Abbreviation Detection for Synonym Generation in Search Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines face challenges in identifying effective synonyms for query terms, especially as the amount of information on the Web grows, leading to difficulties in retrieving relevant documents due to users often using different terms than intended, and existing methods like thesaurus-based systems are costly and language-restricted.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines potential synonyms by analyzing candidate abbreviations and their relationships to constituent terms, using techniques such as decompounding, lexical relationships, and edit-distance to identify valid synonyms, which can be used to modify and expand user queries for better search results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thesaurus-based systems are used to identify synonyms, then synonym identification capability is improved, but construction cost and language restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates synonym information by analyzing query logs and document frequencies without requiring manual construction of thesauruses. The synonym generation process is self-service, using the system's own data resources to build the synonym database dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of manually creating synonym relationships, the system copies and analyzes existing query patterns from query logs to infer synonym relationships. It replicates user search behavior patterns to automatically generate synonym information.
2Reliability
If query terms are expanded with synonyms, then search result relevance is improved, but query complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies synonym expansion selectively based on query characteristics. For simple queries, it expands with synonyms; for complex queries, it limits expansion to avoid excessive complexity. The expansion action is partial, targeting only specific query terms that benefit from synonym substitution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts synonym expansion parameters based on query length and complexity. When queries exceed certain complexity thresholds, the system modifies expansion parameters to reduce the number of synonyms added, balancing relevance improvement with query manageability.
3Measurement precision
If users select precise query terms, then search accuracy is improved, but user effort and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synonym expansion automatically before the user submits the final query. By pre-processing the query with synonym substitution based on learned patterns, the system prepares accurate search terms without requiring the user to manually research and select precise terminology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the user's intent and the search engine. It translates user queries into more accurate search terms by automatically inserting synonyms, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between casual user input and precise search requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for determining an abbreviation for a term. During operation, the system receives a candidate abbreviation for the term. If the term is a compound term comprised of a number of constituent terms, the system then determines if the candidate abbreviation is substantially equal to at least one of the constituent terms. If so, the system determines that the candidate abbreviation is not an abbreviation for the term.