Providing numerical answers to queries
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorJohn J. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing numerical answers to queries. One of the methods includes identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment in text associated with search results that are responsive to a query. A text score is determined for each text portion based on one or more criteria. Text portions are grouped by a number included in each text portion. A group score is determined for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group. A particular text portion is selected based on group scores of each group. A response is provided in response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.
Claims23
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving a query;
- obtaining search results that are responsive to the query;
- identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence in text associated with the search results;
- determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that are synonyms of terms of the query;
- grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion;
- determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group;
- selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group;
- and
- providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.
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A system comprising:
- one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising
- receiving a query;
- obtaining search results that are responsive to the query;
- identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence in text associated with the search results;
- determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that are synonyms of terms of the query;
- grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion;
- determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group;
- selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group;
- and
- providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.
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A computer program product, encoded on one or more non-transitory computer storage media, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a query;
- obtaining search results that are responsive to the query;
- identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical in text associated with the search results;
- determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that match or are synonyms of terms of the query;
- grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion;
- determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group;
- selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group;
- and
- providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.