Patent ID: 7130849
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for retrieving information from a computer system including a user terminal and a storage area, the method comprising: retrieving first information from the storage area using a first search query, the first search query having a first element and a first weight that is associated with the first element, the first search query having been formulated to retrieve target information, the first information including at least a first data block; retrieving second information from the storage area using a second search query, the second search query having the first element and a second weight that is associated with the first element, the second search query being derived from a relevance feedback provided on the first data block of the first information; and providing an end-search criterion to the user terminal, the end-search criterion providing information as to whether or not to end a first retrieval procedure for the target information, the first retrieval procedure being a retrieval procedure using a search query having the first element, wherein the end-search criterion is derived by comparing first relevancy information relating to the first information and second relevancy information relating to the second information, wherein the first information includes the first data block and a second data block, each data block being provided with a first relevancy rank, wherein the second information includes the first data block and the second data block, each being provided with a second relevancy rank, the end-of-search criterion being derived based on an amount of change between the first relevancy rank and the second relevancy rank.