Search engine providing match and alternative answers using cumulative probability values
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorPeter W. Farrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for searching a knowledge base for a match answer and an alternative answer. The method includes the steps of: inputting a search term; beginning a search at a random location in the knowledge base to identify the match answer; determining a match answer category from the match answer; determining a look-up association based on the match answer category and a search history; plugging the look-up association into an alternative answer probability table to identify an alternative answer category; and performing a secondary search at a second random location in the knowledge base to find the alternative answer that belongs to the alternative answer category.
Claims15
A computerized method for searching a knowledge base database having a plurality of answer objects for a match answer and an alternative answer and providing the match answer and alternative answer, comprising:
- inputting a search term;
- beginning a search at a random location in the knowledge base to identify the match answer;
- outputting the match answer;
- determining a match answer category from the match answer;
- determining a look-up association based on the match answer category and a search history table;
- inputting the look-up association into an alternative answer probability table to identify an alternative answer category;
- performing a secondary search at a second random location in the knowledge base to find the alternative answer that only belongs to the alternative answer category;
- and
- outputting the alternative answer.
A user preference search system for searching a knowledge base to find a match answer and an alternative answer for a search term, comprising:
- a search engine stored on a computer system, comprising a processing unit, that performs a first search at a first location in the knowledge base and returns a match answer, and performs a second search at a second location in the knowledge base to find an alternative answer, wherein the alternative answer belongs to an alternative answer category determined by inputting a look-up association into an alternative answer probability table, wherein the look-up association is based on a search history table;
- and
- a table update system that updates the alternative answer probability table based on a table of previously determined category answer associations.
A program product stored on a recordable medium for searching a knowledge base database for and providing a match answer and an alternative answer, comprising:
- means for inputting a search term;
- means for beginning a search at a random location in the knowledge base to identify the match answer;
- means for outputting the match answer;
- means for selecting a match answer category from the match answer;
- means for determining a look-up association based on the match answer category and a search history table;
- means for inputting the look-up association into an alternative answer probability table to identify an alternative answer category;
- means for performing a secondary search at a second random location in the knowledge base to find the alternative answer that only belongs to the alternative answer category;
- and
- means for outputting the alternative answer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.