System and method for semi-automatic creation and maintenance of query expansion rules
First Claim
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1. A semi-automated system for generating query expansion rules comprising:
- memory which stores;
a candidate detection module, which automatically extracts candidate synonymy pairs from expressions used by users in queries when searching an associated knowledge base, the user queries being grouped into user sessions based on session information, each user session including a first user query input by a user and a subsequent reformulated user query input by the same user, the candidate detection module generating each synonymy pair from a term of a first user query input by a user and a term of a reformulated user query input by the same user in the same user session;
an interactive definition module for defining synonymy rules based on the extracted candidate synonymy pairs; and
a synonymy rule export module which exports query expansion rules based on the defined synonymy rules to a storage medium for use in expansion of user queries when searching the knowledge base; and
a computer processor which executes the modules.
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Abstract
A system and method enable semi-automated generation of query expansion rules for searching a knowledge base. Candidate synonymy pairs are automatically extracted from queries made by users when searching a knowledge base. Synonymy rules are defined, based on the extracted candidate synonymy pairs, and may be context dependent. Query expansion rules based on the defined synonymy rules can then be exported to a storage medium for use in expansion of new user queries when searching the knowledge base.
28 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A semi-automated system for generating query expansion rules comprising:
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memory which stores; a candidate detection module, which automatically extracts candidate synonymy pairs from expressions used by users in queries when searching an associated knowledge base, the user queries being grouped into user sessions based on session information, each user session including a first user query input by a user and a subsequent reformulated user query input by the same user, the candidate detection module generating each synonymy pair from a term of a first user query input by a user and a term of a reformulated user query input by the same user in the same user session; an interactive definition module for defining synonymy rules based on the extracted candidate synonymy pairs; and a synonymy rule export module which exports query expansion rules based on the defined synonymy rules to a storage medium for use in expansion of user queries when searching the knowledge base; and a computer processor which executes the modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating query expansion rules comprising:
with a computer comprising memory and a computer processor; automatically extracting candidate synonymy pairs from expressions used by users in queries when searching a knowledge base, the user queries being grouped into user sessions based on session information, each user session including a first user query input by a user and a subsequent reformulated user query input by the same user, wherein the extracting includes generating each candidate synonymy pair from a term of a first user query input by a user and a term of a reformulated user query input by the same user in the same user session; providing for interactive definition of synonymy rules based on the extracted candidate synonymy pairs and for contextualizing the synonymy rules; and exporting query expansion rules based on the defined synonymy rules to a storage medium for use in expansion of user queries when searching the knowledge base. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory recording medium encoding instructions, which when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform a method for generating query expansion rules comprising:
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automatically extracting candidate synonymy pairs from expressions used by users in queries when searching a knowledge base, the user queries being grouped into user sessions based on session information, each user session including a first user query input by a user and a subsequent reformulated user query input by the same user, the extracting including generating each candidate synonymy pair from a term of a first user query input by a user and a term of a reformulated user query input by the same user in the same user session; providing for interactive definition of synonymy rules based on the extracted candidate synonymy pairs and for contextualizing the synonymy rules; and exporting query expansion rules based on the defined synonymy rules to a storage medium for use in expansion of user queries when searching the knowledge base.
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Specification