Query routing
First Claim
1. A method for routing a query, the method comprising:
- maintaining a query ontology that includes one or more query categories and one or more queries associated with each of the one or more categories, the one or more queries associated with a particular category included in the query ontology representing queries associated with that particular category;
receiving a query from a user;
comparing the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology;
formulating variations of the received query, each variation representing a combination of one or more terms included in the received query;
comparing the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology;
identifying, from within the query ontology, one or more categories based on the comparison of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology and the comparison of the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology;
identifying an information source corresponding to one of the identified categories; and
routing an updated query, which is based on the received query to the identified information source.
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Abstract
A search query is submitted to one or more information sources associated with a category of the query. The category of the query is indicated by a query ontology that relates queries to query categories. The information sources represent information sources from which a high percentage of search results for queries associated with the category are retrieved. For instance, the category of the query is identified by identifying categories corresponding to variations of the query, where each variation represents a combination of the terms within the query, and where the categories of the variations are assumed to be the categories of the query. Information sources associated with the query categories are identified, and the query is submitted to the identified information sources. Submitting the query to the identified information sources may cause search results retrieved for the query to more closely reflect search results desired by a user that specified the query.
90 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for routing a query, the method comprising:
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maintaining a query ontology that includes one or more query categories and one or more queries associated with each of the one or more categories, the one or more queries associated with a particular category included in the query ontology representing queries associated with that particular category; receiving a query from a user; comparing the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; formulating variations of the received query, each variation representing a combination of one or more terms included in the received query; comparing the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; identifying, from within the query ontology, one or more categories based on the comparison of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology and the comparison of the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; identifying an information source corresponding to one of the identified categories; and routing an updated query, which is based on the received query to the identified information source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A machine-accessible medium that when accessed, results in a machine performing operations for routing a query, comprising:
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maintaining a query ontology that includes one or more query categories and one or more queries associated with each of the one or more categories, the one or more queries associated with a particular category included in the query ontology representing queries associated with that particular category; receiving a query from a user; comparing the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; formulating variations of the received query, each variation representing a combination of two or more terms included in the received query; comparing the formulated variations of the received query against one more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; identifying, from within the query ontology, one or more categories based on the comparison of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology and the comparison of the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; identifying an information source corresponding to one of the identified categories; and routing an updated query, which is based on the received query, to the identified information source. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for routing a query, the system comprising:
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means for maintaining a query ontology that includes one or more query categories and one or more queries associated with each of the one or more categories, the one or more queries associated with a particular category included in the query ontology representing queries associated with that particular category; means for receiving a query from a user; means for comparing the updated query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; means for formulating variations of the received query, each variation representing a combination of two or more terms included in the received query; means for comparing the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; means for identifying, from within the query ontology, one or more categories based on the comparison of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology and the comparison of the formulated variations of the received query against one or more of the queries that are included within the query ontology; means for identifying an information source corresponding to one of the identified categories; and means for routing an updated query, which is based on the received query, to the identified information source.
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Specification