US5933822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and methods for an information retrieval system that employs natural language processing of search results to improve overall precision
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-07-22
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Granted: 1999-08-03
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Expires: 2017-07-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and accompanying methods for an information retrieval system that utilizes natural language processing to process results retrieved by, for example, an information retrieval engine such as a conventional statistical-based search engine, in order to improve overall precision. Specifically, such a search ultimately yields a set of retrieved documents. Each such document is then subjected to natural language processing to produce a set of logical forms. Each such logical form encodes, in a word-relation-word manner, semantic relationships, particularly argument and adjunct structure, between words in a phrase. A user-supplied query is analyzed in the same manner to yield a set of corresponding logical forms therefor. Documents are ranked as a predefined function of the logical forms from the documents and the query. Specifically, the set of logical forms for the query is then compared against a set of logical forms for each of the retrieved documents in order to ascertain a match between any such logical forms in both sets. Each document that has at least one matching logical forms is heuristically scored, with each different relation for a matching logical forms being assigned a different corresponding predefined weight. The score of each such document is, e.g., a predefined function of the weights of its uniquely matching logical forms. Finally, the retained documents are ranked in order of descending score and then presented to a user in that order.
Inventors
- 👤 Lisa Braden-Harder
- 👤 Simon H. Corston
- 👤 William B. Dolan
- 👤 Lucy H. Vanderwende
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/3331; G06F16/334; G06F16/3344; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 125
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for use in an information retrieval system for retrieving stored documents from a repository, said system having a retrieval system, responsive to a query, for retrieving, from the repository, a plurality of stored documents related to the query so as to define an output document set; said apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory having executable instructions stored therein; and wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: produces, in response to the query, a first logical form therefor, wherein the first logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with the query; obtains a corresponding second logical form for each different one of the documents in the output document set, wherein the second logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with a phrase in said one document; ranks a plurality of the documents in the output document set as a predefined function of the first logical form of the query and the second logical form for each one of the plurality of documents in the output document set so as to define a rank order; and provides, as output and in said rank order, a plurality of stored entries associated with the output document set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for use in an information retrieval system for retrieving stored documents from a repository, said system having a retrieval system, responsive to a query, for retrieving, from the repository, a plurality of stored documents related to the query so as to define an output document set; said apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory having executable instructions stored therein; and wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: produces, in response to the query, a first logical form therefor, wherein the first logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with the query; obtains a corresponding second logical form for each different one of the documents in the output document set, wherein the second logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with a phrase in said one document; ranks a plurality of the documents in the output document set as a predefined function of the first logical form of the query and the second logical form for each one of the plurality of documents in the output document set so as to define a rank order; and provides, as output and in said rank order, a plurality of stored entries associated with the output document set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein each of the entries is either a corresponding one of the documents in the output document set or a record associated with said corresponding one document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus in claim 2 wherein each of the first and second logical forms, for the query and for each different document in the output document set, respectively, is a logical form graph, a sub-graph thereof or a list of logical form triples.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions: reads, the corresponding second logical form, for said each different one of the documents in the output document set, from a storage media; or produces said corresponding second logical form by analyzing said each different one document in the output document set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus in claim 4 wherein the function yields a score, for said one of the documents, based on a predetermined relationship between said first logical form associated with the query and each of said second logical forms associated with said one document, and wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, ranks the stored entries in accordance with the score associated with each of the documents in the output document set so as to define the rank order.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein either said first or second logical forms, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprises a paraphrase of the words associated with said query or said one of the documents, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus in claim 6 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein said match between said first logical form associated with the query and said any of the second logical forms associated with any document in the output document set is an identical match.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus in claim 8 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the repository comprises a dataset.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus in claim 5 further comprising: a client computer for obtaining a query from a user and for displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, said server comprising said processor and said memory, wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: obtains the query from the client computer, and provides said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 13 wherein the server comprises a plurality of individual servers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 13 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 15 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 16 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 5 further comprising: a client computer having said processor and said memory; and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system and supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 18 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 19 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 20 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus in claim 5 further comprising a computer having said processor and said memory, wherein the computer in response to instructions stored in the memory, also implements said retrieval system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 22 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the score for said one document is also a predetermined function of node words in the second logical forms for said one document, a frequency or semantic content of said node words in said one document, frequency or semantic content of predefined node words in said one document, a frequency of specific logical form triples for said one document, or a length of said one document.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus in claim 24 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 24 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus in claim 24 further comprising: a client computer for obtaining a query from a user and for displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, said server comprising said processor and said memory, wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: obtains the query from the client computer, and provides said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 27 wherein the server comprises a plurality of individual servers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 27 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 29 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 30 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 24 further comprising: a client computer having said processor and said memory; and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system and supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 32 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 33 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 34 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus in claim 24 further comprising a computer having said processor and said memory, wherein the computer in response to instructions stored in the memory, also implements said retrieval system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 36 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus in claim 5 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein either said first or second lists of logical form triples, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprises a paraphrase of the words associated with said query or said one of the documents, respectively.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the score for said one document is also a predetermined function of node words in the second logical forms for said one document, a frequency or semantic content of said node words in said one document, a frequency or semantic content of predefined node words in said one document, frequency of specific logical form triples for said one document, or a length of said one document.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the function is a sum of weights taken across the logical form triples, associated with each of said plurality of documents in the output document set, that identically match at least one of the logical form triples associated with the query, wherein a weight assigned to each matching logical form triple is defined by a type of semantic relation associated therewith.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
