Systems and methods for using lexically-related query elements within a dynamic object for semantic search refinement and navigation

• US 7,840,589 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: SurfWax, Inc.
• Inventors: Burke, Larry S., Holt, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hwa; Shyue Jiunn
• Application Number:
  US11/279,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion

Abstract

A method and system for dynamically refining and navigating between alternative search query elements are disclosed. The method and system are applicable to searching an information system such as the Internet, an intranet, or any database, lexicon, or collection of documents, disk drive, images or video or audio content. A user enters their search query into a search query receiver. As the user enters their search query, they see, in real-time in a dynamically-generated object, such as a drop-down menu, iFrame, or browser window, possible matches to their search query string, and more specifically, the user receives within the dynamic object alternative semantically- and lexically-related search elements that relate to the search query string and from which the user can either make a selection to further refine their search query, or the user can proceed to view search results based on the selected query element. The relation of alternate lexical elements is based on a controlled or structured vocabulary (for example a thesaurus).

Claims

1. A method for identifying a query element suitable for use in search refinement and navigation in connection with an information system of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a query element on a character-by-character basis entered by a user at a client computing device;

upon receipt of each entered character of the query element, searching for one or more alternative query elements contained in a first computer-based database, the first database being separate from the information system of interest, the one or more alternative query elements having a predetermined lexical relationship to a received portion of the query element;

for each entered character of the query element resulting in the location of one or more alternative query elements, presenting the one or more alternative query elements to the user via a visual display operably connected to the client computing device and wherein the one or more alternative query elements are presented to the user in a manner that complies with at least one predefined preference;

receiving an alternative query element selected by the user; and

optionally navigating the information system in accordance with the selected alternative query element.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the query element is received at the client computing device via a client browser environment presented via the visual display, and wherein the client computing device, the information system of interest and the first database are interconnected by way of a network.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the network is a wide area network (WAN).

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

optionally searching for one or more alternative query elements contained in the first computer-based database, the one or more alternative query elements having a predetermined lexical relationship to the selected alternative query element.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

for each of the one or more alternative query elements, determining a number of potential search results that would be returned in the event that the information system were searched using the alternative query element; and

for each presented alternative query element, presenting to the user the determined number of potential search results.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of searching one or more alternative query elements comprises the step of searching a previously indexed first computer-based database for a content that satisfies a predetermined match criteria, wherein the matching content is returned as the one or more alternative query elements.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of alternative query elements are presented to the user, the plurality of alternative query elements falling within two or more groupings, each grouping having associated therewith alternative query elements that have a different predetermined lexical relationship to the received portion of the query element from that of another grouping.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the alternative query elements are presented so as to be visually associated with a given category.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the categories is presented so the respective alternative query elements of a given category are provided in a separate column from the alternate query elements of another category.

10. The method as reicted in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a synonym.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a lexically narrower term.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a lexically broader term.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises sub-strings.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a homogram.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a language translation equivalent.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises a partial forms of terms.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises title portions.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined lexical relationship comprises pre-defined information elements.

19. A method for identifying a query element suitable for use in connection with an information system of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

a) associating a controlled vocabulary database with a remotely connected information system, the controlled vocabulary database comprising content that is related to at least a portion of a content of the remote information system, the relationship being dictated by one or more predetermined lexical and semantic criteria;

b) receiving from a network connected client at least one initial query element;

c) at substantially the time of receipt of a received portion of the query element, comparing the received portion of the query element to the controlled vocabulary database content and identifying content that satisfies a predetermined match criteria, wherein the matching content comprises one or more alternative query elements;

d) at substantially the time of identification, forwarding the one or more alternative query elements to the network connected client for presentation to a user;

e) upon selection of an alternative query element by a user, receiving the selected alternative query element from the network connected client;

f) performing a predetermined function against the remotely connected information system in accordance with the received alternative query element.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the predetermined function performed against the remotely connected information system comprises a keyword search of a content of the information system, wherein the keyword search comprises the received alternative query element.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the predetermined lexical and semantic criteria includes at least one of the following criteria:

lexically broader terms;

synonyms;

partial forms of terms;

sub-strings;

graphical symbols having a predetermined lexical relationship;

narrower terms;

associate terms;

homograms;

sub-strings;

title portions;

pre-defined information elements; and

foreign language translation equivalents.

