Systems and methods of refining a search query based on user-specified search keywords
View Patent ↗After receiving a search keyword provided by a user, a computer selects an archetype for the search keyword. The computer identifies one or more search results in accordance with the archetype and returns at least one of the search results to the user. After selecting the archetype, the computer identifies at least one query operator for the selected archetype, constructs a search query using the query operator, and executes the search query against one or more data sources. Sometimes, the computer solicits user instructions with respect to the archetype and then generates feedback to the user instructions. This process may repeat multiple loops until the user submits a search query execution request, which suggests that the user is satisfied with the customized search query.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
at a computer having memory, a display, and one or more processors,
receiving a search keyword provided by a user, wherein the search keyword satisfies a predefined expression pattern;
determining an archetype for the search keyword;
identifying a query operator for the archetype, wherein the query operator includes a generalized expression of the search keyword;
applying the identified query operator to a document;
identifying a chunk within the document that satisfies the identified query operator, wherein the chunk does not include an instance of the search keyword; and
returning the chunk for display to the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the archetype has an enumerable set of instances and the search keyword is associated with one of the instances.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining a numeric scope.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the scope is from 0% to 100%.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining an expression pattern.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pattern is a date pattern.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
receiving one or more user instructions in connection with the archetype; and
updating the identified query operator in accordance with the user instructions.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
providing one or more suggestions in response to the user instructions;
receiving new user instructions in connection with the archetype and the suggestions;
updating the identified query operator in accordance with the new user instructions; and
repeating said providing, receiving, and updating steps until after receiving a search query execution request from the user.
9. A computer system, comprising:
memory;
a display;
one or more processors;
one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including:
instructions for receiving a search keyword provided by a user, wherein the search keyword satisfies a predefined expression pattern;
instructions for determining an archetype for the search keyword;
instructions for identifying a query operator for the archetype, wherein the query operator includes a generalized expression of the search keyword;
instructions for applying the identified query operator to a document;
instructions for identifying a chunk within the document that satisfies the identified query operator, wherein the chunk does not include an instance of the search keyword; and
instructions for returning the chunk for display to the user.
10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the archetype has an enumerable set of instances and the search keyword is associated with one of the instances.
11. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining a numeric scope.
12. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the scope is from 0% to 100%.
13. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining an expression pattern.
14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the pattern is a date pattern.
15. The computer system of claim 9 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
instructions for receiving one or more user instructions in connection with the selected archetype; and
instructions for updating the identified query operator in accordance with the user instructions.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
instructions for providing one or more suggestions in response to the user instructions;
instructions for receiving new user instructions in connection with the archetype and the suggestions;
instructions for updating the identified query operator in accordance with the new user instructions; and
instructions for repeating said providing, receiving, and updating steps until after receiving a search query execution request from the user.
17. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to:
receive a search keyword provided by a user, wherein the search keyword satisfies a predefined expression pattern;
determine an archetype for the search keyword;
identify a query operator for the archetype, wherein the query operator includes a generalized expression of the search keyword;
apply the identified query operator to a document;
identify a chunk within the document that satisfies the identified query operator, wherein the chunk does not include an instance of the search keyword; and
return the chunk for display to the user.
18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the archetype has an enumerable set of instances and the search keyword is associated with one of the instances.
19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining a numeric scope.
20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the scope is from 0% to 100%.
21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the identified query operator has a parameter defining an expression pattern.
22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the pattern is a date pattern.
23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
instructions for receiving one or more user instructions in connection with the selected archetype; and
instructions for updating the identified query operator in accordance with the user instructions.
24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , further comprising:
before applying the identified query operator,
instructions for providing one or more suggestions in response to the user instructions;
instructions for receiving new user instructions in connection with the archetype and the suggestions;
instructions for updating the identified query operator in accordance with the new user instructions; and
instructions for repeating said providing, receiving, and updating steps until after receiving a search query execution request from the user.