US6038560A — Concept knowledge base search and retrieval system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for processing queries in a search and retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term, wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 114 words

A method for processing queries in a search and retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term, wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: storing a knowledge base further comprising a directed graph that links categories having a lexical, semantic or usage association; generating an expanded set of query terms through use of said knowledge base; and processing said query including utilizing said knowledge base to identify categories relevant to said expanded set of query terms.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the step of processing a query comprises the step of mapping said query term to a category of said knowledge base.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the step of storing a knowledge base comprises the steps of: storing a directed graph that links categories having a lexical, semantic or usage association; and storing themes to relate context information to one or more categories; and the step of processing a query utilizing said knowledge base comprises the steps of: mapping said query term to a category of said knowledge base; and selecting themes, classified for said category, to identify additional terminology relevant to said query term.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of storing themes to relate context information to one or more categories comprises the steps of: processing a plurality of documents to identify a plurality of themes for a document, wherein said themes identify the content of said document; and classifying said documents, including themes identified for said documents, in said categories so as to relate said themes to said categories.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the step of selecting additional themes, as related terminology, by utilizing said lexical, semantic or usage associations in said directed graph of said knowledge base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the steps of: generating an expanded set of query terms through use of said knowledge base; matching said themes selected with said expanded set of query terms; and selecting, as said terminology relevant to said query, terminology common between said themes and said expanded set of query terms to satisfy as many query terms as possible.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising the step of extracting groupings of expanded query terms and themes that satisfy more than one query term.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying, as a response to said query, said grouping of said expanded query terms and said themes so as to correspond said grouping to said query terms.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: ranking said groupings in order of relevance to said query terms; and displaying said groupings from the most relevant grouping to the least relevant grouping.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of ranking said groupings comprises the step of ranking said groupings based on the highest number of query terms satisfied.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of ranking said groupings comprises the steps of: generating query term weights for each query term; and ranking said groupings based on the highest total query term weight.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of ranking said groupings comprises the steps of: generating theme weights for each theme; and ranking said groupings based on the highest total theme weight for themes in a corresponding group.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 85 words

A method for processing queries in a search and retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of themes for documents available in said search and retrieval system, wherein a theme for a document identifies subject matter contained in a corresponding document; processing a query to identify at least one document relevant to said query; selecting themes corresponding to said document identified; and displaying said themes to respond to said query, wherein said themes provide contextual information to respond to said query.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 85 words

A method for processing queries in a search and retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of themes for documents available in said search and retrieval system, wherein a theme for a document identifies subject matter contained in a corresponding document; processing a query to identify at least one document relevant to said query; selecting themes corresponding to said document identified; and displaying said themes to respond to said query, wherein said themes provide contextual information to respond to said query.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the steps of: identifying additional themes from said documents selected; and utilizing said additional themes to respond to said query.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 120 words

A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term, wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 120 words

A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of: storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term, wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 66 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, further comprising instructions for: storing a knowledge base further comprising a directed graph that links categories having a lexical, semantic or usage association; generating an expanded set of query terms through use of said knowledge base; and processing said query including utilizing said knowledge base to identify categories relevant to said expanded set of query terms.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein: the step of processing a query comprises the step of mapping said query term to a category of said knowledge base.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 90 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein: the step of storing a knowledge base comprises the steps of: storing a directed graph that links categories having a lexical, semantic or usage association; and storing themes to relate context information to one or more categories; and the step of processing a query utilizing said knowledge base comprises the steps of: mapping said query term to a category of said knowledge base; and selecting themes, classified for said category, to identify additional terminology relevant to said query term.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 73 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19, wherein the instructions for storing themes to relate context information to one or more categories comprise instructions for: processing a plurality of documents to identify a plurality of themes for a document, wherein said themes identify the content of said document; and classifying said documents, including themes identified for said documents, in said categories so as to relate said themes to said categories.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19, further comprising instructions for selecting additional themes, as related terminology, by utilizing said lexical, semantic or usage associations in said directed graph of said knowledge base.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 67 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19, further comprising instructions for: generating an expanded set of query terms through use of said knowledge base; matching said themes selected with said expanded set of query terms; and selecting, as said terminology relevant to said query, terminology common between said themes and said expanded set of query terms to satisfy as many query terms as possible.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 22, further comprising instructions for extracting groupings of expanded query terms and themes that satisfy more than one query term.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 23, further comprising instructions for displaying, as a response to said query, said grouping of said expanded query terms and said themes so as to correspond said grouping to said query terms.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 39 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 23, further comprising instructions for: ranking said groupings in order of relevance to said query terms; and displaying said groupings from the most relevant grouping to the least relevant grouping.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25, wherein the instructions for ranking said groupings comprise instructions for ranking said groupings based on the highest number of query terms satisfied.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 40 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25, wherein the instructions for ranking said groupings comprise instructions for: generating query term weights for each query term; and ranking said groupings based on the highest total query term weight.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25, wherein the instructions for ranking said groupings comprise instructions for: generating theme weights for each theme; and ranking said groupings based on the highest total theme weight for themes in a corresponding group.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 110 words

A computer system comprising: memory for storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processor unit for processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and an output display for displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 110 words

A computer system comprising: memory for storing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of categories, wherein said categories depict subject matter used for classification of information in said search and retrieval system; processor unit for processing a query, which includes at least one query term, to identify categories of said knowledge base relevant to said at least one query term; and an output display for displaying, in response to said query, said categories relevant to said at least one query term wherein said categories displayed provide a profile of subject matter relevant to said query that shows how information, organized in said search and retrieval system, relates to said query.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-14	2003-09-13	2004-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-14	2007-09-13	2008-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-14	2011-09-13	2012-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Concept knowledge base search and retrieval system

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