Facts Query Engine Snippet Display for Source Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines are ineffective in providing simple, succinct answers to factual queries as they often rely on single sources, leading to limitations in question types they can answer and introduce ambiguity with expanded sources, including untrustworthy information.
Innovation Solution
A query engine that gathers factual information from multiple sources, identifies possible answers, selects the best answer, and provides a list of sources with snippets including query and answer terms, aiding users in evaluating the answer's veracity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a search engine draws facts from a single source, then the reliability of the source is maintained, but the types of questions that can be answered are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information retrieval process into multiple independent source queries. Instead of relying on a single source, the system divides the search across multiple sources (e.g., Wikipedia, news sites, blogs) and processes each separately, then combines results. This allows the system to answer diverse question types while maintaining source reliability through individual source evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal search system that can handle multiple types of factual questions across different domains (geography, history, popular culture, products, services) by querying multiple sources with different strengths. Each source maintains its specialized function while the aggregate system achieves universality in answering various question types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the set of sources used by a search engine is expanded, then the types of questions that can be answered increase, but the possibility of multiple possible answers and contradictions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors answers from multiple sources, compares them for consistency, and uses this feedback to identify contradictions. When contradictions are detected, the system adjusts its source selection or weighting, providing feedback to improve future query resolution and reduce information ambiguity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite information structure by combining results from multiple sources with different reliability profiles. Instead of accepting single-source answers, the system synthesizes information from multiple sources, weighing them according to their demonstrated reliability, thereby reducing ambiguity while maintaining broad question coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the universe of sources is expanded to answer more questions, then the scope of answerable questions increases, but information from untrustworthy sources may be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality assessment to each source individually rather than treating all sources uniformly. The system evaluates and assigns different reliability weights to different sources based on their performance on specific types of questions. This allows the system to expand its source universe while maintaining trustworthiness by selectively weighting sources according to their local strengths and weaknesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the reliability parameter of sources based on their performance. As sources are queried and their answers evaluated against known facts or user feedback, their reliability parameters are adjusted. This allows the system to expand source coverage while automatically adapting to maintain overall reliability by down-weighting untrustworthy sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for providing snippets of source documents of an answer to a fact query are disclosed. Snippets of source documents may be provided in response to a user request for the source documents from which the fact answer to a fact query was extracted. The snippets include the terms of the fact query and terms of the answer. The snippets may be displayed along with Uniform Resource Locators (URL's) of the source documents.