Method and apparatus for creating a tool for generating an index for a document

• US 7,853,595 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hadley, Brent L., Chew, Susan C., Eames, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED HAROON
• Application Number:
  US11/668,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/313 Selection or weighting of terms for indexing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification

Abstract

A method creating a tool for generating at least one index element for an examined document configured according to a format includes: (a) ascertaining at least one textual characteristic-set of an exemplary document configured according to the format for identifying the at least one index element; (b) expressing the at least one textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code; and (c) saving the computer-executable code for effecting the creating.

Claims

1. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the method comprising;

(a) ascertaining a plurality of textual characteristic-sets of an exemplary document for identifying said plurality of index elements;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

each respective textual characteristic-set of said plurality of textual characteristic-sets being embodied in a respective textual expression in said format;

each said respective textual expression identifying a respective index element of said plurality of index elements;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative textual characteristic-set from a store of said plurality of representative textual characteristic-sets;

said particular representative textual characteristic-set being related to a selected index element of said plurality of index elements;

(2) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said particular representative textual characteristic-set;

(3) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element;

(4) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element, amending said particular representative textual characteristic-set to present an amended textual characteristic-set, and repeating steps (2) through (3) using said amended textual characteristic-set;

(5) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element, storing said particular representative textual characteristic-set and deciding whether another selected index element of said plurality of index elements is desired;

(6) if another selected index element is desired, repeating steps (1) through (5); and

(7) if another selected index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining;

(b) expressing said plurality of textual characteristic-sets in a computer-executable code; and

(c) saving said computer-executable code for effecting said creating.

2. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 1 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set in a data store available for employment during later practices of the method.

3. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 2 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set for inclusion in said computer-executable code.

4. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the method comprising;

(a) ascertaining a plurality of textual characteristic-sets of an exemplary document for identifying said plurality of index elements;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

each respective textual characteristic-set of said plurality of textual characteristic-sets being embodied in a respective textual expression in said format;

each said respective textual expression identifying a respective index element of said plurality of index elements;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative index element in said exemplary document;

(2) designating a selected textual characteristic-set of said particular representative index element as selecting criteria for said representative index element;

(3) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said selecting criteria;

(4) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said representative index element;

(5) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, amending said selecting criteria to present an amended selecting criteria and repeating steps (3) through (4) using said amended selecting criteria;

(6) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, storing said selecting criteria and determining whether another representative index element is desired;

(7) if another representative index element is desired, repeating steps (1) through (6); and

(8) if another representative index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining;

(b) expressing said plurality of textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code; and

(c) saving said computer-executable code for effecting said creating.

5. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 4 wherein said storing includes saving said selecting criteria in a data store available for employment during later practices of the method.

6. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 5 wherein said storing includes saving said selecting criteria for inclusion in said computer-executable code.

7. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the method comprising;

(a) ascertaining a first textual characteristic-set of an exemplary document for identifying a first index element for inclusion in said index;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

said first textual characteristic-set being embodied in a first textual expression in said format;

said first textual expression identifying said first index element;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative textual characteristic-set from a store of a plurality of representative textual characteristic-sets;

said particular representative textual characteristic-set being related to a selected index element in said index;

(2) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said particular representative textual characteristic-set;

(3) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element;

(4) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element, selecting a next particular representative textual characteristic-set from said store of a plurality of representative textual characteristic-sets;

said next particular representative textual characteristic-set being related to a selected index element in said index, and repeating steps (2) through (3) using said next textual characteristic-set;

(5) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element, storing said particular representative textual characteristic-set and deciding whether another selected index element of said index is desired;

(6) if another selected index element is desired, repeating steps (1) through (5); and

(7) if another selected index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining;

(b) expressing said first textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code;

(c) saving said computer-executable code in a data store;

(d) if another index element is desired for inclusion in said index;

ascertaining a next textual characteristic-set for identifying a next index element for inclusion in said index;

said next textual characteristic-set being embodied in a next textual expression in said format;

said next textual expression identifying said next index element; and

repeating steps (b) through (c); and

(e) if no other index element is desired for inclusion in said index;

terminating the method.

8. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 7 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set in a data store available for employment during later practices of the method.

9. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 8 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set for inclusion in said computer-executable code.

10. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the method comprising;

(a) ascertaining a first textual characteristic-set of an exemplary document for identifying a first index element for inclusion in said index;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

said first textual characteristic-set being embodied in a first textual expression in said format;

said first textual expression identifying said first index element;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative index element in said exemplary document;

(2) designating a selected textual characteristic-set of said particular representative index element as selecting criteria for said representative index element;

(3) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said selecting criteria;

(4) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said representative index element;

(5) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, amending said selecting criteria to present an amended selecting criteria and repeating steps (3) through (4) using said amended selecting criteria;

(6) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, storing said selecting criteria and determining whether another representative index element is desired;

(7) if another representative index element is desired, repeating steps(1) through (6); and

(8) if another representative index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining;

(b) expressing said first textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code;

(c) saving said computer-executable code in a data store;

(d) if another index element is desired for inclusion in said index;

ascertaining a next textual characteristic-set for identifying a next index element for inclusion in said index;

said next textual characteristic-set being embodied in a next textual expression in said format;

said next textual expression identifying said next index element; and

repeating steps (b) through (c); and

(e) if no other index element is desired for inclusion in said index;

terminating the method.

11. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 10 wherein said storing includes saving said selecting criteria in a data store available for employment during later practices of the method.

12. A method creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 11 wherein said storing includes saving said selecting criteria for inclusion in said computer-executable code.

13. An apparatus creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) an ascertaining unit operating with an exemplary document to ascertain at least one textual characteristic-set of said exemplary document;

said at least one textual characteristic-set being related with said plurality of index elements;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

(b) an encoding unit coupled with said ascertaining unit;

said encoding unit expressing said at least one textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code;

(c) a data store coupled with said encoding unit;

said data store saving said computer-executable code for effecting said creating; and

(d) a textual element store coupled with said ascertaining unit;

said textual element store containing a plurality of representative textual characteristic-sets;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative textual characteristic-set from said textual element store;

said particular representative textual characteristic-set being related to a selected index element of said plurality of index elements;

(2) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said particular representative textual characteristic-set;

(3) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element;

(4) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element, selecting a next particular representative textual characteristic-set from said textual element store;

said next particular representative textual characteristic-set being related to a selected index element in said index, and repeating steps (2) through (3) using said amended textual characteristic-set;

(5) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said selected index element of said at least one index element, storing said particular representative textual characteristic-set and deciding whether another selected index element of said index is desired;

(6) if another selected index element is desired, repeating steps (1) through (5);

(7) if another selected index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining.

14. An apparatus creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 13 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set in said textual element store for selective employment during later practices of the method.

15. An apparatus creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 14 wherein said storing includes saving said particular representative textual characteristic-set for inclusion in said computer-executable code.

16. An apparatus creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document;

said examined document being configured according to a format;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) an ascertaining unit operating with an exemplary document to ascertain at least one textual characteristic-set of said exemplary document;

said at least one textual characteristic-set being related with said plurality of index elements;

said exemplary document being configured according to said format;

(b) an encoding unit coupled with said ascertaining unit;

said encoding unit expressing said at least one textual characteristic-set in a computer-executable code; and

(c) a data store coupled with said encoding unit;

said data store saving said computer-executable code for effecting said creating;

said ascertaining being effected by;

(1) selecting a particular representative index element in said exemplary document;

(2) designating a selected textual characteristic-set of said particular representative index element as selecting criteria for said representative index element;

(3) searching said exemplary document for occurrences of said selecting criteria;

(4) reviewing said occurrences to determine whether said occurrences satisfactorily identify an instance of said representative index element;

(5) if said occurrences do not satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, amending said selecting criteria to present an amended selecting criteria and repeating steps (3) through (4) using said amended selecting criteria;

(6) if said occurrences satisfactorily identify instances of said representative index element, storing said selecting criteria and determining whether another representative index element is desired;

(7) if another representative index element is desired, repeating steps(1) through (6); and

(8) if another representative index element is not desired, terminating said ascertaining

17. An apparatus creating a tool for generating a plurality of index elements relating to contents of an examined document as recited in claim 16 wherein said storing includes saving said selecting criteria in a data store coupled with said ascertaining unit for selective employment during later practices of the method.