System and methods for archetype enabled research and search

• US 7,730,009 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zxibix Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zxibix Inc.
• Inventors: Higgins, Linda Shawn, Heidenreich, James Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): COUGHLAN, PETER D
• Application Number:
  US11/435,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/46, 706/47, 706/62, 706/50, 707/2, 707/3, 707/5, 707/6
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation

Abstract

A system and methods for enhanced search are enabled by archetypes that improve the relevancy of the search arguments utilized, as well as the search results received, in response to a query. The system in preferred embodiments applies archetypes to several points within the total search process. The system receives and evaluates a query, and in response to that query may generate additional suggested areas for investigation, as embodied in additional queries, knowledge constructs, or other data items. The system generates additional search arguments, which may be multiple, and may relate the search arguments in a search structure. The system in some embodiments applies archetypes to improve filtering, ranking or otherwise prioritizing search results. The system in some embodiments applies archetypes to format search results. The system may be used in conjunction with a system to facilitate user thinking about an arbitrary problem.

Claims

1. A method for providing enhanced research capabilities, said method comprising:

providing an interface;

providing enhanced computer implemented search and research capabilities executable on one or more computers, said capabilities comprising;

Receiving at least one inquiry from at least one user;

Evaluating the at least one inquiry relative to an archetype structure or archetype process or both;

Determining at least one of a suggested inquiry area or a suggested inquiry construct, or both, related to the at least one inquiry;

Generating at least one search argument related to at least one of the at least one suggested inquiry area, the at least one suggested inquiry construct, and the at least one inquiry, or any combination thereof;

Providing in display or output or both, at least one of the suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, or generated search argument, or any combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Determining whether a user model structure is associated with the at least one inquiry;

If a user model structure is determined to be associated with the at least one inquiry, evaluating the user model structure relative to at least one of an archetype structure, an archetype process and the inquiry or any combination thereof;

Generating or modifying, or both, at least one of a suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, or search argument, or any combination thereof, related to at least one of the inquiry and the user model structure, or both.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Providing at least one of the at least one suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, and generated search argument, or any combination thereof, to the at least one user in a manner which allows at least one of the at least one suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, and generated search argument to be reviewed by the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the review provided to the user includes providing controls to allow for keeping, deleting or editing the at least one suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, and generated search argument.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the review provided to the user includes controls to prioritize or rank at least one of suggested inquiry areas, suggested inquiry constructs, or generated search arguments, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the review provided to the user includes controls to sequence at least one of suggested inquiry areas, suggested inquiry constructs and search arguments, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the review provided to the user includes controls to relate at least one of suggested inquiry areas, suggested inquiry constructs and search arguments to one another.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the user is a person.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the user is a group or team of people.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the user is an electronic source of input.

11. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of the at least one suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, or generated search argument is combined with the inquiry to generate at least one additional suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, or search argument, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the at least one suggested inquiry area or suggested inquiry construct replaces the inquiry.

13. The method of claim 1 in which multiple suggested inquiry areas, suggested inquiry constructs or search arguments are generated, or any combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 13 in which at least one of multiple suggested inquiry areas, multiple suggested inquiry constructs and multiple search arguments are mapped into a related search structure, or any combination thereof.

15. A method for providing enhanced researching and searching results comprising:

providing an interface;

providing computer implemented capabilities that accomplish enhanced researching and searching results, said capabilities executable on one or more computers and comprising;

Receiving at least one inquiry from at least one user;

Evaluating the at least one inquiry relative to an archetype structure or archetype process or both;

Determining at least one of a suggested inquiry area or a suggested inquiry construct, or both, related to the at least one inquiry;

Generating at least one search argument related to at least one of the at least one suggested inquiry area, the at least one suggested inquiry construct, and the at least one inquiry, or any combination thereof;

Causing at least one search associated with at least one of an at least one suggested inquiry area, an at least one suggested inquiry construct and at least one search argument to be processed and searched and generate search results.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

Determining whether a user model structure is associated with the at least one inquiry;

If a user model structure is determined to be associated with the at least one inquiry, evaluating the user model structure relative to at least one of an archetype structure, an archetype process and the inquiry or any combination thereof;

Generating or modifying, or both, at least one of a suggested inquiry area, suggested inquiry construct, or search argument, or any combination thereof, related to at least one of the inquiry and the user model structure, or both.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing search results to a user.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising outputting search results to a user.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising filtering results from at least one processed search by evaluating or mapping search results relative to an archetype structure.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising filtering results from at least one processed search by evaluating or mapping search results relative to at least one user model structure.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising ranking or prioritizing results from at least one processed search by evaluating or mapping search results relative to an archetype structure.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising ranking or prioritizing results from at least one processed search by evaluating or mapping search results relative to a user model structure.

23. The method of claim 15 in which the results of conducting the at least one search include a list of hits representing documents.

24. The method of claim 15 in which the results of conducting the at least one search include data or content items.

25. The method of claim 15 in which the results of conducting the at least one search include generating at least one constructed inquiry construct.

26. A method for providing enhanced search results, said method comprising:

providing an interface;

providing computer implemented capabilities that accomplish enhanced search results, said capabilities executable on one or more computers and comprising;

Receiving a set of search results;

Evaluating a set of search results relative to at least one of an archetype structure, an archetype process, a user model structure, or any combination thereof;

Generating at least one of a ranking priority or filtering or both for the search results based on said evaluation;

Causing at least one of a reordering or sub-setting or both of the search results based on said ranking or filtering.

27. A method for providing enhanced search results, said method comprising:

providing an interface;

providing computer implemented capabilities that accomplish enhanced search results, said capabilities executable on one or more computers and comprising;

Receiving a set of search results;

Evaluating a set of search results relative to at least one of an archetype structure, an archetype process, a user model structure, or any combination thereof;

Generating at least one constructed inquiry construct from the search results content.

28. A system for enhanced searching, comprising:

processor executable instructions embodied in at least one of a computer-readable medium, computer readable device or memory, or a combination thereof, said instructions comprising;

Instructions for receiving at least one inquiry from at least one user,

Instructions for evaluating the at least one inquiry relative to an archetype structure or archetype process or both;

Instructions for determining at least one of a suggested inquiry area or a suggested inquiry construct, or both, related to the at least one inquiry;

Instructions for causing at least one search associated with at least one of an at least one suggested inquiry area, an at least one suggested inquiry construct and at least one search argument, or any combination thereof, to be processed and searched and generate search results.