System, method and program product for key word searching where a key word is a homonym

摘要

System, method and program product for forming a search query. A user enters search terms. Icons that correspond to the respective search terms are automatically determined and displayed. The icons are not the search results. An indication is received from a user whether the icons represent a context intended by the search terms. If the user indicates that the icons represent the context intended by the search terms, a search that corresponds to the icons is conducted. The search query can be structured or unstructured. If the user indicates that one of the icons does not represent a corresponding search term entered by the user (for example, if the search term is a homonym), then the context of the corresponding search term is determined as well as another icon corresponding to the context of the corresponding search term entered by the user. A hierarchical relationship between the icons can be determined and displayed.

主权项

1. A method for forming a search query, the method comprising the steps of:
a computer receiving entry by a user of a plurality of key-word search terms for a key-word search, wherein one key-word search term of the plurality of key-word search terms is a homonym that has two different but correct meanings in two respective different contexts; the computer automatically determining that one but not the other of the different meanings is intended by the user based at least in part on another key-word search term of the plurality of key-word search terms being a common adjective for the one different meaning but not the other different meaning of the homonym; the computer selecting one icon of two icons from computer memory to represent the intended meaning of the homonym as determined by the computer, the two icons representing the two respective different meanings of the homonym; the computer displaying a first row of unique icons pertaining to an entity associated with the search query, each unique icon representing a respective unique object of the entity; the computer receiving notification that a single unique object represented by a single icon of the unique icons in the first row is modified by a specific attribute and in response, the computer displaying (i) a second row consisting of the single icon modified by the specific attribute and (ii) a plurality of arrows pointing from the first row to the second row, said second row being displayed beneath the first row and simultaneously with both the first row and the plurality of arrows; the computer receiving acceptance from the user of the displayed single icon modified by the specific attribute for inclusion in the search query of the single unique object modified by the specific attribute; the computer displaying the one icon, the single icon and other icons representing meanings of the other respective key-word search terms; and the computer querying the user whether the displayed icons correctly represent the key-word search as intended by the user, and if so, the computer initiating an electronic, key-word search based on meanings of the displayed icons.