Semantic Signature Vector Search for Ambiguous Word Categorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current string matching methods in online search and categorization systems often result in users being inundated with unrelated items due to word ambiguity and multiple-word queries, leading to frustration and resource-intensive searches.

Innovation Solution

A semantic signature system that uses a machine-trained neural network to provide a vector-based semantic representation of a word's context, synonyms, and relationships, enabling more accurate labeling and categorization of ambiguous or unknown data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If string matching is used to retrieve search results or categorize user contributions, then the system is simple and fast to operate, but users are inundated with unrelated items due to word ambiguity and multiple-word queries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecategorization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the categorization approach from exact string matching to semantic similarity measurement using vector representations. Each word is converted into a vector that captures its contextual meaning, allowing the system to measure semantic proximity rather than requiring exact matches. This parameter change from discrete string comparison to continuous semantic space enables accurate categorization of ambiguous terms while maintaining system tractability through efficient vector operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces vector representations as an intermediary layer between the input text and the categorization output. Instead of directly comparing strings, the system converts words into vector embeddings that capture semantic relationships, then uses these vectors to determine categorization. This intermediary transformation resolves the contradiction by enabling nuanced semantic understanding without requiring complex rule-based systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If string matching is used for search and categorization, then the system requires minimal computational resources, but users experience frustration and spend excessive time searching for or categorizing unrelated items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch efficiencyVSAvoiduser search time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the fundamental parameter of search from exact string matching to semantic vector similarity. This allows the system to quickly compute distances between query vectors and document vectors, efficiently retrieving semantically relevant results without requiring users to manually filter through unrelated items. The vector-based approach dramatically improves search efficiency by directly ranking results based on semantic proximity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary conversion of words into semantic vectors before the actual search or categorization operation. By pre-computing and storing word vectors, the system prepares the data in a form that enables rapid semantic comparison during query processing. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during user interactions and minimizes the time users wait for relevant results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If traditional string matching categorization is used, then the system is easy to implement and maintain, but it cannot distinguish between ambiguous words and their context, leading to incorrect categorization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecategorization reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the categorization parameter from exact string equality to semantic vector similarity. By representing words as vectors in a continuous semantic space, the system can capture contextual nuances and distinguish between different meanings of ambiguous words based on their surrounding context. This parameter transformation significantly improves categorization reliability while keeping the system architecture relatively simple through the use of established vector embedding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11341405B2Semantic signatures
Publication Date: 2022.05.24 EBAY INC
  • US11341405B2 patent drawing
  • US11341405B2 patent drawing
  • US11341405B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing a semantic signature system are provided. A semantic signature system provides a machine trained semantic representation (i.e., a semantic signature) of the context of a word, synonyms of the word, and weak and strong relationship of the word with other words. The semantic signature can be utilized to facilitate labeling a word that is ambiguous or previously unknown. In practice, the label can be used to more accurately categorize the word for later retrieval by a search or to more accurately provide search results for a search query that includes the word.