Method and apparatus for searching a database and providing relevance feedback

• US 20020073079A1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ZNOW, Inc. (Endymion Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZNOW, Inc. (Endymion Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terheggen, Merijn
• Application Number:
  US09/736,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3328 using graphical result space presentation or visualisation

Abstract

A method and search apparatus for searching a database of records organizes results of the search into a set of most relevant records and generates a set of meta-data elements (usually keywords) enabling a user to obtain with a few mouse clicks (iterative system) only those records that are most relevant, and providing the user with feedback on what meta-data elements are relevant to the users search. In response to a search instruction from the user, the search apparatus searches the database, which can include Internet records, premium content records (or any other set of labeled information records) to generate a search result list representing a selected set of the records. The search apparatus also generates a set of most relevant meta-data elements.

Claims

1. A method for searching a database based upon a search instruction having at least one term, comprising:

selecting a pre-compiled list of records associated with at least one of the terms of the search-instruction;

processing the selected pre-compiled list to;

(i) identify records matching the search-instruction;

(ii) compile a feedback-list of meta-data attributes associated with the records matching the search-instruction, and;

(iii) assign each meta-data attribute in the feedback-list with a weight reflecting its relevance to the records matching the search instruction;

processing the feedback-list in order to obtain a partial list comprising meta-data attributes which are most relevant to the records matching the search-instruction, and;

weighting the records matching the search-instruction according to relevance to either the feedback-list or the search-instruction or both.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising weighting and ranking the records within the search results list according to pre-selected relevancy criteria.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising identifying keyword, subject, type, source, language characteristics associated with each record within the search result list.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising grouping the meta-data attributes in the feedback-list in response to a user-selected value for one of the characteristics.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising selecting meta-data attributes in the feedback-list as a function of the identified common characteristics of the records.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising selecting between about twenty to fifty meta-data attributes to be included in the final feedback-list.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the database includes Internet records, premium content records or other labeled content.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a graphical representation of the meta-data attributes in the feedback-list.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising updating the weights of the records and meta-data attributes in the database in response to the search- or fetch-instruction.

10. A search apparatus for searching a database based upon a search instruction having at least one term, comprising:

an instruction parser, a token processor, a command processor, a stemming processor and a context processor for interpreting a query and selecting an appropriate pre-compiled list of records associated with one or more terms of the search-instruction;

a record processor for processing the selected pre-compiled list to;

(i) identify records matching the search-instruction;

(ii) compile a feedback-list of all meta-data attributes associated with all records matching the search-instruction, and;

(iii) assign each meta-data attribute in the feedback-list with a weight reflecting its relevance to the records matching the search instruction;

a feedback generator for processing the feedback-list to generate a list comprising meta-data attributes which are most relevant to the records matching the search-instruction; and

a result list generator for weighting the records matching the search-instruction according to relevance to either the feedback-list or the search-instruction or both.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for ranking the records within the search result list according to pre-selected relevancy criteria.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means for grouping the records within the search result list in response to a user-selected value for one of the characteristics.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a record processor for identifying subject, type, source and language characteristics associated with each record within the search result list.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising means for ranking the identified common characteristics of the records into a hierarchical order.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for selecting between about twenty to fifty meta-data attributes to be included in the final feedback-list.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a display processor for providing a graphical representation of the meta-data attributes.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for generating, as a function of one of the meta-data attributes, a refine instruction being representative of an additional instruction for searching the database for records associated with the meta-data attributes and the additional instruction.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the database includes Internet records, premium content records and other content.

19. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a database manager for updating the weights of the records and meta-data attributes in the database in response to the search- or fetch-instruction.

20. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a display processor for providing a graphical representation of the categories to the user.