Similarity-based search method by relevance feedback

A method for retrieving information provided within a computer system, the computer system including a user terminal and a storage system including a storage area, the method comprising:

• retrieving first information from the storage area using a first query vector, the first query vector having first and second characteristics and first and second weights, the first and second characteristics being associated with the first and second weights, respectively, the first query vector having been formulated to retrieve target information, the first information including at least a first block;
• providing the first information to the user terminal;
• receiving a relevance feedback on the first data block of the first information from the user terminal;
• retrieving second information from the storage area using a second query vector, the second query vector having the first characteristic being associated with a third weight that is different from the first weight;
• and
• providing a quit criterion to the user terminal, the quit criterion providing information as to whether or not to end a first retrieval procedure for the target information.

A method for retrieving information from a user terminal coupled to one or more storage areas of a computer system, the method comprising:

• providing search criterion for target information desired by a user of the user terminal to an information retrieval device;
• receiving first information retrieved from a first storage area by the information retrieval device using a first search query that has been generated using the search criterion, 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;
• providing a relevance feedback on the first data block of the first information to the information retrieval device;
• receiving second information retrieved from a second storage area by the information retrieval device 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 the relevance feedback;
• and
• receiving an end-search criterion from the user terminal, the end-search criterion providing information as to whether or not to terminate a first retrieval procedure for the target information, the first retrieval procedure being a search procedure using a search query having the first element.

A computer readable medium for retrieving information from a computer system including a user terminal and a storage area, the medium comprising:

• code for 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;
• code for 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
• code for 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 with a search query having the first element.

An information retrieval system, comprising:

• a user terminal to initiate a search for target information;
• a storage area to store information;
• an information retrieval device configured to communicate with the user terminal and execute an information search request from the user terminal;
• a communication link coupling the storage area and the information retrieval device;
• and
• a computer readable medium including
• code for 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;
• code for 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
• code for 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 involving a retrieval procedure with a search query having the first element.

A method for retrieving information from a computer system including a user terminal and a storage area, the method comprising:

• a step for retrieving first information from the storage area using a first vector query, the first query having a first element and a first weight that is associated with the first element, the first query having been formulated to retrieve target information, the first information including at least a first data block;
• a step for retrieving second information from the storage area using a second vector query, the second query having the first element and a second weight that is associated with the first element, the second query being derived from a relevance feedback provided on the first data block of the first information;
• and
• a step for providing a quit criterion to the user terminal, the quit criterion providing information as to whether or not to end a first retrieval procedure for the target information, the first retrieval procedure being associated with a first vector query set including the first and second queries, each having the first element.

A computer system including a user terminal and a storage area, the computer system comprising:

• means for 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;
• means for 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
• means for 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 associated with a search query set including the first and second search queries, each having the first element.