Ordering search-engine results

• US 8,892,548 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lorge, Freddy, Rojahn, Tom O.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US14/231,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 707/723, 707/748, 707/749, 707/954, 707/E17.82
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A method, process, and associated systems for ranking elements of an answer set retrieved by a conceptual search engine in response to a set of queried concepts submitted as a conceptual query. A processor of a computer system orders by relevance the semantic schemas that make up the retrieved answer set by first identifying a weight of each concept in a retrieved schema as a function of relationships among the concepts in that schema, then by identifying a semantic value of each queried concept in the retrieved schema as a function of the weights, and finally by identifying a semantic value of the query in the schema as a function of the semantic values of all queried concepts. The relative relevance of each schema may then be identified as a function of the semantic value of the query in that schema.

Claims

1. A method for ordering answers to a search-engine query, the method comprising:

a processor of a computer system receiving the search-engine query, wherein the query comprises a set of queried concepts of a general set of concepts;

the processor receiving a set of semantic schemas,

wherein the set of semantic schemas comprises a received subset of concepts of the set of queried concepts and further comprises a plurality of relationships,

wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships relates two or more concepts of the general set of concepts,

wherein a first schema of the set of semantic schemas comprises a first subset of concepts of the received subset of concepts, a second concept of the general set of concepts, a third concept of the general set of concepts, and a first set of relationships of the plurality of relationships,

wherein a first chain relationship of the plurality of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept, wherein the first chain relationship comprises a first set of link relationships of the plurality of relationships, wherein the first set of link relationships is associated with a first set of link-relationship lengths of a plurality of relationship lengths, wherein a first link relationship of the first set of link relationships is associated with a first link-relationship length of the first set of link-relationship lengths, and wherein a first chain-relationship strength of the plurality of relationship strengths is an inverse function of the first set of link-relationship lengths,

wherein the first subset of concepts comprises a first concept of the received subset of concepts,

wherein a first relationship of the first set of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept,

wherein the first relationship is associated with a subset of liaison strengths of a plurality of relationship strengths,

wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept weight within the search-engine query of a set of concept weights,

wherein the second concept is associated with a second concept strength of a set of concept strengths, and

wherein the second concept is associated with a second semantic weight in the first schema of a set of semantic weights;

the processor determining a first semantic value of the first schema to the query as a function of the first subset of concepts and as a further function of the first set of relationships;

the processor identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema to the query as a function of the first semantic value of the first schema to the query,

wherein said identifying a first semantic value of the first schema to the query is a further function of a first set of concept semantic values within the first schema of a plurality of sets of concept semantic values, and wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept semantic value in the first schema of the first set of concept semantic values, and

wherein said first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of the subset of liaison strengths and is a further function of the second semantic weight in the first schema, wherein the second semantic weight is a function of the second concept strength, wherein the second semantic weight is a further function of a set of second-concept relationship strengths of the plurality of relationship strengths, and wherein a relationship strength of the set of second-concept strengths is associated with a relationship between the second concept and the third concept; and

the processor ordering the first schema among the set of semantic schemas as a function of the first relative relevance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the first semantic value is a further function of a first set of relationship strengths within the first schema of the plurality of relationship strengths.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of only one liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths, and wherein the one liaison strength is the greatest liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships that relates a pair of equivalent concepts of the general set of concepts is associated with a zero-length or null relationship length of the plurality of relationship lengths.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema comprises the steps of:

the processor plotting the search-engine query as a first point in a p-dimensional coordinate system and further plotting the first schema as a second point in the p-dimensional coordinate system, wherein an axis of the p-dimensional coordinate system is associated with a concept of the set of queried concepts;

the processor generating a first p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the first point;

the processor generating a second p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the second point; and

the processor identifying the first relative relevance of the first schema as a function of a parameter selected from the group comprising;

a p-dimensional distance between the first point and the second point, a product of the first concept semantic value and the first concept weight within the search-engine query, and a scalar product of the first p-dimensional tensor and the second p-dimensional tensor, wherein the first concept semantic value is associated with the first concept.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in the computer system, wherein the computer-readable program code in combination with the computer system is configured to implement the receiving, determining, identifying, and ordering.

7. A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable hardware storage device having a computer-readable program code stored therein, the program code configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to implement a method for ordering answers to a search-engine query, the method comprising:

the processor receiving the search-engine query, wherein the query comprises a set of queried concepts of a general set of concepts;

the processor receiving a set of semantic schemas,

wherein the set of semantic schemas comprises a received subset of concepts of the set of queried concepts and further comprises a plurality of relationships,

wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships relates two or more concepts of the general set of concepts,

wherein a first schema of the set of semantic schemas comprises a first subset of concepts of the received subset of concepts, a second concept of the general set of concepts, a third concept of the general set of concepts, and a first set of relationships of the plurality of relationships,

wherein a first chain relationship of the plurality of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept, wherein the first chain relationship comprises a first set of link relationships of the plurality of relationships, wherein the first set of link relationships is associated with a first set of link-relationship lengths of a plurality of relationship lengths, wherein a first link relationship of the first set of link relationships is associated with a first link-relationship length of the first set of link-relationship lengths, and wherein a first chain-relationship strength of the plurality of relationship strengths is an inverse function of the first set of link-relationship lengths,

wherein the first subset of concepts comprises a first concept of the received subset of concepts,

wherein a first relationship of the first set of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept,

wherein the first relationship is associated with a subset of liaison strengths of a plurality of relationship strengths,

wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept weight within the search-engine query of a set of concept weights,

