Portable browsing interface for information retrieval
First Claim
1. An information retrieval system, comprising:
- a plurality of files stored in memory, each defining a different hierarchical relationships of terms describing an organizational framework for information;
a user interface which permits a user to select a level within each of at least two of the different hierarchical relationships;
a search query generator responsive to the selection of the level within each of the at least two different hierarchical relationships to construct individual search queries of terms that are based upon the selected levels, and combine the individual search queries of terms to form a search query that is provided to a search engine, wherein the search engine searches a source of information to locate documents which correspond to the search query; and
a display which displays information about the located documents to the user.
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Abstract
An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An information retrieval system, comprising:
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a plurality of files stored in memory, each defining a different hierarchical relationships of terms describing an organizational framework for information; a user interface which permits a user to select a level within each of at least two of the different hierarchical relationships; a search query generator responsive to the selection of the level within each of the at least two different hierarchical relationships to construct individual search queries of terms that are based upon the selected levels, and combine the individual search queries of terms to form a search query that is provided to a search engine, wherein the search engine searches a source of information to locate documents which correspond to the search query; and a display which displays information about the located documents to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for locating documents within a source of information, comprising the steps of:
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defining, in a computer, a plurality of different hierarchical relationships of terms describing an organizational framework for information; selecting, in a user interface, a level within each of at least two of the different hierarchical relationships; constructing, in a search query generator responsive to the selection of the level within each of the at least two different hierarchical relationships, individual search queries of terms that are based upon the selected levels, and combining the individual search queries of terms to form a search query that is provided to a search engine; searching, by the search engine, a source of information to locate documents which correspond to the search query; and displaying, on a display, information about the located documents to the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program which causes a computer to execute the steps of:
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defining, in a computer, a plurality of different hierarchical relationships of terms describing an organizational framework for information; selecting, in a user interface, a level within each of at least two of the different hierarchical relationships; constructing, in a search query generator responsive to the selection of the level within each of the at least two different hierarchical relationships, individual search queries of terms that are based upon the selected levels, and combining the individual search queries of terms to form a search query that is provided to a search engine; searching, by the search engine, a source of information to locate documents which correspond to the search query; and displaying, on a display, information about the located documents to the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification