filter the textual input to determine a micro-context relevant to the textual input, wherein the micro-context refers to assembling words of the textual input to form small, coherent groups to determine the meaning of the textual input by determining the context that would exist and be understood if inputs were spoken by the user under the circumstances, and wherein micro-context further comprises determining at least one of characteristics of the user submitting the textual input, and characteristics of prior searches conducted by the user submitting the textual input; the filtering module further programmed to locate information corresponding to the micro-context in a database, the filtering module comprising; a context construction module to combine words in the text to form the micro-context characteristic of the information; a context comparison module to determine a macro-context relevant to the micro-context wherein the macro-context contains substantially the entire text of web pages provided by more than one separately independent entities; an information matching module to locate information corresponding to the macro-context in the database, the database being contextually indexed for searching by context; and a presentation module to receive the information and present the information to the user.
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Specification