System for improving the performance of information retrieval-type tasks by identifying the relations of constituents

• US 7,290,005 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hisami, Corston-Oliver, Simon H., Dolan, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi; Michele C.
• Application Number:
  US10/979,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/2, 707/4, 707/5, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0053 Forms specially designed for commercial use, e.g. bills, receipts, offer or order sheets, coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• 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 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system is utilized for determining a relationship between first and second textual inputs. The system identifies constituents in the first textual input, having predetermined characteristics indicative of usefulness in determining the relationship. The relationship is then determined based on the constituents identified. The constituents can be eliminated from the first textual input, weighted in the first textual input, or simply annotated in one of a variety of ways.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a data structure used in determining a relationship between a first textual input and a second textual input, the method comprising:

computing a plurality of aspects of at least one of the first textual input and the second textual input, the aspects being useful in determining the relationship between the first textual input and the second textual input, wherein computing the plurality of aspects includes performing a linguistic analysis of at least a portion of the first textual input and the second textual input;

storing the data structure for use in determining the relationship between the first textual input and the second textual input; and

using the data structure to determine the relationship between the first textual input and the second textual input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of computing the plurality of pre-computed aspects includes:

identifying a plurality of constituents of the first textual input or the second textual input; and

computing a predetermined indication of usefulness, associated with the plurality of constituents, in determining the relationship between the first textual input and the second textual input.