Patent ID: 6778951
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of retrieving documents in a database retrieval system having a knowledge database, the method comprising the acts ofa. receiving a query string inputted by a user into a natural language interface of said database retrieval system, said interface being coupled to a string source having a plurality of pre-stored strings, each of said pre-stored strings being coupled to one of said documents; b. in response to said receiving act, detecting from said strings source a plurality of equivalent strings having essentially the same meaning as said query string; c. in response to said detecting act, initially ranking said plurality of equivalent strings by a weighing correlation between said query string and each of said equivalent strings; d. generating a first correlation value for the meaning of each of said plurality of equivalent strings; e. in response to said act of generating a first correlation value, quantifying the correlation in meaning between said equivalent strings and said query string with a first factor; f. generating a second correlation value for a wording pattern of each of said plurality of equivalent strings; g. in response to said act of generating a second correlation value, quantifying the correlation in wording pattern between said equivalent strings and said query string with a second factor; h. in response to said quantifying acts, ranking said equivalent strings by a combined correlation of meanings and wording patterns for each of said plurality of equivalent strings; and i. in response to said act of ranking said equivalent strings, retrieving a document coupled to a selected and ranked equivalent string and displaying said document to said user.