Search system with query refinement and search method

A computer implemented search method for electronically searching documents, and providing a search result in response to a search query, comprising:

• receiving, using a user interface module controlled by a computer processor, a search query from a user, said search query having at least one search query term;
• electronically determining, using a query processing module controlled by a computer processor, a sense of said at least one search query;
• displaying alternative senses in which said at least one search query term is used, and receiving the user's selection of at least one the alternative senses;
• electronically identifying, using the query processing module controlled by a computer processor, a plurality of available alternative terms from a cluster of terms belonging to a same word sense for the at least one search query term based on the user's selected alternative sense;
• and
• electronically executing a search, using a search engine, for electronic documents that satisfy at least one of said search query term and the plurality of available alternative terms.

A computer readable hardware medium with executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer processor, cause said computer to execute a method for searching for electronic documents, and providing a search result in response to a search query, the method comprising:

• receiving a search query from a user, said search query having at least one search query term;
• electronically determining a sense of said at least one search query term;
• displaying alternative senses in which said at least one search query term is used, and receiving the user's selection of at least one of the alternative senses;
• electronically identifying a plurality of available alternative terms from a cluster of terms belonging to a same word sense for the at least one search query term based on the user's selection of the at least one alternative sense;
• and
• electronically executing a search for electronic documents that satisfy at least one of said search query term and the plurality of alternative terms.

A search system for searching for electronic documents, and providing a search result in response to a search query, comprising:

• a processor;
• a database, wherein terms in the database are grouped in a cluster based on the terms belonging to a same word sense;
• a user interface module adapted to receive a search query from a user, said search query having at least one search query term;
• a query processing module that determines a domain category for the at least one search query term, and wherein said user interface module is adapted to display alternative domain categories in which said search query term is used, and to allow the user to select at least one of the alternative domain categories, and wherein the query processing module identifies a plurality of any available alternative terms from a cluster based on the domain category selected by the user;
• a search engine that electronically searches for electronic documents that satisfy said at least one search query term and said plurality of available alternative terms;
• and
• wherein said user interface module is further adapted to display search results received from the search engine.