System and method for incorporating concept-based retrieval within boolean search engines

• US 6,745,161 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Discern Communications, Inc. (ConvergeOne Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arnold, James F., Voss, Loren L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, V PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/613,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 704/9, 707/1-6
• US Class Current: 704/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/313 Selection or weighting of terms for indexing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3338 Query expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for linguistic pattern recognition of information. Initially, textual information is retrieved from a data source utilizing a network. The textual information is then segmented into a plurality of phrases, which are then scanned for patterns of interest. For each pattern of interest found a corresponding event structure is built. Event structures that provide information about essentially the same incident are then merged.

Claims

1. A method for linguistic pattern recognition of information, comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving textual information from a data source utilizing a network;

(b) segmenting the textual information into a plurality of phrases;

(c) scanning each phrase for patterns of interest;

(d) building a corresponding event structure for each pattern of interest found; and

(e) merging event structures that provide information about essentially the same incident, wherein the merged event structures are stored in an information cache based on concept-based storage for later retrieval based on concept.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one phrase Includes a noun group.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the phrase includes a verb group.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the operation of providing a user interface, the user interface allowing a user to provide a search request for determining the pattern of interest.

5. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for incorporating concept-based retrieval within Boolean search engines, the computer program comprising:

(a) a code segment that retrieves textual information from a data source utilizing a network;

(b) a code segment that segments the textual information into a plurality of phrases;

(c) a code segment that scans each phrase for patterns of interest;

(d) a code segment that builds a corresponding event structure for each pattern of interest found; and

(e) a code segment that merges event structures that provide information about essentially the same incident, wherein the merged event structures are stored in an information cache based on concept-based storage for later retrieval based on concept.

6. A computer program as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one phrase includes a noun group.

7. A computer program as recited in claim 5, wherein the phrase includes a verb group.

8. A computer program as recited in claim 5, further comprising a code segment that provides a user interface, the user interface allowing a user to provide a search request for determining the pattern of interest.

9. A system for incorporating concept-based retrieval within Boolean search engines, the system comprising:

(a) logic that retrieves textual information from a data source utilizing a network;

(b) logic that segments the textual information into a plurality of phrases;

(c) logic that scans each phrase for patterns of interest;

(d) logic that builds a corresponding event structure for each pattern of interest found; and

(e) logic that merges event structures that provide information about essentially the same incident, wherein the merged event structures are stored in an information cache based on concept-based storage for later retrieval based on concept.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one phrase includes a noun group.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the phrase includes a verb group.

12. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising logic that provides a user interface, the user interface allowing a user to provide a search request for determining the pattern of interest.