Patent · US Expired

Method for detecting and fulfilling an information need corresponding to simple queries

US7120627B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 2002
Grant dateOct 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99936
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Described are techniques used in fulfilling an information need not formulated as a natural language question. A query is accepted that includes one or more words not formulated as a natural language question. The query is syntactically analyzed in order to extract a concept from the query. Documents are identified containing the one or more words. The analyzed query is matched to one or more question keys in a structures repository. A best match is determined between the analyzed query and a question key of the structures repository. The key of the at least one best key match is mapped to partially specified queries and the key of the best question key match is mapped to questions representing an information need corresponding to the query. The partially specified queries and questions are matched to potential answers contained in a collection of documents. One or more matching answers are returned based on a metric.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.