Fuzzy keyword searching
AssigneeAbo Enterprises, LLC
InventorScott Curtis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuzzy, or ambiguous, keyword searching process and systems for implementing the fuzzy keyword searching process are provided. In general, one or more keyword search terms are first identified for a search. Next, a user is enabled to adjust a logical fuzziness, or logical ambiguity, for each of the one or more keyword search terms. As used herein, logical fuzziness of a keyword search term refers to the extent to which associated keywords are considered for the search. In one embodiment, the user may also be enabled to view and adjust keyword associations for each of the keyword search terms. A search is then performed based on the one or more keyword search terms and the logical fuzziness of the one or more keyword search terms, and results of the search are presented to the user.
Claims20
A method of operation of a computing device comprising:
- presenting a keyword search term for a search of content to a user via a display associated with the computing device;
- adjusting a logical fuzziness of the keyword search term based on input by the user, the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term corresponding to an extent to which a plurality of associated keywords for the keyword search term are utilized for the search of the content;
- and
- providing visual feedback to the user via the display regarding the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term.
A user device comprising:
- a) a user interface for receiving input from a user and displaying information to the user;
- and
- b) a control system, associated with the user interface, adapted to:
- i) display a keyword search term for a search of content to the user;
- ii) adjust a logical fuzziness of the keyword search term based on input by the user, the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term corresponding to an extent to which a plurality of associated keywords for the keyword search term are utilized for the search of the content;
- and
- iii) provide visual feedback to the user regarding the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term.
A central server system comprising:
- a) a communication interface communicatively coupling the central server system to a user device via a network, the user device associated with a user;
- and
- b) a control system, associated with the communication interface, adapted to:
- i) effect presentation of a keyword search term for a search of content to the user at the user device;
- ii) receive input from the user, via the user device and the communication interface, corresponding to the keyword search term;
- ii) adjust a logical fuzziness of the keyword search term based on the input from the user, the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term corresponding to an extent to which a plurality of associated keywords for the keyword search term are utilized for the search of the content;
- and
- iii) provide visual feedback to the user regarding the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:
- present a keyword search term for a search of content to a user via a display associated with the computing device;
- adjust a logical fuzziness of the keyword search term based on input by the user, the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term corresponding to an extent to which a plurality of associated keywords for the keyword search term are utilized for the search of the content;
- and
- provide visual feedback to the user via the display regarding the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:
- identify a keyword search term for a search of content;
- adjust a logical fuzziness of the keyword search term based on input by a user, the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term corresponding to an extent to which a plurality of associated keywords for the keyword search term are utilized for the search of the content;
- perform the search of the content based on the keyword search term and the logical fuzziness of the keyword search term;
- and
- present results of the search to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.