System and methods for searching objects and providing answers to queries using association data
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for searching information, comprising:
- receiving a query in a non-structured query language format comprising a text format or speech format;
identifying a first term in the query;
receiving an object-specific dataset associated with an object, wherein the object includes a physical or conceptual object or an object class, wherein the object and the object-specific dataset are associated with a name or description represented by a second term, wherein the object-specific dataset contains at least a third term, wherein the third term represents a name of a property associated with the object, or represents a term associated with the second term, wherein the third term is obtained from a text content containing a sentence associated with the second term using an automated text analysis method, wherein the third term is associated with an importance measure, the importance measure indicating the importance of the property in relation to the object, or serving as a criterion for including the third term as a term in the object-specific dataset;
comparing the first term with the third term;
if the first term matches the third term,selecting the second term; and
outputting, in a text or speech format, the second term representing the object name or description at least in part as an answer to the query.
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Abstract
System and methods are disclosed for providing answers to search queries, and for searching using association data without requiring keyword matching. Datasets representing objects and their properties are created from unstructured data sources based on natural language analysis methods, and can be used to answer queries about objects or properties of objects. Implementations include general information search engines and embodiments for searching products, services, people, or other objects without knowing the names of such objects, or searching for information about known objects by using either keyword-based queries or natural language queries such as asking questions. System and methods are also provided for creating a structured or semi-structured representation of various unstructured data, in contrast to the conventional term-vector or term-document matrix representation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for searching information, comprising:
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receiving a query in a non-structured query language format comprising a text format or speech format; identifying a first term in the query; receiving an object-specific dataset associated with an object, wherein the object includes a physical or conceptual object or an object class, wherein the object and the object-specific dataset are associated with a name or description represented by a second term, wherein the object-specific dataset contains at least a third term, wherein the third term represents a name of a property associated with the object, or represents a term associated with the second term, wherein the third term is obtained from a text content containing a sentence associated with the second term using an automated text analysis method, wherein the third term is associated with an importance measure, the importance measure indicating the importance of the property in relation to the object, or serving as a criterion for including the third term as a term in the object-specific dataset; comparing the first term with the third term; if the first term matches the third term, selecting the second term; and outputting, in a text or speech format, the second term representing the object name or description at least in part as an answer to the query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method for searching information, comprising:
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receiving a query in a non-structured query language format comprising a text format or speech format; identifying a first term in the query; receiving an object-specific dataset associated with an object, wherein the object includes a physical or conceptual object or an object class, wherein the object and the object-specific dataset are associated with a name or description represented by a second term, wherein the object-specific dataset contains at least a third term, wherein the third term represents a name of a property associated with the object, or represents a term associated with the second term, wherein the third term is obtained from a text content containing a sentence associated with the second term using an automated text analysis method, wherein the third term is associated with an importance measure, the importance measure indicating the importance of the property in relation to the object, or serving as a criterion for including the third term as a term in the object-specific dataset; comparing the first term with the second term; if the first term matches the second term, selecting the third term; and outputting, in a text or speech format the third term representing the property associated with the object at least in part as an answer to the query. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification