SEARCH ENGINE WITH SEARCH TASK MODEL AND INTERACTIVE SEARCH TASK-REFINEMENT PROCESS

摘要

A search engine provides an intelligent assistant that accepts a task model definition for each search that can be compared to a result of the search and used to refine the search either by requesting additional input or automatically. The general approach of a task model is to determine either directly or passively, whether the search results are a good match for what the user is seeking. This way the system has something to compare to the search results the user retrieves. As is well known, much frustration can attend the process of doing research of complex data sets. The above provides a mechanism for allowing a user to specify information, or for the system to infer information, that can be compared to a search result or used to refine a search before it is done. As shown, this can be used as a basis for an intelligent assistant that gives the user opportunities to refine his search by offering alternative search terms.