wherein the second concept is associated with a second concept strength of a set of concept strengths, and

wherein the second concept is associated with a second semantic weight in the first schema of a set of semantic weights;

the processor determining a first semantic value of the first schema to the query as a function of the first subset of concepts and as a further function of the first set of relationships;

the processor identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema to the query as a function of the first semantic value of the first schema to the query,

wherein said identifying a first semantic value of the first schema to the query is a further function of a first set of concept semantic values within the first schema of a plurality of sets of concept semantic values, and wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept semantic value in the first schema of the first set of concept semantic values, and

wherein said first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of the subset of liaison strengths and is a further function of the second semantic weight in the first schema, wherein the second semantic weight is a function of the second concept strength, wherein the second semantic weight is a further function of a set of second-concept relationship strengths of the plurality of relationship strengths, and wherein a relationship strength of the set of second-concept strengths is associated with a relationship between the second concept and the third concept; and

the processor ordering the first schema among the set of semantic schemas as a function of the first relative relevance.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the determining the first semantic value is a further function of a first set of relationship strengths within the first schema of the plurality of relationship strengths.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of only one liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths, and wherein the one liaison strength is the greatest liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships that relates a pair of equivalent concepts of the general set of concepts is associated with a zero-length or null relationship length of the plurality of relationship lengths.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema comprises the steps of:

the processor plotting the search-engine query as a first point in a p-dimensional coordinate system and further plotting the first schema as a second point in the p-dimensional coordinate system, wherein an axis of the p-dimensional coordinate system is associated with a concept of the set of queried concepts;

the processor generating a first p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the first point;

the processor generating a second p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the second point; and

the processor identifying the first relative relevance of the first schema as a function of a parameter selected from the group comprising;

a p-dimensional distance between the first point and the second point, a product of the first concept semantic value and the first concept weight within the search-engine query, and a scalar product of the first p-dimensional tensor and the second p-dimensional tensor, wherein the first concept semantic value is associated with the first concept.

12. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a computer-readable hardware storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device containing program code configured to be run by the processor via the memory to implement a method for ordering answers to a search-engine query, the method comprising:

the processor receiving the search-engine query, wherein the query comprises a set of queried concepts of a general set of concepts;

the processor receiving a set of semantic schemas,

wherein the set of semantic schemas comprises a received subset of concepts of the set of queried concepts and further comprises a plurality of relationships,

wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships relates two or more concepts of the general set of concepts,

wherein a first schema of the set of semantic schemas comprises a first subset of concepts of the received subset of concepts, a second concept of the general set of concepts, a third concept of the general set of concepts, and a first set of relationships of the plurality of relationships,

wherein a first chain relationship of the plurality of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept, wherein the first chain relationship comprises a first set of link relationships of the plurality of relationships, wherein the first set of link relationships is associated with a first set of link-relationship lengths of a plurality of relationship lengths, wherein a first link relationship of the first set of link relationships is associated with a first link-relationship length of the first set of link-relationship lengths, and wherein a first chain-relationship strength of the plurality of relationship strengths is an inverse function of the first set of link-relationship lengths,

wherein the first subset of concepts comprises a first concept of the received subset of concepts,

wherein a first relationship of the first set of relationships relates the first concept to the second concept,

wherein the first relationship is associated with a subset of liaison strengths of a plurality of relationship strengths,

wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept weight within the search-engine query of a set of concept weights,

wherein the second concept is associated with a second concept strength of a set of concept strengths, and

wherein the second concept is associated with a second semantic weight in the first schema of a set of semantic weights;

the processor determining a first semantic value of the first schema to the query as a function of the first subset of concepts and as a further function of the first set of relationships;

the processor identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema to the query as a function of the first semantic value of the first schema to the query,

wherein said identifying a first semantic value of the first schema to the query is a further function of a first set of concept semantic values within the first schema of a plurality of sets of concept semantic values, and wherein the first concept is associated with a first concept semantic value in the first schema of the first set of concept semantic values, and

wherein said first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of the subset of liaison strengths and is a further function of the second semantic weight in the first schema, wherein the second semantic weight is a function of the second concept strength, wherein the second semantic weight is a further function of a set of second-concept relationship strengths of the plurality of relationship strengths, and wherein a relationship strength of the set of second-concept strengths is associated with a relationship between the second concept and the third concept; and

the processor ordering the first schema among the set of semantic schemas as a function of the first relative relevance.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the determining the first semantic value is a further function of a first set of relationship strengths within the first schema of the plurality of relationship strengths.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the first concept semantic value in the first schema is a function of only one liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths, and wherein the one liaison strength is the greatest liaison strength of the subset of liaison strengths.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein a relationship of the plurality of relationships that relates a pair of equivalent concepts of the general set of concepts is associated with a zero-length or null relationship length of the plurality of relationship lengths.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the identifying a first relative relevance of the first schema comprises the steps of:

the processor plotting the search-engine query as a first point in a p-dimensional coordinate system and further plotting the first schema as a second point in the p-dimensional coordinate system, wherein an axis of the p-dimensional coordinate system is associated with a concept of the set of queried concepts;

the processor generating a first p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the first point;

the processor generating a second p-dimensional tensor from an origin of the p-dimensional coordinate system to the second point; and

the processor identifying the first relative relevance of the first schema as a function of a parameter selected from the group comprising;

a p-dimensional distance between the first point and the second point, a product of the first concept semantic value and the first concept weight within the search-engine query, and a scalar product of the first p-dimensional tensor and the second p-dimensional tensor, wherein the first concept semantic value is associated with the first concept.