EP0522591A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Database retrieval system for responding to natural language queries with corresponding tables
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-07-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-07-10
Abstract
Abstract An information retrieval system is used for retrieving information from a database. The information retrieval system includes a parser for parsing a natural language input query into constituent phrases as a syntax analysis result. The system also includes a virtual table for converting phrases of the natural language query to retrieval keys that are possessed by the database. The virtual table accounts for particles that modify the phrases in the input query. A collating unit is provided in the system for preparing a database retrieval formula from the syntax analysis result by selecting a virtual table that it is used to convert the phrases to the keys possessed by the database. Lastly, the system includes a retrieval execution unit for retrieving data from the database on the basis of the database retrieval formula.
Inventors
- 👤 Ikuko c/o Mitsubishi Denki Takanashi
- 👤 Shozo c/o Mitsubishi Denki Kondo
- 👤 Katsushi c/o Mitsubishi Denki Suzuki
- 👤 Kazutomo c/o Mitsubishi Denki Naganuma
- 👤 Yoshiko c/o Mitsubishi Denki Itabashi
- 👤 Chikako c/o Mitsubishi Denki Kimura
- 👤 Naohito c/o Mitsubishi Denki Inaba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/245; G06F16/2452; G06F16/24522; G06F16/24526; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database, comprising: a parser for parsing a natural language query into its constituent phrases to produce a syntax analysis result; virtual table for converting phrases of the natural language query to retrieval keys possessed by the database, said virtual table accounting for particles that modify the phrases; a collating unit for preparing a database retrieval formula from the syntax analysis result by selecting a virtual table that is used to convert the phrases of the natural language query to keys possessed by the database; and a retrieval execution unit for retrieving data from the database on the basis of said database retrieval formula.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information retrieval system as recited in Claim 1 further comprising; an additional table for converting an undetermined value phrase in the natural language query into a determined value phrase in the database based on the syntax analysis result.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
An information retrieval system as recited in Claim 1 further comprising; a terminology dictionary for identifying entries in the virtual table to be used in converting the phrases of natural language query, said dictionary including words representing time, and said terminology dictionary being used by the parser in obtaining the syntax analysis result; and a time interval definition table in the virtual table for defining dates corresponding to said words representing time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An information retrieval system as recited in Claim 1 further comprising; a database retrieval formula conversion unit for generating a formula in a database retrieval language from the database retrieval formula.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
220 words
An information retrieval system for retrieving information from a database, comprising: a parser for parsing a natural language query into its constituent phrases to produce a syntax analysis result; virtual table for converting phrases of the natural language query to retrieval keys possessed by the database, said virtual table accounting for particles that modify the phrases; a collating unit for preparing a database retrieval formula from the syntax analysis result by selecting a virtual table that is used to convert the phrases of the natural language query to keys possessed by the database; a retrieval execution unit for retrieving data from the database on the basis of said database retrieval formula; an additional table for converting an undetermined value phrase in the natural language query into a determined value phrase in the database based on the syntax analysis result; a terminology dictionary for identifying entries in the virtual table to be used in converting the phrases of natural language query, said dictionary including words representing time, and said terminology dictionary being used by the parser in obtaining the syntax analysis result; a time interval definition table in the virtual table for defining dates corresponding to said words representing time; and a database retrieval formula conversion unit for generating a formula in a database retrieval language from the database retrieval formula.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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