초록 ▼

An index associated with a database is dynamically processed in an information retrieval system to create a set of questions for use when processing a data inquiry from a user. The index, a structured guide used when searching the database, has different information domains. After one of these domai

An index associated with a database is dynamically processed in an information retrieval system to create a set of questions for use when processing a data inquiry from a user. The index, a structured guide used when searching the database, has different information domains. After one of these domains is selected, a particular order of the index categories within the selected domain is determined, typically by referring to the order lookup table within the index. A script corresponds to the selected domain. Within the script, there are questions corresponding to each index category within the selected domain. These questions are dynamically used to prompt the user. Only the questions corresponding to active index categories are arranged into the set of questions having a question set order corresponding to the particular order of the index categories. In an iterative process, the first question is identified and used to prompt the user to select a term from a scaled down vocabulary of terms (i.e., only those terms associated with the first question and corresponding first index category). Upon selecting the term, a search of the database is performed by the search engine module based upon the selected term. If there is too much information returned from the search, the next question is identified and the iterative process is repeated.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for dynamically processing an index to create a set of questions for use in an information retrieval system, comprising the steps of:providing said index, said index having at least one domain;selecting a domain from said index as a selected domain, said selected

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for dynamically processing an index to create a set of questions for use in an information retrieval system, comprising the steps of:providing said index, said index having at least one domain;selecting a domain from said index as a selected domain, said selected domain having a plurality of index categories, and each of said plurality of said index categories being associated with at least one question so as to provide said set of questions;determining a particular order associated with said plurality of index categories of said selected domain; andarranging said set of questions into a question set order that corresponds to said particular order associated with said plurality of index categories, thereby dynamically creating said set of questions.