153 words
The apparatus in claim 41 wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: determines whether any of the logical form triples associated with the query matches any of the logical form triples associated with any document in the output document set so as to define a matching triple associated with said any document; for every one of documents in said output document set that has at least one matching logical form triple associated therewith, weights matching logical form triples in said every one document using a numeric weight predefined by the semantic relationship associated with said each matching logical form triple so as to form one or more weights for said one document; calculates a score for said one document as a function of said one or more weights; and ranks every one of said documents in accordance with said score thereof so as to define the rank order.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus in claim 42 wherein the rank order is descending weight order.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory, presents a first predefined group of said entries for said output document set that has highest successive rankings of the documents in said output document set.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus in claim 44 wherein the plurality of documents in the output document set consists of documents in said output document set that have at least one matching triple associated therewith.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus in claim 45 wherein each of said first and second logical form triples is comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein said logical form triples, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprise a logical form triple containing a hypernym or synonym of either of said words.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein said match between said any of the logical form triples associated with the query and said any of the logical form triples associated with any document in the output document set is an identical match.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the repository comprises a dataset.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus in claim 38 further comprising: a client computer for obtaining a query from a user and for displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, said server comprising said processor and said memory, wherein the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory: obtains the query from the client computer, and provides said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 52 wherein the server comprises a plurality of individual servers.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 52 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 54 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 55 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in claim 38 further comprising: a client computer having said processor and said memory; and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system and supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 57 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in claim 58 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 59 wherein the search engine, in response to the query, retrieves a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and the processor, in response to the instructions stored in the memory and the information contained in the record, accesses and downloads said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus in claim 38 further comprising a computer having said processor and said memory, wherein the computer in response to instructions stored in the memory, also implements said retrieval system.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in claim 61 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for use in an information retrieval system for retrieving stored documents from a repository, said system having a retrieval system, responsive to a query, for retrieving, from the repository, a plurality of stored documents related to the query so as to define an output document set; the method comprising the steps of: producing, in response to the query, a first logical form therefor, wherein the first logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with the query; obtaining a corresponding second logical form for each different one of the documents in the output document set, wherein the second logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with a phrase in said one document; ranking a plurality of the documents in the output document set as a predefined function of the first logical form of the query and the second logical form for each one of the plurality of documents in the output document set so as to define a rank order; and providing, as output and in said rank order, a plurality of stored entries associated with the output document set.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for use in an information retrieval system for retrieving stored documents from a repository, said system having a retrieval system, responsive to a query, for retrieving, from the repository, a plurality of stored documents related to the query so as to define an output document set; the method comprising the steps of: producing, in response to the query, a first logical form therefor, wherein the first logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with the query; obtaining a corresponding second logical form for each different one of the documents in the output document set, wherein the second logical form portrays semantic relationships between words associated with a phrase in said one document; ranking a plurality of the documents in the output document set as a predefined function of the first logical form of the query and the second logical form for each one of the plurality of documents in the output document set so as to define a rank order; and providing, as output and in said rank order, a plurality of stored entries associated with the output document set.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 63 wherein each of the entries is either a corresponding one of the documents in the output document set or a record associated with said corresponding one document.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in claim 64 wherein each of the first and second logical forms, for the query and for each different document in the output document set, respectively, is a logical form graph, sub-graph thereof or a list of logical form triples.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in claim 65 wherein the obtaining step comprises the step of: reading, the corresponding second logical form, for said each different one of the documents in the output document set, from a storage media; or producing said corresponding second logical form by analyzing said each different one document in the output document set.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method in claim 66 wherein the function yields a score, for said one of the documents, based on a predetermined relationship between said first logical form associated with the query and each of said second logical forms associated with said one document, and wherein the ranking step comprises the step of ranking the stored entries in accordance with the score associated with each of the documents in the output document set so as to define the rank order.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in claim 67 wherein either said first or second logical forms, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprises a paraphrase of the words associated with said query or said one of the documents, respectively.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method in claim 68 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in claim 67 wherein said match between said any of the first logical form associated with the query and said any of the second logical forms associated with any document in the output document set is an identical match.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method in claim 70 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the repository comprises a dataset.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the system further comprises a client computer, wherein the method comprises the steps, in the client computer of: obtaining a query from a user; and displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and the system further comprises a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, wherein the method further comprises the steps, in the server, of: obtaining the query from the client computer, and providing said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 75 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 76 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method in claim 77 further comprising the steps, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and in the server and in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the system further comprises a client computer and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system; wherein the method further comprises the step, in the server, of supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 79 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 80 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method in claim 81 further comprising the steps, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and in the client computer, in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the system further comprises a computer, wherein the method comprises the step, in the computer, of implementing said retrieval system.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 83 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method in claim 67 wherein the score for said one document is also a predetermined function of node words in the second logical forms for said one document, a frequency or semantic content of said node words in said one document, frequency or semantic content of predefined node words in said one document, a frequency of specific logical form triples for said one document, or a length of said one document.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the repository comprises a dataset.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the system further comprises a client computer, wherein the method comprises the steps, in the client computer, of: obtaining a query from a user; and displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and the system further comprises a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, wherein the method further comprises the steps in the server of: obtaining the query from the client computer, and providing said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 89 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 90 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method in claim 91 further comprising the step, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and, in the server and in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the system comprises a client computer and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system; wherein the method further comprises the step, in the server, of supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 93 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 94 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method in claim 95 further comprising the steps, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and in the client computer and in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 85 wherein the system further comprises a computer, wherein the method comprises the step, in the computer, of implementing said retrieval system.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 97 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method in claim 67 wherein each of said first and second logical forms comprise corresponding first and second lists of one or more logical form triples such that said logical form triples, in said first and second lists, are each comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method in claim 99 wherein either said first or second lists of logical form triples, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprises a paraphrase of the words associated with said query or said one of the documents, respectively.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the score for said one document is also a predetermined function of node words in the second logical forms for said one document, a frequency or semantic content of said node words in said one document, a frequency or semantic content of predefined node words in said one document, frequency of specific logical form triples for said one document, or a length of said one document.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the function is a sum of weights taken across the logical form triples, associated with each of said plurality of documents in the output document set, that identically match at least one of the logical form triples associated with the query, wherein a weight assigned to each matching logical form triple is defined by a type of semantic relation associated therewith.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
149 words
The method in claim 102 wherein the ranking step comprises the steps of: determining whether any of the logical form triples associated with the query matches any of the logical form triples associated with any document in the output document set so as to define a matching triple associated with said any document; for every one of documents in said output document set that has at least one matching logical form triple associated therewith, weighting matching logical form triples in said every one document using a numeric weight predefined by the semantic relationship associated with said each matching logical form triple so as to form one or more weights for said one document; calculating a score for said one document as a function of said one or more weights; and ranking every one of said documents in accordance with said score thereof so as to define the rank order.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in claim 103 wherein the rank order is descending weight order.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in claim 99 wherein stored entries providing step comprises the step of presenting a first predefined group of said entries for said output document set that has highest successive rankings of the documents in said output document set.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method in claim 105 wherein the plurality of documents in the output document set consists of documents in said output document set that have at least one matching triple associated therewith.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method in claim 106 wherein each of said first and second logical form triples is comprised of a stem form of each of two words, which are semantically related in a corresponding logical form graph, in the query or a phrase in said each one of the documents, respectively, and a predefined relation representing a semantic relationship between the two words.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in claim 99 wherein said logical form triples, associated with either the query or with said one of the documents in the output document set, further comprise a logical form triple containing a hypernym or synonym of either of said words.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in claim 99 wherein said match between said any of the logical form triples associated with the query and said any of the logical form triples associated with any document in the output document set is an identical match.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the repository comprises a dataset.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the query is a full-text query.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises a client computer, wherein the method comprises the steps, in the client computer, of: obtaining a query from a user; and displaying, in said rank order, the plurality of documents in the output document set; and the system further comprises a server connected, via a networked connection, to the client computer, wherein the method further comprises the steps in the server of: obtaining the query from the client computer, and providing said plurality of documents in the output document set in said rank order to the client computer.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 113 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 114 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method in claim 115 further comprising the step, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and, in the server and in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the system comprises a client computer and a server connected, via a networked connection to the client computer, said server implementing said retrieval system; wherein the method further comprises the step, in the server, of supplying, in response to the query provided by the client computer, said output document set to the client computer.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 117 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in claim 118 wherein the networked connection is an Internet or intranet connection.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method in claim 119 further comprising the steps, in the search engine and in response to the query, of retrieving a stored record from the repository for each one of said plurality of documents in the output document set, the record containing information specifying where said each one of the documents in the output document set can be found; and in the client computer and in response to information contained in the record, of accessing and downloading said each one of the documents from an associated server therefor for inclusion within the output document set.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises a computer, wherein the method comprises the step, in the computer, of implementing said retrieval system.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in claim 121 wherein the retrieval system comprises a statistical search engine.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of claim 63.
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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) | 2002-08-02 | 2003-02-01 | 2003-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-02 | 2007-02-01 | 2007-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-02 | 2011-02-01 | 2011-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |