Web Information Extraction Using HTML Tag Ruler Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for extracting web information from web pages, such as keyword complete match, keyword fuzzy match, and regular expression algorithms, suffer from high time complexity and poor extensibility, particularly when handling large amounts of data.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize HTML tags as 'tag ruler' elements to generate a tag ruler from an HTML text, segment web information according to matched tags, and extract relevant information segments efficiently, allowing for flexible and accurate information extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If keyword complete match method is used to extract web information, then extraction accuracy is improved, but time complexity increases significantly when handling large amounts of data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction accuracyVSAvoidextraction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments web information extraction into multiple stages: first using HTML tag structure to identify potential information regions, then applying keyword matching only within those segmented regions. This segmentation approach maintains extraction accuracy while reducing the overall search space and time complexity when handling large amounts of web data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by first parsing HTML tags and identifying structurally significant regions before conducting keyword matching. This preliminary structuring of the data based on HTML grammar rules prepares the information in advance, allowing subsequent keyword extraction to be performed more efficiently on already-organized segments rather than raw text.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If regular expression algorithms are used for web information extraction, then pattern matching capability is improved, but extensibility deteriorates when dealing with diverse web page formats

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern matching capabilityVSAvoidextensibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using HTML tag structure as a universal framework that can handle diverse web page formats. Instead of creating separate regular expressions for each format, the system uses the common HTML grammar structure to universally identify information regions across different page types, then adapts keyword extraction to specific contexts within that universal framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by switching from fixed regular expression patterns to flexible HTML tag-based region identification combined with context-aware keyword matching. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different web page formats by adjusting which tags are considered significant and how keywords are extracted within those regions, rather than relying on rigid pattern matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If web information is extracted by analyzing contents of web files, then information completeness is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and utilizing the existing HTML tag structure as a guiding framework for information extraction. Instead of analyzing entire web file contents from scratch, the system takes out and leverages the pre-existing structural information embedded in HTML tags to identify and extract relevant content regions, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8196037B2Method and device for extracting web information
Publication Date: 2012.06.05 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • US8196037B2 patent drawing
  • US8196037B2 patent drawing
  • US8196037B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for extracting web information includes: selecting a number of Hypertext Markup Language, HTML, tags as tag ruler elements to generate a tag ruler from an HTML text of a web page according to sequence of the HTML text; matching the HTML text with the tag ruler elements in the tag ruler according to the sequence of the tag ruler elements in the tag ruler, segmenting web information according to matched HTML tags and saving web information segments and location information of HTML tags enclosing the web information segments in the HTML text; and determining location of HTML tags containing web information needed by a user in the HTML text, extracting web information segments corresponding to the web information needed by the user from the saved web information segments.