Multi-dimensional algorithm for contextual search

• US 8,229,909 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Anping, Ra, Do Joon, Richardson, Tim, Chen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Hua
• Application Number:
  US12/415,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 707/640
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/353 into predefined classes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/374 Thesaurus

Abstract

A computer-implemented method can include building a multi-dimensional contextual model, receiving search terms from a user, performing a search based on the search terms and the multi-dimensional contextual model, generating search results based on the search, and visually displaying the search results.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

building a multi-dimensional contextual model comprising a user profile context, the user profile context storing information pertaining to the user, wherein the multi-dimensional contextual model further comprises a document context, the document context storing a plurality of documents to be searched;

receiving at least one search term from a user;

performing a search based at least in part on the at least one search term and the multi-dimensional contextual model;

generating search results based on the search, wherein generating the search results comprises generating a score for each of at least some of the plurality of documents to be searched; and

visually displaying the search results.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the search results comprises ranking the search results prior to the visually displaying.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising storing the search results.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein performing the search comprises determining a multi-dimensional point of a user profile within the user profile context.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein performing the search further comprises determining a multi-dimensional point of the plurality of documents stored within the document context.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein performing the search further comprises measuring a distance between the multi-dimensional point of the plurality of documents and the multi-dimensional point of the user profile.

7. One or more non-transitory, tangible computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform the computer-implemented method of claim 1.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a search request from a user;

determining a multi-dimensional point of a user profile within a user profile context, the user profile context storing information pertaining to the user;

determining a multi-dimensional point for a document within a document context, the document context storing a plurality of documents to be searched;

generating scores for the plurality of documents to be searched;

measuring a distance between the multi-dimensional point of the user profile and the multi-dimensional point for the document; and

determining a plurality of search hits based on the measuring and the generated scores.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising ordering the plurality of search hits based on the measuring.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising visually displaying the plurality of search hits.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising storing the plurality of search hits.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining the multi-dimensional point for the document comprises retrieving a stored multi-dimensional point for the document.

13. A hardware searching system, comprising:

a multi-dimensional contextual model stored on a tangible, computer-readable medium, the multi-dimensional contextual model comprising;

a user profile context operable to store information pertaining to a user; and

a document context operable to store a plurality of documents to be searched; and

a searching tool stored on the tangible, computer-readable medium and, when executed by a processor, operable to perform a search on the plurality of documents to be searched based on the user profile context, the document context, a score generated for each of the plurality of documents, and at least one search term provided by the user.

14. The hardware searching system of claim 13, further comprising an update module stored on the tangible, computer-readable medium and, when executed by a processor, operable to update at least one of the document context and the user profile context.

15. The hardware searching system of claim 13, further comprising a visual display module stored on the tangible, computer-readable medium and, when executed by a processor, operable to visually display search results provided by the searching tool.

16. The hardware searching system of claim 13, further comprising a storing module stored on the tangible, computer-readable medium and, when executed by a processor, operable to store search results provided by the searching tool.