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US5598557A
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Apparatus and method for retrieving and grouping images representing text files based on the relevance of key words extracted from a selected file to the text files
Assignee: Nuance Communications Inc
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Filing: 1992-09-22
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Granted: 1997-01-28
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Expires: 2012-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for searching and retrieving files in a database without a user being required to provide keywords or query terms. A user first selects and opens a reference file. A natural language recognition algorithm is used to determine the subject words of the selected file. Next, a statistical comparison between the subject words and the contents of files in a database is performed. Based on the statistical comparison, files are assigned weighted relevancies. Relevant files are prioritized and displayed to the user in groups. The groups are formed based on the retrieved files relevance to specific subject works of the selected file. The groups of retrieved files are displayed in associating with the subject word they are relevant to.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher G. Doner
- 👤 Lawrence G. Miller
- 👤 Ian D. Emmons
- 👤 Michael R. Barnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/3331; G06F16/334; G06F16/3346; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A computer system for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising: a bus; an input device coupled to said bus for selecting a first reference file; a storage area coupled to said bus having stored therein a program; a processor coupled to said bus for executing said program, said program including an algorithm for determining significant words of text comprising said first file, and a comparison algorithm for comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; and a display device, coupled to said bus, for displaying a plurality of said significant words from said first reference file and one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files' relevance to said plurality of said significant words, wherein selecting one of said images designates the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file for initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database which are relevant to said second reference file.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A computer system for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising: a bus; an input device coupled to said bus for selecting a first reference file; a storage area coupled to said bus having stored therein a program; a processor coupled to said bus for executing said program, said program including an algorithm for determining significant words of text comprising said first file, and a comparison algorithm for comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; and a display device, coupled to said bus, for displaying a plurality of said significant words from said first reference file and one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files' relevance to said plurality of said significant words, wherein selecting one of said images designates the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file for initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database which are relevant to said second reference file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said program is further comprised of: an algorithm for repeatedly performing statistical comparisons between said significant words of said first reference file and text of other files of said database and assigning a weight to each of said other files; a ranking algorithm for ranking said other files according to said weights and displaying a list of said ranked files.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said significant words include subject words.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said significant words include direct objects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said significant words include bold, underlined, and italicized words.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said significant words are weighted before performing said comparison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 is further comprised of a search algorithm for searching, retrieving, and ranking files in said database based on keywords.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said algorithm for determining said significant words is comprised of: a parsing algorithm for parsing text of said reference file into sentences; a filtering algorithm for disregarding inconsequential words in a sentence; a natural language processing algorithm for determining which of said words in said sentence are significant based on parts of speech for said significant words and a set of heuristic grammar rules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said significant words include subject words.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said significant words include direct objects.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said significant words include bold, underlined, and italicized words.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said significant words are weighted before performing said comparison.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 is further comprised of a search algorithm for searching, retrieving, and ranking files in said database based on keywords.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said comparison is a function of a frequency of significant words in said second file, a function of a distribution of said significant words within said database, and is normalized by a function of a length of said second file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said significant words include subject words.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said significant words include direct objects.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said significant words include bold, underlined, and italicized words.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said significant words are weighted before performing said comparison.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 14 is further comprised of a search algorithm for searching, retrieving, and ranking files in said database based on keywords.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for searching, retrieving, and displaying files in a database comprising: a computer system for selecting and opening a reference file; a search algorithm executed by said computer system for searching for and retrieving files from said database which are related to said reference file based on comparing significant words of said reference file and text of other files residing in said database; an algorithm for categorizing and prioritizing said retrieved files into a plurality of groups, wherein each of said plurality of groups corresponds to a commonly used subject word in said reference file; and a display for displaying said commonly used subject words, bit-mapped images representing said prioritized files corresponding to commonly used words, and a bit-mapped image representing said reference file, said bit-mapped images being scaled representations of document cover sheets in said files, wherein selecting a bit-mapped image results in designating its corresponding file as the reference file and initiates a search and retrieval based on said designated reference file.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for searching, retrieving, and displaying files in a database comprising: a computer system for selecting and opening a reference file; a search algorithm executed by said computer system for searching for and retrieving files from said database which are related to said reference file based on comparing significant words of said reference file and text of other files residing in said database; an algorithm for categorizing and prioritizing said retrieved files into a plurality of groups, wherein each of said plurality of groups corresponds to a commonly used subject word in said reference file; and a display for displaying said commonly used subject words, bit-mapped images representing said prioritized files corresponding to commonly used words, and a bit-mapped image representing said reference file, said bit-mapped images being scaled representations of document cover sheets in said files, wherein selecting a bit-mapped image results in designating its corresponding file as the reference file and initiates a search and retrieval based on said designated reference file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said searching and retrieving means is comprised of: a means for performing a statistical comparison between said significant words of said reference file and files residing in said database; a means for retrieving files from said database based on said statistical comparison.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a first reference file; (b) determining significant words of text comprising said first reference file: (c) comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; (d) determining whether to retrieve said second file based on said step of comparing; (e) retrieving said second file if said step of determining indicates said second file should be retrieved; (f) displaying a plurality of said significant words; (g) displaying one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files' relevance to said plurality of said significant words; and (h) upon selection of one of said images, designating the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file and initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database relevant to said second reference file.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a first reference file; (b) determining significant words of text comprising said first reference file: (c) comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database; (d) determining whether to retrieve said second file based on said step of comparing; (e) retrieving said second file if said step of determining indicates said second file should be retrieved; (f) displaying a plurality of said significant words; (g) displaying one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files' relevance to said plurality of said significant words; and (h) upon selection of one of said images, designating the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file and initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database relevant to said second reference file.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: repeatedly performing comparisons between said significant words of said first reference file and other files of said database; assigning a weight to each of said other files based on said comparison; ranking said other files according to said weights; displaying a list of ranked files.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said determining step is comprised of the steps of: parsing text of said first reference file into sentences; disregarding inconsequential words in said sentences; determining which of said words in said sentences are significant based on parts of speech for said significant words and heuristic grammar rules.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
(Amended) The method of claim 24, wherein said comparison is a statistical comparison as a function of frequency of significant words in said second file and a distribution of said significant words within said database and is normalized by a function of a length of said second file.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said significant words include subject words.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said significant words include direct objects.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said significant words include bold, underlined, and italicized words.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of weighting said significant words before performing said statistical comparison.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of searching, retrieving, and ranking files in said database according to keywords.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |