Importance

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Abstract

A system and method is provided for allowing users to interactively modify a search index used in performing concept-based searches. The system includes a repository for storing a network of natural language concepts. The repository further stores associations between selected ones of the natural language concepts and other data items that are cataloged according to the natural language concepts, wherein the data items may be stored within the repository, or on one or more remote systems. A user provides one or more natural language concepts as a search query used to locate associated ones of the data items. Subsequent iterations of a search may be performed to modify the scope of the search. After successful search results are obtained, the user may create one or more new associations, wherein each association relates any of the one or more natural language concepts included within a query with any selected one of the data items located during any iteration of the search. Similarly, the user may delete selected associations existing between located ones of the natural language concepts and selected ones of the data items. This modification of the knowledge base allows the search index to evolve to reflect the needs of the user. According to one aspect of the invention, the network of natural language concepts includes relationships between concepts that organize the concepts according to generalizations and specifications. The user is allowed to create additional relationships between any of the natural language concepts that are located during any iteration of a search such that the organization of the concept network is tailored to user needs. The user is further allowed to store additional natural language concepts in the repository, and to relate the additional natural language concepts both to other concepts, and to selected ones of the data items. According to another aspect of the invention, a user display is provided to list, for all iterations of a search, all query terms specified by a user, all located concepts, and all located data items. The user creates and/or deletes associations between the displayed concepts and/or between concepts and data items using either a standard 'drag and drop' interface, or using a sequence of 'copy and paste' keystrokes.

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First Claim