Patent ID: 6182062
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A multi-lingual information retrieval system comprising:information storage means for storing a plurality of concepts each defining relations between a plurality of items of information;language-expression converting data storage means for storing data to covert a retrieval condition expressed in any one of a plurality of different natural languages to an expression of internal data which is an interpretation of a natural language represented by a formula and storing data to convert information retrieved from said information storage means based on an expression of internal data to any one of the different natural languages, thereby making it possible to retrieve identical information for the same request for retrieval using any one of the different natural languages;interface means for inputting a request for retrieval of information in one of the different natural languages and outputting a result of the retrieval;retrieval condition converting means for receiving the request for retrieval from said interface means and converting the received request for retrieval to the expression of the internal data by using said language-expression converting data storage means; andretrieval means for retrieving information stored on said information storage means according to the converted expression of internal data, converting the retrieved information into the one different natural language based on the data stored in said language-expression converting data storage means, and providing the converted retrieved information as the result of the retrieval,wherein said data storage means stores data coupling a string of characters expressed in one of the different natural languages and a symbol designating the one different natural language.