EP0287310A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Intelligent query system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1988-04-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An intelligent query system is disclosed which operates in a personal computer (12) and which can query a mainframe computer (10) and its database. The system acts as a front end processor for the mainframe computer database (26) by, interactively with a user, building a query for a search with a parser that interprets the user's natural language domain limited query using a general purpose dictionary (16) and a replaceable domain (18) dictionary. If the query generated is sufficiently limited or narrow, an abbreviated database (22) located in the personal computer (12) can provide the answer without occupying the mainframe computer (10). If the query is broader in scope, the query is answered by the mainframe computer (10). During query formulation, the system offers guidance through expert system (42) feedback helping the user to clarify and refine the query and allows the user to define new words.
Inventors
- 👤 Diane Marie Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N5/00; G06N5/02; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/242; G06F16/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An intelligent query system method for a system having a mainframe database (26), a mainframe database manager (24) for the mainframe database (26), an abbreviated database (22), and a database manager (20) for the abbreviated database, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) parsing (106) an input query and identifying one or more phrases in the query to produce an identified phrase query; (b) applying (112) the identified phrase query to the database manager (20); (c) applying (120) the identical phrase query to the mainframe database manager (24) if requested by the user; and (d) providing (114 and 122) search results to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An intelligent query system method for a system having a mainframe database (26), a mainframe database manager (24) for the mainframe database (26), an abbreviated database (22), and a database manager (20) for the abbreviated database, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) parsing (106) an input query and identifying one or more phrases in the query to produce an identified phrase query; (b) applying (112) the identified phrase query to the database manager (20); (c) applying (120) the identical phrase query to the mainframe database manager (24) if requested by the user; and (d) providing (114 and 122) search results to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as recited in claim 1, characterized by step (a) including the steps of: (a1) searching (142) a general word database (16) and a domain database (18) to identify a phrase in the input query using phrase identification rules; (a2) resolving (144) ambiguities of an ambiguous phrase using phrase replacement rules; and (a3) prompting (146) the user for definition of an unrecognized phrase and entering the definition in the domain database (118).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 2, characterized by step (a1) including checking (174) the semantics of a current phrase using semantic checking rules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as recited in claim 2, characterized by step (a2) including: (i) providing (192) a partial match to the user between the ambiguous phrase and the contents of the general word and domain databases (16 and 18); and (ii) responding (192) to a user response indicating coincidence between the ambiguous phrase and the partial match by substituting the partial match for the ambiguous phrase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1, characterized by step (d) including providing (256) partial match results to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1, characterized by step (d) including providing (114 and 122) search results to the user after steps (b) and (c).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
A method as recited in claim 1 characterized by step (a) including the steps of: (a1) searching (142) a general word database (16) and a domain database (18) to identify a phrase in the input query using phrase identification rules including checking (174) the semantics of a current phrase using semantic checking rules; (a2) resolving (144) ambiguities of an ambiguous phrase using phrase replacement rules including the steps of: (i) providing (192) a partial match to the user between the ambiguous phrase and the contents of the general word and domain databases (16 and 18); and (ii) responding (192) to a user response indicating coincidence between the ambiguous phrase and the partial match by substituting the partial match for the ambiguous phrase; and (a3) prompting (146) the user for definition of an unrecognized phrase and entering the definition in the domain database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
An intelligent query system coupled to a mainframe computer system (10) including a mainframe database manager (24) for conducting a search of a mainframe database (26), and a microcomputer system (12) coupled to the mainframe computer system (10), characterized by said microcomputer system including: an abbreviated database (22) which is an abbreviation of the mainframe database; database manager means (20) for searching said abbreviated database with a search query; a general phrase dictionary database (16); a domain dictionary database (198); and query analysis means (14) for using the general (16) and domain (18) dictionary databases to identify one or more phrases in an input query to produce the search query, applying the search query to said database manager means (20), applying the search query to said mainframe database manager (24) if requested by a user and providing the results to the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
An intelligent query system coupled to a mainframe computer system (10) including a mainframe database manager (24) for conducting a search of a mainframe database (26), and a microcomputer system (12) coupled to the mainframe computer system (10), characterized by said microcomputer system including: an abbreviated database (22) which is an abbreviation of the mainframe database; database manager means (20) for searching said abbreviated database with a search query; a general phrase dictionary database (16); a domain dictionary database (198); and query analysis means (14) for using the general (16) and domain (18) dictionary databases to identify one or more phrases in an input query to produce the search query, applying the search query to said database manager means (20), applying the search query to said mainframe database manager (24) if requested by a user and providing the results to the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as recited in claim 8, characterized by said query analysis means including an expert system (Fig. 10) for resolving phrase ambiguities and prompting of unknown phrases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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