Method and apparatus for concept-based classification of natural language discourse

• US 9,934,285 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netbase Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netbase Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Rehling, John Andrew, Osofsky, Michael Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US14/747,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 707705, 707706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/243 Natural language query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis

Abstract

Pinnacle concepts are not amenable to detection by the use of keywords. A unit of natural language discourse (UNLD) “refers” to a pinnacle concept “C” when that UNLD uses linguistic expressions in such a way that “C” is regarded as expressed, used or invoked by an ordinary reader of “L.” A reference can have a “reference level” value that is proportional to: the “strength” with which the pinnacle concept is referenced, the probability that a pinnacle concept is referenced or both strength and probability. Pinnacle concepts can be divided into Quantifiers and non-Quantifiers. A Quantifier can modify the reference level assigned to a non-Quantifier. A concept “C,” that is determined to be referenced by a UNLD “x,” after application of its Quantifiers, is said to be asserted by “x.” Concept-based classification is the identification of whether a pinnacle concept “C” is asserted by a UNLD. Concept-based classification can be used for concept-based search.

Claims

1. A method for assigning a score for ranking a record, given the record and a query, comprising:

obtaining, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, the record by searching with the query a database organized according to at least a first pinnacle concept, where identification of a concept as the first pinnacle concept indicates that the concept is not a plains concept;

identifying, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, a first query term of the query;

identifying, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, the first pinnacle concept as associated with the first query term;

identifying, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, a first set of one or more sub-units of the record, wherein each sub-unit contains at least one occurrence of the first query term;

determining, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, for each sub-unit of the first set of sub-units, whether the first pinnacle concept is asserted; and

assigning, performed at least in part with a configuration of computing hardware and programmable memory, a first score to the first query term that is larger when the first pinnacle concept is asserted by at least one sub-unit of the first set of sub-units than when the first pinnacle concept is not asserted.

2. A system, for assigning a score for ranking a record, given the record and a query, comprising:

one or more processors and programmable memory, wherein the system is configured;

to accomplish obtaining the record by searching with the query a database organized according to at least a first pinnacle concept, where identification of a concept as the first pinnacle concept indicates that the concept is not a plains concept;

to accomplish identifying a first query term of the query;

to accomplish identifying the first pinnacle concept as associated with the first query term;

to accomplish identifying a first set of one or more sub-units of the record, wherein each sub-unit contains at least one occurrence of the first query term;

to accomplish determining for each sub-unit of the first set of sub-units, whether the first pinnacle concept is asserted; and

to accomplish assigning a first score to the first query term that is larger when the first pinnacle concept is asserted by at least one sub-unit of the first set of sub-units than when the first pinnacle concept is not asserted.