Phonetic self-improving search engine

• US 6,976,019 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arash M. Davallou
• Inventors: Davallou, Arash M
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US10/126,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 707 3- 6, 704/254, 704238-240, 342/357.09, 379/93.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

The present invention relates to phonetic self-improving search engines. The search engine may include a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetic equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetic equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit. After an initial query in a primary database fails to produce a positive result, an error memory database may be queried with a search string to obtain a positive result based on records of previously failed searches which ultimately found a positive result. If no record is found, the search string may be parsed into at least one pronounceable unit. Phonetically equivalent formulas may be applied to the at least one pronounceable unit to create at least one phonetic search string which is re-queried into the error memory database and the primary database. Successful positive results may be stored with the search string in the error memory database.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user with a positive search result by querying a database system, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) creating a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a primary database with the search string, the primary database having a plurality of primary records stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the primary database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the primary records which matches the search string in the primary database as the positive search result; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the primary database;

(1) querying an error memory database with the search string, the error memory database having a plurality of error memory records, each of the error memory records having at least one positive search result and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the error memory records which matches the search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the primary records and the error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the primary database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the primary database as the positive search result;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string in the error memory database as the positive search result; and

(f) if the positive search result is confirmed by the user;

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the positive search result in the error memory database as an error memory record.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of result candidates are identified as the positive search result in an array, the array being selectably adjustable by a variable accuracy factor.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein step (E) (2) further comprises the steps of:

(b) verifying the positive result identified in the error memory database for validity;

(c) if the positive result is invalid;

(i) deleting the error memory record associating the positive search result with the respective search string from the error memory database; and

(d) if the positive result is valid;

(i) outputting the positive search result to the user.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein step (E) (2) further comprises the steps of:

(e) requesting a confirmation from the user that the positive search result outputted to the user is correct; and

(f) if the positive search result outputted to the user is correct;

(i) storing the confirmation in a respective error memory record.

5. The method as in claim 3 wherein step (E) (2) further comprises the steps of:

(e) tracking the user'"'"'s activity in the database system to automatically create a confirmation of the positive search result without user confirmation; and

(f) storing the confirmation in a respective error memory record.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein step (E) (2) further comprises the step of:

(i) recording duration of time the user spends viewing the positive search result.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein step (E) (3) (d) further comprises the steps of:

(ii) verifying the at least one result candidate identified for validity; and

(iii) if the at least one result candidate is invalid;

(A) deleting the primary record associating the positive search result with the respective phonetic search string from the primary database; and

(iv) if the at least one result candidate is valid;

(A) outputting the positive search result to the user.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein step (E) (3) (d) further comprises the steps of:

(v) requesting a confirmation from the user that the positive search result outputted to the user is correct.

9. The method as in claim 7 wherein step (E) (3) (d) further comprises the steps of:

(v) tracking the user'"'"'s activity in the database system to automatically create a confirmation of the positive search result without user interaction; and

(vi) storing the confirmation in the respective primary record.

10. The method as in claim 7 wherein step (E) (3) (d) further comprises the step of:

(A) recording duration of time the user spends viewing the positive search result.

11. The method as in claim 1 wherein step (E) (3) (e) further comprises the steps of:

(ii) verifying the at least one result candidate identified for validity;

(iii) if the at least one result candidate is invalid;

(A) deleting the error memory record associating the positive search result with the respective phonetic search string from the error memory database; and

(iv) if the at least one result candidate is valid;

(A) outputting the positive search result to the user.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein step (E) (3) (e) further comprises the steps of:

(v) requesting a confirmation from the user that is the positive search result is correct.

13. The method as in claim 11 wherein step (E) (3) (e) further comprises the steps of:

(v) tracking the user'"'"'s activity in the database system to automatically create a confirmation of the positive search result without user interaction; and

(vi) storing the confirmation in the respective error memory record.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein step (E) (2) further comprises the step of:

(A) recording duration of time the user spends viewing the positive search result.

15. The method as in claim 14 wherein the global computer network system is the Internet and the positive search result is an Internet website.

16. The method as in claim 1 wherein the search string is entered into the database system directly by the user.

17. The method as in claim 1 wherein the search string is audibly communicated to the user and subsequently entered into the database system by the user.

18. The method as in claim 1 wherein the pronounceable unit is at least one letter.

19. The method as in claim 1 wherein step (B) further comprises the steps of:

(1) converting speech to text using a voice recognition application.

20. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(F) monitoring at least one new search string entered by the user and further monitoring at least one result associated therewith for a predetermined time period; and

(G) comparing the at least one new search string entered by the user and the search string previously entered by the user to determine a textual correlation therebetween.

21. A method of directing a user to an Internet Website address, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) creating a phonetic database having a plurality of phonetically equivalent formulas stored therein, each of the phonetically equivalent formulas being associated with at least one respective pronounceable unit;

(B) receiving a search string from the user;

(C) querying a registered URL database with the search string, the registered URL database having a plurality of URL records and at least one respective Internet Website address stored therein;

(D) if the search string exists in the registered URL database;

(1) identifying a respective one of the URL records which matches the search string as the Internet Website address; and

(2) directing the user to the Internet Website address; and

(E) if the search string does not exist in the registered URL database;

(1) querying a URL error memory database with the search string, the URL error memory database having a plurality of URL error memory records, each of the URL error memory records having at least one Internet Website address and at least one search string associated therewith;

(2) if the search string exists in the URL error memory database;

(a) identifying a respective one of the URL error memory records which matches the search string as the Internet Website address; and

(b) directing the user to the Internet Website address; and

(3) if the search string does not exist in the URL error memory database;

(a) parsing the search string into at least one pronounceable unit;

(b) applying the phonetically equivalent formulas to the at least one pronounceable unit for outputting at least one phonetic search string;

(c) comparing the at least one phonetic search string with the URL records and the URL error memory records;

(d) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the registered URL database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string as the Internet Website address;

(e) if the at least one phonetic search string exists in the URL error memory database;

(i) identifying at least one result candidate which matches the at least one phonetic search string as the Internet Website address; and

(f) if the Internet Website address is confirmed by the user;

(i) storing the search string, a confirmed phonetic search string and the Internet website in the URL error memory database as an URL error memory record.