22. A computer-based method for identifying a query element suitable for use in search refinement and navigation of a network-connected information system having a predetermined lexical content, the method comprising the steps of:

a) in a client computing device that is operatively connected to an information system via a first network, visually providing a graphical search interface including a search query receiver and a search query element viewer;

b) receiving input of a query element on a character-by character basis from a user via the search query receiver;

c) forwarding of the received portion of the query element to a query controller;

d) receiving a plurality of alternative query elements from a controlled vocabulary database via the query controller, the alternative query elements each having a predetermined lexical relationship to the forwarded portion of the query element;

e) displaying the plurality of alternative query elements to a the user via the search query element viewer, wherein the step of displaying occurs dynamically as input is received via the search query receiver; and

f) upon selection of an alternative query element within the search query element viewer by a the user, performing one of the following steps;

(i) navigating the information system in accordance with the selected alternative query element;

(ii) replacing the received portion of the query element with the selected alternative query element and repeating steps (c) through (d).

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the controlled vocabulary database is locally connected to the client computing device.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the controlled vocabulary database is remotely connected to the client computing device via a network.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the network is the Internet.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the network is a Local Area Network (LAN).

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the network is a Wide Area Network (WAN).

28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the query controller is implemented at the client computing device.

29. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the query controller is implanted at a server computing device that is remotely connected to the client computing device via a network.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the network is the Internet.

31. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the network is a Local Area Network (LAN).

32. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the network is a Wide Area Network (WAN).

33. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the information system is a WEB site, and the first network is the Internet.

34. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the navigating step comprises the step of conducting a keyword search of a content of the information system, wherein the keyword used is the selected alternative query element.

35. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the search query element viewer is implemented at the client computing device with a dynamically programmed screen object.

36. A method for dynamic refinement of a search query for use in connection with the searching of content within an information system, the method comprising:

a) providing a dynamically generated graphical interface screen on a display of a client computing device including at least one search query receiver GUI input box and a corresponding search query element viewer display box;

b) iteratively receiving portions of an initial query element via the search query receiver; and

c) as the portions of the initial query element are received, displaying in substantially real time at least one grouping of alternative query elements within the search query element viewer display box, the alternative query elements each having a predetermined lexical or semantic relationship to the received portion of the initial query element, the alternative query elements obtained from a controlled vocabulary database comprising content that is related to at least a portion of a content of the information system, the relationship being dictated by one or more predetermined lexical and semantic criteria and wherein the alternative query elements are displayed in a manner that complies with at least one predefined preference.

37. A system for dynamic refinement of a search query of an information system, the system comprising:

a search query receiver configured to receive a search query from a user entered by a user via a client computing device;

a controlled vocabulary database which contains an indexed lexicon of elements of the information system;

a query controller configured to handle communication between the search query receiver and the controlled vocabulary database;

a search query submission control configured to allow the user to submit the search query for a full search of the information system; and

a dynamic semantic list object configured to;

automatically present a list of all search elements that are lexically-related alternatives to the search query each time the search query is modified but before the search query is submitted for a full search of the information system, the lexically-related alternatives contained on the controlled vocabulary database; and

allow the user to replace the search query in the search query receiver with one or more of the lexically-related alternative elements; and

a presentation control coupled to the dynamic semantic list object, configured to allow the user to set presentation attributes for arranging the presentation of the lexically-related alternative elements within the dynamic semantic list object.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising a network which facilitates communication between the search query receiver and the query controller.

39. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising a network which facilitates communication between the query controller and the controlled vocabulary database.

40. The system as recited in claim 37, further comprising an administration module coupled to the controlled vocabulary database configured to allow an administrator to modify the elements within the controlled vocabulary database.

41. A method for identifying a query element suitable for use in search refinement and navigation in connection with an information system of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an initial query element on a character-by-character basis;

b) identifying one or more alternative query elements contained in a first database, the alternative query elements having a predetermined lexical relationship to the received portion of the initial query element;

c) dynamically presenting the one or more alternative query elements to a user as the initial query element is received; and

d) upon selection of an alternative query element by a user, performing one of the following steps;

(i) navigating the information system in accordance with the selected alternative query element; and

(ii) replacing the received portion of the initial query element with the selected alternative query element and repeating steps (b) through (c).

42. A method for identifying a query element for use in connection with an information system of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a query element entered by a user at a client computing device;

upon receipt of at least a portion of the query element, dynamically searching for a plurality of alternative query elements contained in a first computer-based database, the alternative query elements having a predetermined lexical relationship to at least one of a received portion of the query element and a lexicon of the information system of interest;

dynamically presenting the plurality of alternative query elements to the user via a visual display operably connected to the client computing device, wherein the plurality of alternative query elements fall within two or more groupings, each grouping having associated therewith alternative query elements that have a different predetermined lexical relationship from that of another grouping and each grouping is presented so as to be visually associated with a given category;

receiving an alternative query element selected by the user via an input device operably connected to the client computing device; and

optionally navigating the information system in accordance with the selected alternative query element.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein each of the given categories is visually presented so the respective alternative query elements of a given category are provided in a separate columnar display orientation from the alternate query elements of another given category.

44. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the query element is textual and is entered by the user on a character-by-character basis and the step of dynamically searching is conducted for each character entered.