Language Search Tool

• US 20080027911A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abbar, Mohamed, Arayasantiparb, Athapan
• Application Number:
  US11/460,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027911A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/243 Natural language query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24522 Translation of natural language queries to structured queries

Abstract

A method of identifying one or more strings from a database of strings based on an input string is described. A user provides an input string, which is received and processed to produce one or more search terms. These search terms are compared to the database to identify potential matches and the potential matches are then filtered according to a field of use and the resultant strings are output to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input string;

processing said input string to produce at least one search term;

comparing said at least one search term to a database of strings to identify any potential output strings;

identifying at least one classification associated with each of said potential output strings;

filtering said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce output data; and

outputting said output data.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said input string comprises at least one word.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said input string comprises an abbreviation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein processing said input string to produce at least one search term comprises:

identifying at least one keyword from said input string; and

analyzing each said keyword to identify at least one search term associated with each said keyword.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein identifying at least one keyword comprises:

splitting said input string into a plurality of words; and

filtering said plurality of words according to predefined criteria.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein analyzing each said keyword to identify at least one search term associated with each said keyword comprises:

identifying alternative conjugations of each said keyword.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein comparing said at least one search term to a database of strings to identify any potential output strings comprises:

comparing each identified search term associated with each said keyword to said database of strings; and

identifying any strings in the database comprising a search term associated with each said keyword as potential output strings.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a classification relates to a field of use of a string.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input string is received from a user and wherein filtering said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce output data comprises:

identifying at least one classification associated with said user; and

filtering said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings and on said at least one classification associated with said user to produce said output data.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said output data comprises one or more strings associated with one of said at least one classification associated with said user.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein filtering said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce output data comprises:

grouping said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce said output data.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said output data comprises a list of one or more output strings arranged by classification.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said output data comprises one or more output strings and wherein the method further comprises:

outputting additional data associated with each of said one or more output strings.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said additional data comprises one or more of:

a meaning of said output string;

an example of use of said output string;

advice on use of said output string;

an audio file containing a pronunciation of said output string;

derivation of said output string;

an image associated with said output string and a corresponding string in a different language.

15. One or more device-readable media with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving an input string;

processing said input string to produce at least one search term;

comparing said at least one search term to a database of strings to identify any potential output strings;

identifying at least one classification associated with each of said potential output strings,

filtering said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce output data; and

outputting said output data.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause the processor to;

receive an input string via an input;

process said input string to produce at least one search term;

compare said at least one search term to a database of strings to identify any potential output strings;

identify at least one classification associated with each of said potential output strings;

filter said potential output strings based on said at least one identified classification associated with each of said potential output strings to produce output data; and

output said output data via an output.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a database of strings.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said input and said output comprise a network interface.