Multi-entity-centric integrated search system and method

• US 8,533,174 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
• Original Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
• Inventors: Jung, Han Min, Lee, Mi Kyung, Kim, Pyung, Lee, Seung Woo, Jin, Du Seok, Yoon, Jung Sun, Park, Dong In, Sung, Won Kyung, Hahn, Sun Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US12/174,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3332 Query translation

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multi-entity-centric integrated search system and method. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system includes an entity information acquisition server for receiving and analyzing a query term and determining entities and types of entities, and an integrated search result provision server for configuring an integrated search results page using results acquired from unit service calling units, such as an external API calling unit, a search engine calling unit, and an inference engine calling unit, and presenting integrated search results. The present invention is advantageous in that precise search results can be shown more rapidly, satisfaction with search results for a query term in which multiple entities coexist can be improved, the ambiguity of query terms is overcome, and an open platform capable of operating in conjunction with various types of web services is provided.

Claims

1. A multi-entity-centric integrated search system, the system being connected through a wired/wireless communication network and performing computer communication and operation processing, comprising:

an entity information acquisition server including;

a query term input unit receiving a query term which is composed of keywords input from a user,

a query term analysis unit analyzing the query term and generating combinations of entities separated by a delimiter from the query term, wherein the combinations of entities are combinations of the keywords of the query term,

an entity search unit searching an entity database for the generated combinations of entities and returning existence of the combinations of entities and types of the combinations of entities as resulting values,

an entity and entity type detection unit selecting candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, among the generated combinations of entities, and

an entity and entity type determination unit selecting a final combination of entities from among the candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, in consideration of a number of entities or a number of entities'"'"' types in the candidate combinations of entities,

wherein the entity information acquisition server is configured to provide the final combination of entities, and the final combination of entities is a query for making final search results which is provided for users in an integrated search result provision server, and

an integrated search result provision server including;

unit service calling units acquiring search result values for the final combination of entities,

a search result calling unit utilizing at least one of the unit service calling units which is mapped to the final combination of entities selected by the entity and entity type determination unit in consideration of entities'"'"' types in the final combination of entities,

a unit service result configuration unit setting a method of arranging and outputting the search result values, and

an integrated search result presentation unit outputting integrated search results including the arranged search result values,

wherein the multi-entity-centric integrated search system comprises a processor and a memory, and

wherein the generating of combinations of entities includes generating all combinations of keywords, separated by the delimiter, in consideration of a sequence of keywords.

2. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the unit service calling unit is configured to select at least one from among an external Application Programming Interface (API) calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an external API and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the external API, a search engine calling unit thr acquiring search result values by calling an API included in a search engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, an inference engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in an inference engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, and combinations thereof.

3. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the external API is an API of an external service site or an open API.

4. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to acquire the search result values after querying about previously indexed information.

5. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to query about the entities included in the selected final combination of entities individually or collectively.

6. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein the search engine calling unit acquires the search result values by additionally using identifier scheme information, including a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and an International Resource Identifier (IRI).

7. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine includes the entities included in the selected final combination of entities and identifier scheme information, including a URI or an IRI.

8. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 2, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine uses a format of SPARQL or RDQL.

9. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the delimiter is a space, a semicolon, a colon, tab or a combination thereof.

10. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the candidate combinations of entities selected through the entity and entity type detection unit further include entities, entity identifiers, or combinations thereof.

11. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein a method of selecting a final combination of entities through the entity and entity type determination unit is one of a minimum entity number priority method, a maximum entity number priority method, a minimum entity type number priority method and a maximum entity type number priority method.

12. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated search results are provided in a single page.

13. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated search results further include any one of present condition information about system status, information about the selected combination, information about combinations that are not selected, information about size of search results, and combinations thereof.

14. A multi-entity-centric integrated search method, the method making a connection through a wired/wireless communication network and performing computer communication and operation processing, comprising the steps of:

receiving a query term which is composed of keywords input from a user through a query term input unit;

analyzing the query term and generating combinations of entities separated by a delimiter through a query term analysis unit, wherein the combinations of entities are combinations of the keywords of the query term;

after the generating of combinations of entities, searching an entity database for the generated combinations of entities and returning existence of the combinations of entities and types of the combinations of entities as resulting values through an entity search unit;

selecting candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, among the generated combinations of entities, through an entity and entity type detection unit;

selecting a final combination of entities from among the candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, in consideration of a number of entities or a number of entities'"'"' types in the candidate combinations of entities through an entity and entity type determination unit, wherein the final combination of entities is a query for making final search results which is provided for users in an integrated search result provision server;

acquiring search result values for the final combination of entities through unit service calling units;

utilizing at least one of the unit service calling units, which is mapped to the final combination of entities selected by the entity and entity type determination unit, in consideration of entities'"'"' types in the final combination of entities through a search result calling unit;

arranging and outputting the search result values through a unit service result configuration unit; and

outputting integrated search results, including the arranged search result values, through an integrated search result presentation unit,

wherein the generating of combinations of entities includes generating all combinations of keywords, separated by the delimiter, in consideration of a sequence of keywords.

15. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein the unit service calling unit is configured to select at least one from among an external Application Programming Interface (API) calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an external API and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the external API, a search engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in a search engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, an inference engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in an inference engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, and combinations thereof.

16. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the external API is an API of an external service site or an open API.

17. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to acquire the search result values after querying about previously indexed information.

18. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to query about the entities included in the selected final combination of entities individually or collectively.

19. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein the search engine calling unit acquires the search result values by additionally using identifier scheme information, including a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and an International Resource identifier (IRI).

20. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine includes the entities included in the selected final combination of entities and identifier scheme information, including a URI or an IRI.

21. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 15, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine uses a format of SPARQL or RDQL.

22. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein the delimiter is a space, a semicolon, a colon, tab or a combination thereof.

23. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein the candidate combinations of entities selected through the entity and entity type detection unit further include entities, entity identifiers, or combinations thereof.

24. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein a method of selecting a final combination of entities through the entity and entity type determination unit is one of a minimum entity number priority method, a maximum entity number priority method, a minimum entity type number priority method and a maximum entity type number priority method.

25. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein the integrated search results are provided in a single page.

26. The multi-entity-centric integrated search method according to claim 14, wherein the integrated search results further include any one of present condition information about system status, information about the selected combination, information about combinations that are not selected, information about size of search results, and combinations thereof.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for recording a program for executing a multi-entity-centric integrated search method, the method making a connection through a wired/wireless communication network and performing computer communication and operation processing and comprising the steps of:

receiving a query term which is composed of keywords input from a user through a query term input unit;

analyzing the query term and generating combinations of entities separated by a delimiter through a query term analysis unit, wherein the combinations of entities are combinations of the keywords of the query term;

after the generating of combinations of entities, searching an entity database for the generated combinations of entities and returning existence of the combinations of entities and types of the combinations of entities as resulting values through an entity search unit;

selecting candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, among the generated combinations of entities, through an entity and entity type detection unit;

selecting a final combination of entities from among the candidate combinations of entities, all entities of each of which exist in the entity database, in consideration of a number of entities or a number of entities'"'"' types in the candidate combinations of entities through an entity and entity type determination unit, wherein the final combination of entities is a query for making final search results which is provided for users in an integrated search result provision server;

acquiring search result values for the final combination of entities through unit service calling units;

utilizing at least one of the unit service calling units, which is mapped to the final combination of entities selected by the entity and entity type determination unit, in consideration of entities'"'"' types in the final combination of entities through a search result calling unit;

arranging and outputting the search result values through a unit service result configuration unit; and

outputting integrated search results, including the arranged search result values, through an integrated search result presentation unit,

wherein the generating of combinations of entities includes generating all combinations of keywords, separated by the delimiter, in consideration of a sequence of keywords.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein the unit service calling unit is configured to select at least one from among an external Application Programming Interface (API) calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an external API and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the external API, a search engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in a search engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, an inference engine calling unit for acquiring search result values by calling an API included in an inference engine and by applying the selected final combination of entities to the API, and combinations thereof.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the external API is an API of an external service site or an open API.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to acquire the search result values after querying about previously indexed information.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the search engine calling unit is configured to query about the entities included in the selected final combination of entities individually or collectively.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the search engine calling unit acquires the search result values by additionally using identifier scheme information, including a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and an International Resource Identifier (IRI).

33. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine includes the entities included in the selected final combination of entities and identifier scheme information, including a URI or an IRI.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 28, wherein an inference query term applied to the inference engine uses a format of SPARQL or RDQL.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein the delimiter is a space, a semicolon, a colon, tab or a combination thereof.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein the candidate combinations of entities selected through the entity and entity type detection unit further include entities, entity identifiers, or combinations thereof.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein a method of selecting a final combination of entities through the entity and entity type determination unit is one of a minimum entity number priority method, a maximum entity number priority method, a minimum entity type number priority method and a maximum entity type number priority method.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein the integrated search results are provided in a single page.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 27, wherein the integrated search results further include any one of present condition information about system status, information about the selected combination, information about combinations that are not selected, information about size of search results, and combinations thereof.