Content search in complex language, such as Japanese

• US 7,523,102 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getty Images Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Getty Images Incorporated
• Inventors: Bjarnestam, Anna, Carothers, David, MacGuffie, Monika
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B
• Application Number:
  US11/149,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 704/2, 704/4, 704/7, 704/9, 704/8, 715/531, 715/535, 715/536, 715/540, 715/256, 715/264, 715/249, 715/254, 715/260, 717/100, 717/101, 717/104, 717/108, 717/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/284 Lexical analysis, e.g. tokenisation or collocates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A search facility provides searching capabilities in languages such as Japanese. The facility may use a vocabulary knowledge base organized by concepts. For example, each concept may be associated with at least one keyword (as well as any synonyms or variant forms) by applying one or more rules that relate to identifying common main forms, script variants, alternative grammatical forms, phonetic variants, proper noun variants, numerical variants, scientific name, cultural relevance, etc. The contents of the vocabulary knowledge base are then used in executing search queries. A user may enter a search query in which keywords (or synonyms associated with those key words) may be identified, along with various stopwords that facilitate segmentation of the search query and other actions. Execution of the search query may result in a list of assets or similar indications being returned, which relate to concepts identified within the search query.

Claims

1. A system for searching for content identified using text and symbols of a complex language associated with multiple written forms, the system comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon an asset repository associated with multiple searchable assets;

a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a vocabulary knowledge base for storing vocabulary information associated with the complex language, wherein the vocabulary knowledge base stores information related to multiple semantic concepts that are usable to identify assets within the asset repository, wherein the vocabulary knowledge base is generated or updated by a repeatable method comprising;

assigning an identifier to a semantic concept;

identifying a main written form for the semantic concept, wherein the main written form is based on at least one of the multiple written forms;

for at least one of the multiple written forms associated with the complex language, associating at least one synonymous written form with the semantic concept, wherein the synonymous written form is at least partially distinct from the main written form; and

storing the identifier, the main written form, and the at least one synonymous written form in a data storage component associated with the system; and

a computing system having a processor to execute a search engine for receiving and executing queries for the searchable assets, wherein the execution is based, at least in part, on the contents of the vocabulary knowledge base.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising, a classification component for classifying the searchable assets in the asset repository to facilitate matching between the searchable assets and the vocabulary information.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the asset repository stores data associated with images.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the asset repository stores data associated with documents.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vocabulary knowledge base is a subcomponent of a meta-data repository, and wherein the meta-data repository further comprises a concept-to-asset repository, for storing information associated with relationships between concepts from the vocabulary database and assets from the asset repository.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vocabulary knowledge base is structured hierarchically, such that concepts located farther down in the hierarchy provide more specificity than concepts located higher up in the hierarchy.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the identified main written form is tagged as a keyword for searching.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the language is Japanese, and wherein the multiple written forms include, kanji script, katakana script and hiragana script, okurigana variant, and romaji written form.

9. A computer-implemented method for executing a search query, the method comprising:

receiving a search query including a textual expression, wherein the textual expression is written in a language that at least occasionally lacks discrete boundaries between words or autonomous language units;

referencing a structured vocabulary knowledge base to determine whether the textual expression comprises a keyword or synonym associated with the structured vocabulary knowledge base, wherein the structured vocabulary knowledge base is for storing vocabulary information associated with a language having multiple orthographic forms or scripts, and wherien the structured vocabulary knowledge base is generated prior to receiving the search query by a repeatable method comprising;

assigning an identifier to a semantic concept that is usable as a keyword or key phrase;

identifying a main written form for the semantic concept, wherein the main written form is based on at least one of the multiple written forms;

for at least one of the multiple written forms associated with the complex language, associating at least one synonymous written form with the semantic concept, wherein the synonymous written form is at least partially distinct from the main written form; and

storing the identifier, the main written form, and the at least one synonymous written form in a data storage component associated with the vocabulary knowledge base;

if the textual expression does not comprise a keyword, key phrase or synonym associated with the structured vocabulary knowledge base, performing segmentation on the textual expression, wherein the segmentation includes systematically splitting the textual expression into two or more segments, and identifying at least one keyword from the vocabulary knowledge based on the textual expression and the two or more segments;

performing the search query using the at least one identified keyword; and

providing for display results of the search query.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the systematic splitting includes identifying predetermined stopwords that are not keywords, wherein at least some of the predetermined stopwords are prepositions.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the systematic splitting includes splitting the textual expression into the longest segments possible in an effort to preserve the intended meaning of the textual expression.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the systematic splitting includes an application of both linguistic rules and contrived rules.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the systematic splitting includes identifying predetermined stopwords that are not keywords, wherein at least some of the predetermined stopwords represent Boolean values used in executing the search query.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the language is Japanese, and wherein determining whether the textual expression in its entirety comprises a keyword or synonym associated with the structured vocabulary knowledge base includes checking for matches in kanji groups with trailing hiragana.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the language is Japanese, and wherein determining whether the textual expression in its entirety comprises a keyword or synonym associated with the structured vocabulary knowledge base includes checking for matches in character groups of only kanji, only hiragana, only katakana, and only non-kanji non-hiragana non-katakana characters.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the systematic splitting includes segmenting a textual expression WXYZ as:

WXY, XYZ, WX, XY, YZ, W, X, Y, Z, wherein W, X, Y, and Z each represent a character or autonomous grouping of characters associated with the language.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the search query is received via a network connection.

18. A method in a first computer system for retrieving a media content unit from a second computer system having a plurality of media content units that have been classified according to keyword terms of a structured vocabulary, comprising:

sending a request for a media content unit, the request specifying a search term;

receiving an indication of at least one media content unit that corresponds to the specified search term, wherein the search term is located within the structured vocabulary and is used to determine at least one media content unit that corresponds to the search term, and wherein orthographic variations of the search term are automatically provided to assist in determining the at least one media content unit that corresponds to the search term, wherein the structured vocabulary is generated at the second computer system prior to the first computer sending the request by a repeatable method comprising;

assigning an identifier to a semantic concept that is usable as a keyword or key phrase;

identifying a main written form for the semantic concept, wherein the main written form is based on at least one of the multiple written forms;

for at least one of the multiple written forms associated with the complex language, associating at least one synonymous written form with the semantic concept, wherein the synonymous written form is at least partially distinct from the main written form; and

storing the identifier, the main written form, and the at least one synonymous written form in a data storage component associated with the vocabulary knowledge base; and

displaying the at least one media content unit on a display.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the keyword terms of the structured vocabulary are ordered such that the relationship of each term to each other term is inherent in the ordering.