Patent ID: 7028024

Claim:
A method of searching for a plurality of information objects comprising: receiving a first query; automatically determining an association score between each keyword within the first query and each keyword within a second query based at least in part upon their positions within a hierarchy of keywords associated with the plurality information objects; automatically expanding a scope of a search from the first query to the second query; searching a database using the second query; finding a first identifier for a first information object that corresponds to the second query, wherein the first information object is part of the plurality of information objects; and calculating a first relevance score for the first information object, wherein: at least one first relevancy rating is obtained for the first information object; the first relevance score includes a first sum divided by a number of keywords within the second query; the first sum includes a first summation of first products; and for each keyword within the second query, its first product includes a corresponding first association score and a corresponding first relevance rating.