Patent ID: 8060516

Claim:
A method implemented by a data processing system of a single computer or a network of computer processors, the method comprising: selecting from an inverted index first and second entries, each of which includes an index identifying a concept, a plurality of document identifiers each identifying a document in which the concept identified by the index is expressed, and a plurality of concept values each representing a strength of the expression of the concept identified by the index in a respective identified document; determining, by the data processing system, a plurality of new concept values from the plurality of concept values in the first and second entries; and combining, by the data processing system, the first and second entries into a combined entry, the combined entry including a plurality of document identifiers each identifying a document in which at least one of the concepts identified by the indices of the first and second entries is expressed, and the plurality of new concept values determined from the plurality of concept values in the first and second entries.